small + friendly

DIY Chicken Coop

Want a coop tour?  Oh, I'm so glad you said yes!  I am more than a little stoked about my chicks' new digs. 

 

 This was a DIY green build through and through.  We spent exactly zero dollars on wood.  All of the wood was reclaimed and generously gifted to us.  I love how the reclaimed wood and modern design gives us a great mix of style.  It's sort of rustic-modern; an eclectic, eco-friendly style that is very much in keeping with the rest of the garden.  

 

 

The predator-proof coop boasts skylights, vinyl flooring, nesting boxes, roosting bars, and ample ventilation.  

 

 

The coop and run were designed by my amazing husband.  He also built the entire thing with the help of my very handy and fabulous father.

 

 

The coop is situated in a spot in our yard that gets only morning sun, the rest of the time it is in the shade, perfect for our warm summers.  

 

 

The run is covered in sand, which makes poop scooping a breeze.  In case you were worried that the run is not very large, please know that my beloved chickens are free-range birds, spending most of their time with full access to our large (for California) suburban lot.  

 

 

Jude and I painted the coop and door (Grenadine by Behr) and sealed the other wood with low-voc sealant.  All of the hinges were purchased at Restore, saving us a bundle and helping a great cause.  

 

 

To save space (and for ease of feeding) Jason made this DIY gravity chicken feeder.  The girls love it and there has been almost no waste (tutorial coming soon).  

 

 

We still need to take a trip to the beach to find the perfect piece of driftwood for a perch in the run.  And Jude insists that we make a sign with lots of glitter.  But so far the girls love their new home and we love our girls.  

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  We hope you enjoyed the tour.  I'd like to take a quick moment to thank my fantastic husband and awesome dad for making such a great coop.   

 

Here's to happy hens in cozy coops!

In the Garden: Sowing Seeds

Hooray for Spring!  We have been busy working in the garden.  Lots of weeding and trimming and turning beds, not exactly fun, but I honestly love any time spent in the garden.  Jude loves turning the beds because it means hours of playing in the dirt and making friends with worms.  For me, the best part of spring in the garden is the sowing of seeds.  

We have started herbs in egg shells.  This time we've got basil and borage happening.    

Jude and I also planted sunflowers in toilet paper rolls.  Last year the birds ate all of the seeds for our sunflower fort.  Not this year!  Sunflowers don't like having their roots disturbed so I'm hoping the fact that you can plant the whole thing, tube and all, will work in our favor.  Oh, and if you need a very mini greenhouse, look no further than the produce aisle, clear plastic salad bins work great!

And the thing I am most excited about: our Eco-Lawn is getting a nice reseeding to return it to it's original glory.  I love our Eco-Lawn.  The back area of our yard was a big ugly dog run when we bought it.  I knew I wanted that space to be turf, but I also knew I didn't want the traditional high-maintenance, water-guzzling lawn.  A little online research led me to find Wild Flower Farm's Eco-Lawn.  This stuff seriously rules, I especially love how it looks unmown.  (I like the no-mow look so much I neglected to mow it twice a year like you're supposed to, thus the need to reseed.)  If you are looking for a natural, soft, meadow-type lawn that likes shade and requires little water and even less maintenance, this is the stuff for you.  I know I sound like a commercial, but I want people to know that they can have a lawn without hurting the environment.  Early spring and late summer are the best times to seed and the seed comes with all the info you need to sow successfully.  It won't be long before we are picinicing on a lush lawn once more.  

What's happening in your garden this spring?

Full disclosure:  The nice folks at Wild Flower Farm gave me a bag of seed for this reseeding (I had already fallen in love with the product) as always, all opinions are 100% my own.   

Bare Roots

Looking to add to your garden on the cheap?  (If you live in the northern hemisphere)  Now is the perfect time to get bare root plants on sale.  And there is still plenty of time to plant these bare beauties.  I have a few fruit trees I planted bare root last year, but this year I went with smaller edibles: a blueberry, three raspberries, one rhubarb, and twelve strawberries (the whole lot cost less than $20).  

Can you say pie?  Yes, I have been staying up at night dreaming of a pie garden.  If I am ever lucky enough to have property, I will have a grand and abundant pie and preserves garden.  For now, this little planting is surely a step in the right direction.

I thought I'd share a few tips I've learned about planting bare root plants: 

• Set the roots in a bucket of clean water for a nice long soak (at least an hour) before planting.
• Don't drastically amend the soil, one of the benefits of bare roots is that they will adapt to native soils quite well.  
• That said, a little compost never hurt any plant.
• Don't plant them too deeply, leave the crowns exposed.
• Water, water, water to help them get established. 

Am I the only one who dreams of growing pie from scratch?  

Happy Planting.  

Simplify the Holidays

Happy December 1st everyone!  Anyone else feeling the Christmas crazies coming on strong?  I thought today would be a great day to revisit my 10 tips for a greener, simpler, merrier holiday season.  I needed the reminder big time and I've compiled quite a few awesome extra tips from some of my favorite bloggers.  

1.  Let go.  Embrace traditions that make life easier and skip stuff you don't enjoy.  I grew up eating one tiny chocolate a day from a $1 cardboard advent calendar.  This year, I oohed and aahed over the crafty advent bonanza that is pinterest, and then I let go and stuck with the Trader Joe's advent.  Furthermore, if there is a part of the holiday that drives you nuts (cookie baking, cards, caroling) skip it, the world will not end (I promise).

2.  Give handmade.  But, keep it simple and fun.  For example, don't commit to making mini loungers for your eight nieces and nephews; although, might I suggest pencil rolls or crayon wraps?  And remember, you can give handmade by supporting other crafty folks.

