Who Else Wants Willing Gardeners?

[I split yesterday’s post into two, as it didn’t flow correctly]

So what have I been doing with my spare time, when everyone else is asleep during the day?  Well, you will be pleased to know that I have been writing.

Writing my next e-book, which is about backyard chickens.  It is being written in an informative, personal memoir style, similar to my first book, with lots of additional information not currently found on this blog.  I am up to Chapter 9 so far, and am only about half way through the story.  It should take me another month or so of writing, editing, proof-reading and the like.

Speaking of chickens, they have been free-ranging a lot, with the big girls more confined just to play in my empty veggie patch near their run.  I have been determined to eradicate the Kikuyu grass that has been infesting it.  Boiling water has worked with some success, and the chickens are just finishing off the job by digging out the deep roots that this grass puts down.  It should be ready by spring to plant some more chilies and runner beans in.  The photos were taken yesterday, and don’t do the hard work that they have put in justice.

However, to chickens, this is not hard work at all.  It is just part of their genetic make-up, thank goodness!  It certainly beat me having to get down on my hands and knees, pulling this noxious weed out of the bed.  I would have to dig the entire thing over which would take me the good part of a day, whereas they relish the task!


Not to leave out the little ones, they have been free-ranging around the clay oven garden, by weeding the stoned area for me, and digging over the old pumpkin and bean bed.  This too will be ready for spring planting after a six month rest and work-over.  


Why wouldn’t you want a few hard working chickens in your backyard?  Even if you rent, a small flock with a chicken tractor would do wonders for a few portable raised beds.


I treasure my willing gardeners.  Beats dragging a teenager out of bed any day!