Chickens Can Garden for YOU | 3 Reasons Why

Chickens are there. Let's put them right there. This is where they were before. Hopefully today we'll get time to rebuild those rows and just keep going. Man, we ended up getting so much done yesterday. Rebecca and I just felt so good. We ended up staying up late. We ended up staying up too late. Well, we were excited to put that video up yesterday announcing our 2020 Speaking schedule. If you didn't see that, you could go back, or I'll leave all the links and dates and places to our speak— to 2020 speaking schedule down in the description. Check it out. Very important, put a net around this just to, I don't know, stray cows protect this silage tarp. Chickens may went before us. We put down material in Arun's garden, chickens spread it out, we made rows. There it is, Arun's garden way up there. We had to use this silage tarp, but this is where the chickens are going to go. We need to rebuild these beds. See how they flattened out being under the silage tarp? Two were exposed longer, see how they're still there? We're gonna get the chickens in here to help us fertilize, spread, and what else are they going to do? Fertilize, spread, and till. Fertilize, spread, and till. Covered our compost. Hopefully have a big enough pile. Hopefully have enough nitrogen material in there. My thermometer is broke. It's reading like, uh, 20 degrees out here. It's not 20 degrees out here. Is it warming up? It's not warming up right there. Wait. Oh! I think I stuck my finger into a holy cow squat.

Good morning!

This morning I am making butter. I've got it in my KitchenAid. I learned my lesson from this last time putting it in the blender. I just need to use the mixer. I like it better. It works better. So I've already got it in here and it's been going for a little bit.

Normally we milk in like 5 minutes. Hopefully this won't take more than 30.

We won't be more than 30-ish minutes late. Shoot, one more.

I've had all my corners. 12 after. We're doing pretty good. I'd say halfway done. Well, depending on how well moving the waterer goes, that can sometimes be like— do we have enough line right here? I think we do. We need to bring that connection right here. Yay! Okay, why isn't that coming off?

There we go.

Now we got to do is move our water right there. Bam! Wow, let's get this water line filled up. Water's going down through that line, filling it back up. It emptied when we turned it off. Here's our end. Water's coming out and into the creek. Well, it should be. There it comes. So water's coming out. Look, it's not coming out very clear, so let's let the line clean out. Now that, now that water's coming out clear, let's stop it. Okay, now this is going to fill up. Now we walk back up to our water. We're These quick connects make it super easy. Turn that back on. Now let's connect our water source. Plenty of water in there because it's being gravity fed. See? All right, now fill our— now that's gonna fill up and it's gonna overflow because it's not draining. We have to go turn off the valve at the bottom. The gravity is going to draw that water out. Creating a suction, and we should walk up here and never— flows just blowing. Boom! Always clean, never frozen. We're at 8:23. All we lack is putting up the net and putting the chickens out. Let's do it.

Yes!

8:34. Did pretty good. Whoa, see that? Case in point.

See that?

Holy chicken squat. Huge, huge. That was not there before. Now it's there. There's another one. These guys are already working their magic. Oh my gosh, what were you guys holding back? Is this the morning poo? I'll take it. I'll take whatever you got. Look, more. Now strategically place the coop over two rows because half their manure load comes out at night. And, uh, we'll move that forward each morning. All right, have at it, guys. They love it, they love it. I don't know what they're eating in here, but they're excited about something. They're eating weeds, they're eating soil biota, I guess. Maybe crumbs left behind, grains left behind. Yeah, you guys making butter?

At this point, it's really close to butter, so I cover it with a towel to kind of keep it—

keep the mess at a minimum.

Word on the creek is flossies and heat, so Stud's bothering them. Yeah, look. Come on, don't act so cool. That calf is literally milking as we walk. Dad's going to his place. Nope. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, you stay over there. Hamburger's good. There we go. Every morning it's a little crazy.

It's fine.

Which one you want, Ellie?

Both.

Well, second time. That's kind of unlike Flossie. Here, let's go. This is probably even too messy for the pigs. Believe it or not, Flossie is the one that likes to stand still. I guess my time limit's up with her. What we're gonna do— she's gotten antsy for whatever reason. I'm just gonna hold this bucket up. Whoa, she doesn't like me knocking it. It doesn't have my status though. We tested. I'm not gonna have her step in a third time. That would be a record. How's it going over there, Jonah?

What are you doing? Setting up some nails so we can hang all of our stuff.

I think those fences are on over there. All right, well, thanks to the reservoir bucket, she didn't get it all. How's it going over here?

Great.

Hanging all our brushes and Strainers. Okay, will you take this up please and I'll switch them out?

Thank you.