3.  Give less.  Would you rather have one special thing or a bunch of crap?  Don't make the holidays a race for cheapest-mostest.  Give more thought, and fewer packages.  Do you draw names for a secret santa?  Why not go one step further and suggest that everyone donates to charity instead?

4.  Have a signature gift (or two).  Have a cute kid?  Then you have the perfect gift: photos, framed or in a calendar, for every grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt/uncle, on your list.  Other ideas include jam, cookies, affordable wine (might I suggest Prosecco?).  You get the idea.  Oh, and I've never met a teenager who didn't like cash.

5.  Shop local.  Perhaps more important than it's ever been, help out your local economy (and environment) by shopping close to home.

6.  Avoid the mall/big box stores.  Though your tax dollars will help your town, the price you pay in stress isn't worth it.  Need the lastest Twilight doll?  Go online.  If you must go, plan ahead: go once, with a list, at opening or closing.

7.  Visit a charitable Santa.  The mall is not the only place to find Santa.  Check your local listing for Santas who see children for a good cause.  You make a donation, your little one tells the big man what he wants, you take your own pictures (sometimes they take one for you) and you're done.  No lines, no elves pushing the mega picture pack.  

8.  Get your tree at a farm.  Better for the environment and your local economy.  Plus, it's WAY more fun!   

9.  Wrap with recycled or reusable material.  I've been saving Jude's artwork as wrapping paper this year.  Reusable grocery bags, fabric, and dishtowels are all great options that become part of the gift.  

10.  Focus on the spirit of the season.  It should be about peace, joy, and sharing; not stress, consumption, and road rage.  When it all feels like too much, crank up Christmas With Weezer and dance until there is joy in your heart, then put your feet up and your arms around your loved ones.  

Bonus Section:

- Make giving neighbor gifts easier and cheaper with this great tip from Classic Play.

- Gifting thoughtful simple toys is good for everyone, word play house shows us how.

- And while on the subject of toys, Little Stories has great, easy to follow toy shopping rules.

- Looking for simple, natural crafts to make with the kids?  Buzzmills has you covered. 

- It's not too late to have a crafty christmas, Curly Birds has got it dialed.

Here's to a greener, simpler, MERRIER holiday from my home to yours.  

P.S. - If you are a blogger, why not simplify blogging?  I will be taking my annual break, posting only pictures called *merry moments* from mid December to early January.  I encourage you to join in with links here or on instagram with the hashtag #merrymoments.  

How to Volunteer with your Toddler

One of my 30 Before Thirty goals was to volunteer.  Volunteering is one of those things that sounds great and important, but can be easily forgotten with a few quick excuses.  Here's a list of excuses that I used for a while:

1. I'm too busy.  I simply don't have the time.
2. I can't make a big commitment with a job and a family and a home to keep.
3. I can't get childcare.

Turns out those were all pretty lame excuses.  I found a place to volunteer that was extremely flexible, zero long term commitment, and I can bring my toddler!  Even better, it is a cause I feel deeply connected to.  

For the past few months, Jude and I have been dropping in (I've been aiming for one Friday a month) to help at the Harvest for the Hungry.  It is a beautiful organic garden run by wonderful volunteers that provides a bounty of organic produce to food banks and shelters in our area.  I believe so strongly that everyone deserves fresh healthy food, and now I'm doing something to make that happen.  It is a wonderful feeling.  What's even better: I am teaching my son that he can use his own two hands to make the world a better place.  We weed and water and harvest, it takes us a little longer than the other volunteers, but we are helping.  And having fun.   

Tips for Volunteering with Small Children

1.  Find a cause you are passionate about.  Your time is valuable, don't volunteer for volunteering's sake.  You will get so much joy from giving your time if the cause is something you care about.  VolunteerMatch and a good old google search are good places to start.

2.  Look for something flexible.  Places with drop-in hours or single day events (like beach/creek/trail clean ups or neighborhood improvement/tree planting days) are low commitment.  Another cool idea is visiting an assisted living facility, toddlers have a knack for bringing smiles to the elderly.  

3.  Just go for it.  Most of the time, the hardest part of trying something new is starting.  Go into it with an open mind and realistic expectations.  Toddlers can be difficult to wrangle.  You might have to take lots of breaks, or leave early.  But then again, they might just surprise you and happily pick tomatoes and stack zucchini for hours.    

Happy Helping! 

Do you volunteer with your little one?  Please share your tips and experiences in the comments.  

In The Garden

 

 

 

 

 

watching: spring unfold

appreciating: heavy rains and loads of compost

eating: artichokes, broccoli, chard, and lemons

fighting: earwigs, slugs, and crab grass (organically)

planting: seedlings, a pear tree, raspberries, and a potato tower

planning: for a big summer harvest, drip irrigation, and a sunflower fort

wondering: if the potato tower will work, and what rosemary honey tastes like

reading: Sunset Western Garden and my new favorite, And Then It's Spring

wishing: you and yours a beautiful start to the season of green

Here's to the magic of spring! 

What's happening in your garden?

Ode to a Sungold

Within the smallest of spheres is the largest of sweets,

So easily thriving in fickle August heat. 

Eaten alone or with many a flavor,

In summer you’re always our favorite to savor.

Astride verdant vines you never last longly,

So quickly devoured to help us grow strongly.

We love thee, sweet Sungolds, on pizzas, with wine;

Amongst our tomatoes, you’re truly divine.

-Words by our resident poet, and love of my life, Jason

Midsummer Night's Dinner

Here's to meals not just homemade, but homegrown.