Oh, it's done. Okay, good. That looks very good. We're done with Flossy. Since their pasture's right there, let's go ahead and get her out. How you doing this morning, hamburger? Yeah, see, Studmuffin's crazy for her. I mean, she's coming in heat. That's a good thing. That means she's gonna get pregnant. We're gonna continue the cycle. Of milk and calves. How are you, mister? How are you? It's kind of warm out here. I wonder why the kids aren't out here. Yeah, she's eating her alfalfa and I'm not milking, but come on, kids. This is much better with somebody else, even if they're just sitting there. Hey, can you guys go ahead? I was hoping the kids would come.

I'm gonna come right really soon.

Okay, come on, Josiah. Bring your— bring your carrot. Okay, come on, come on, get in. That's my timer for my drops. Apparently Lily cut her finger. I don't know Mr. Brown's excuse. Set a timer for 1 hour. Drops to help my eye heal, wasn't healing well from my injury. Oh, and glasses, so no more further damage. That teeth feels really full, one of them does. We're gonna— we washed it, now we're drying it off, and we got to do the CMP test, Mustang. Hang in there. All's well. Y'all see that? I'm only that far along and she's already kicking because she's already out. Will she eat that hay?

Yeah.

Yay, that's better.

Got it. Let's go.

Where's your butter, honey?

In here.

Oh yeah, and I already—

and I have another one.

What do you think about all this butter, Brianna?

Oh, it's nothing but a blessing.

We got butter running out our nose now.

That's lovely. That's a lovely problem.

You forgot to touch your feet. What? I'm going to say Darth Vader died again. He died 2 times in a row. No, he did not 2 times. Did Darth Vader trip into a duck? Is there a Death Star around there or no?

Mommy, you can do it.

Woo!

That was really close. Woo! Help me clean up, please.

I can take a shower. You didn't? Nope. How do you feel?

Fine.

Good. All right, will you guys please help me clean up?

You want to taste this and see?

I can taste it.

Why does it look weird?

It never, it never broke in the butter.

I don't know. What? Come on, it's butter.

Well, I don't know what it is.

It's a hair sour. It's sour.

I don't think— it must not have enough cream in it. That's all I can think of.

So what are you gonna do with it?

I'm gonna give it to pigs. Okay.

Okay, are you guys ready to publish your very first video? Okay, it's there. All you have to do is hit Done. Done's right here. Oh, you know what? We didn't select public. All right, ready? You're going public. Okay, hit publish button. That's gonna be your favorite button as a creator.

All right, is it— what is it gonna be downloaded?

It's almost there. Do you guys want to watch it on YouTube?

Yeah.

Oh, there it is. Okay, you want to see it on YouTube?

Yeah, let's go see it.

Zero views. You guys want to be your first view?

Sure.

Okay. Ah, zero views, zero subscribers. What a neat day. What a neat day. Cherish this day.

Yay!

You gotta put the volume up, buddy. I've been working on the edit. Jonah's been editing more. I'm wanting to get 3 videos up before we, uh, share it with you guys. So just hang in there. How's the butter going this round?

It's going great.

Okay, it looks good. This round was better, huh?

What was bad with the other one?

Well, it was not solidifying.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, that I just gave that to the pigs because I don't know what happened.

Yeah, but this one was fine.

Yeah.

Mama approves video number 2. It's like 3:20. I'm still editing, getting the music. We like to be out there by 3. Jonah and Mama are gonna start, and then I'm gonna get working on the garden and then grab Mama. Mom and the kids are out— I guess are out doing the afternoon chores. Why the cows are coming back? Why are the cows coming back? Uh, I'm gonna set up the garden so we can build back another set of raised beds. So I hope to have that done in time before Rebecca gets done and we have a little bit of a workout together. Shoveling out the paths. Okay, they're calling me. That muffin's acting crazy because of Frosty, and they can't get Hamburger in the, uh, in with the sheep.

Should we just put them in the stall? Do you already have Moose up? Should we just put them in the stall, or do you already have moose up?

Okay, I was thinking it might be easier just to bring them back, put the calves in the stall. Oh my gosh, those two lovebirds get out every day. Their days are numbered. There they are. So the plan is to herd them back out and maybe just assess the situation once we're out there. We might have to herd Stud into the sheep.

There you go.

I know he acts crazy, I don't doubt it. He gets bats when they're and eat.

Because, well, he had him and he was— he had Hamburger, but he was too far away. And then Stud was kind of like— he was over there, but he was between us and the thing. And okay, we're just like, let's let him go.

All right, now Rachel and Lily put our stuff away yesterday. So I kind of have no idea where they put that. Our sledgehammer and wooden fence posts. Measuring wheel. There's our measuring wheel. That's where it's supposed to go.

Hey!

You already back?

Oh no, I have to get— I gotta get 2 minerals.

Okay.

That they're already out of.

Where do you think your sister and Lily put all the stuff?

In the gardening stall. Okay, that's Lily, she's right up there. You want me to call her?

Nah.

Well, gardening stall is where it's supposed to go. That makes sense. Okay, I don't see it. Shoot. Do see the broad fork. We're missing the twine and the stakes.

Lily, where's the twine and the wooden stakes? Where's the twine, the sledgehammer, and the wooden stakes?

The twine is in the basement.

Can you come help me?

Sure.

Thanks.

I'll show you where I left it.

Okay, good.

So one of the stakes are under the tarp. Last time I put the twine Oh, against this bucket.

Oh my, and then where are the wooden stakes?

Oh, under the tarp.

What tarp?

The one in the garden stall.

Okay, I just found everything yesterday. All right, my mistake letting her put that away. I know there's a sledgehammer over here.

I think I picked one up.

That means we're missing our big sledgehammer. A big handheld sledgehammer.

Shovels are right there.

Shovels?

Yes, shovels are right there.

Okay, that's good. Are there any flat shovels? Yeah, there's one of our flat shovels. Okay, hold on. Oh yeah, see the wooden stakes? Okay, we need twine now.

Thank you.

Where'd you find that. Now if you can only help me find the, uh, let's get these off the ground. Yeah, help me find the twine.

It might be in the garden stall.

We are in the garden stall and I don't see it. So if I was a little 8-year-old girl or, or a 40-something-year-old Floridian, where would I put a spool? The work is pleasurable. The finding this stuff is not. Hey, wait. Too blessed to be stressed. Too blessed to be stressed. Too much to be thankful for. Too much to be thankful for. I need to go jump in the cold creek right now, don't I?

Jonah! Do you know where the— Twin is—

What? It might be Sally.

It might be Sally. Oh my gosh. Hey, there's something to be thankful for. We found one of our stainless steel straws. If every day in every way we're gonna get better, which is a great motto, I'm gonna note to self— write down a note to myself Whatever that looks like. I need to be in charge of the putting away of the tools.

It didn't.

Alright, we'll take that one. Even the measuring tape didn't get put back. Our nice measuring tape. You get the spool?

What?

You bring me the spool?

No, they took it right now.

Hey, drive over there, we'll get fuel. Did you guys get done?

Yes.

I haven't begun. Okay, we got one more gas, so we're gonna have to go get fuel soon. Oh, and there's our other hammer. Yeah, it's all accounted for. You again? You're just calling for it, aren't you, buddy? All right, we have two garden plots. Do we have any of our corners left? I don't think there's a corner. There's no corners, so we're just gonna have to eye it based on what we already have here. Let's find our corners because they have all been—

right here is one.

Left. How do you know?

Because that's the corner.

Well, I appreciate your confidence. That's a start. All the way, because probably gonna have to move.

Yeah.

Okay, go stand where you think it is over here, honey. Let's do this one first. Wait, see, that doesn't look right, does it? No, it's right on that old bed because it needs to be in the middle of that. We can clearly see that this is that, that walking way.

Yeah, okay, because with 25 feet we could only get 6 beds in, but then we had a good amount of space at the end of it. Does that make sense?

It just might not be 24 feet long, not wide.

Right.

That's that there.

And this move is pesky.

Oh yeah, don't do it.

Okay, so 12 inches plus 30 times 6— 42 inches times 6 divided by 12 is 21.

Really? Trying to put in the thought right now so that we do the right thing with our labor. It looks like everything's maybe shifted down, so we are going to be moving our beds a bit. I think we finally came to a peaceful solution. Only got 15 more minutes. We just figured out though, you know, our corners, if we like them, if we end up liking them, Rebecca, let's put some T-posts down in there for them. And never lose our corners again. Okay, since we want some kind of workout, one of us can dig this path and the other one can broadfork. Okay, which one you want to do?

A broadfork.

Okay, so we're tying it right here and then we dig just to the left of that line onto the bed.

Okay.

Wow, looks so good. Pass. So I think what we're going to do is get permanent stakes. And since walkway 12 inches, bed 30 inches, 42 inches. So every 42 inches put a permanent, probably a little further out so that we can have room for our nets, but put a permanent post. And then all we have to do is come do our line, and we can— we don't have to measure, and we can just do our line, fix our beds, and move on. Because we are using animals and we are disturbing these raised beds enough that we're gonna fix the beds maybe once, twice, maybe 3 times a year. It's 5 o'clock, it's supper time. Rebecca's gonna finish that one off. I'm gonna clean up. We're gonna put it all in here, we're gonna put it under the shed, and then we'll have it for tomorrow. We just roll it out, knock it out. What do you got there, buddy?

A slingshot watch.

Oh, that's a rebar. Was that already bent like that?

I bent it.

Okay.

And cut the excess part off.

Nice. Oh my gosh, really?

I have so many—

what's the problem? I have so many clothes on, it's just Burning up. So are you sore from yesterday?

No.

Hi, Dad.

Hey, baby, how are you?

Mama, where—

I was out there working hard on your garden bed. Yeah, you're gonna eat tomatoes off of it?

No, I don't like tomatoes.

He likes green beans.

I like cucumbers.

Yeah, I'm a girl.

He likes carrots.