On My Way!

by: Jill Richardson

Sat Feb 04, 2012 at 09:03:58 AM PST

I'm now in the San Diego airport, enjoying my last moments of high speed internet before I leave. Some folks have asked me how one even gets to Kenya. Well, I'm flying from San Diego to Chicago to London to Nairobi. I'll leave at 9:40am PST today and arrive at 9:40pm Nairobi time tomorrow. Nairobi is 11 hours ahead of California. I'm a little worried about getting through Heathrow with only a 2 hour layover tomorrow morning, but the airlines said it should be all right.

I can't believe I've crammed everything in my suitcase that needs to go with me. In addition to 10 or 11 shirts, 3 pairs of shorts, all of the underwear I own, and a few pairs of socks, I've got 24 solar flashlights and a bunch of cell phones that I am carrying with me as donations. They were purchased by others but I've agreed to bring them with me.

I've got traveling to the Global South down to almost a science. I've got Malarone (my malaria med of choice), oral dye-free Benedryl (for the itching from bug bites), an herbal bug repellant that I hope works, Grapefruit Seed Extract pills and Jarro-Dophilus (to prevent food poisoning), Azithromycin (in case I get sick), and something stronger than the herbal bug repellant that I'll use if I have no other choice, which I imagine might be the case. Usually I just deal with the itch and hope for the best, but I'd rather not come home with African Sleeping Sickness.

I've also got a headlamp (for late night trips to the bathroom), extra camera batteries, extra triple A batteries, and a small towel. I had to leave my mosquito net at home because the suitcase is so crammed full but they'll have them all over the place there. I'm a little worried that all of the nets there will be treated with insecticide, because I like my mosquito net to double as a blanket. And I've now been vaccinated for typhoid, yellow fever, tetanus, Hep A, Hep B, polio, and rabies.

For food, I've got an entire loaf of Bread & Cie Fig & Anise bread, 3 PB&J sandwiches, a few fuji apples, some mandarins, tamari almonds, homemade muesli (the store bought stuff costs a fortune), a chocolate bar, and dried fruit. Plus several Earnest Food bars. I'll be fine once I get there, but the flights are gonna suck and I won't touch airplane food. For reading material, I've got The Constant Gardener and How Europe Underdeveloped Africa.

So all in all, I'm ready. I think. I remembered to put my deodorant and my alarm clock in my bag this morning - the last two things I needed to pack. Late last night I realized I hadn't yet packed my passport and I frantically packed that. Just before leaving, I remembered my cell phone charger. And once I got to the airport I realized I forgot my piece of paper that had all my flight info and phone numbers and addresses for everyone in Kenya, so I re-wrote that up while waiting for my flight.

Once at the airport, the security people got fussy about the size of my luggage, which I am taking all carry on because I don't want any of it to get lost, as is so often the case on any international flight when there are connections involved. But they gave me a pass, and I thanked them and told them they had saved some elephants, since my suitcase is only so dang full because of all of the donations, many of which are going to an anti-poaching group. And they haven't canceled or delayed my flight (yet). So far so good.

I didn't sleep well last night and my tummy feels a bit upset. I ate breakfast but I'm hungry again already. I ended up raising about $900 approximately, which is roughly 1/3 of the cost of the total trip. I'm so grateful to everyone who donated or bought my handmade jewelry to help me out. I didn't raise enough to cover the entire trip, but $900 ain't nothing and it's a HUGE help. I've got a new article out about one of the people I am going to visit and that will offset some of the costs as well.

We board in 10 minutes. Wish me luck.

Chicken Dramas: Introducing Old Chickens and New Chickens

by: Jill Richardson

Fri Jan 27, 2012 at 00:13:35 AM PST

So here's what's happened since: First, Diana resumed laying. Then Elizabeth did too. Then Spot the rooster began crowing. Roosters aren't very good at crowing when they first try, but by the time I managed to trade Spot and his rooster friend George in for two hens, Spot had nearly mastered it. And he was crowing A LOT. It wasn't a fully enunciated cock-a-doodle-doo but it was LOUD.

So last Saturday, Spot and George went back to the woman who sold them to me and she traded me two hens instead. I selected a Rhode Island Red and a Barred Rock who has a bunch of gold feathers on her neck, both nearly six months old and about ready to start laying. The Rhode Island Red was to replace our previous one who had died, and my roommate's youngest daughter had already named her Rosy Rose (same name as her predecessor). His other daughter gets to name the Barred Rock... but I really want to name her Goldie Hen. Of course, the kid's never heard of Goldie Hawn, so she might not go for that one.

I dropped Rosy and Goldie off in the undisclosed location where the chickens live (a fenced yard). Diana tried to attack one of the new girls, and the other new girl tried to attack Frizzie, the bantam. Then I headed to the farmers market. I thought they'd be OK.

When I got back, I was informed that one of the new chickens had hopped the fence and the firefighters had rescued her from a busy street below. Oops. I bet she panicked when she met the dog, who is not interested in eating chickens but VERY interested in sniffing chickens, which can be scary to a chicken who has never met him before.

At that point, I caught Rosy and found Goldie (who was well hidden and very high up - it involved me climbing on a chair and then onto a six foot high wall) and clipped their wings and put them in the coop for the rest of the day. For that day and night, they got to look at and check out the rest of the flock without any pecking.

The next day, I let all the chickens hang out together out of the coop. It seemed OK. The yard has many places for chickens to hide, and I've been giving everybody lots of treats so that there isn't much competition. I also put the food down in several places so that the new chickens can eat in a different location from the old chickens if necessary. Goldie's even timidly started eating out of my hands, but Rosy's still too scared to do that.

Then this morning, while feeding the chickens, I noticed a huge pile of Rhode Island Red feathers... but no Rhode Island Red. I searched the yard - twice. There was no blood anywhere, or any part of a dead chicken. It seemed like it was most likely that the chickens had pecked Rosy, not that a predator ate her. But there was no Rosy anywhere.

A little while later, I looked out back and saw a tiny Rhode Island Red head peeking out from behind a trashcan in a very narrow corner of the yard. I caught her and put her in the coop. I brought treats out several times today and fed the chickens from my hands right where Rosy could see me and then put some in the coop for Rosy. I managed to catch Goldie and put her in the coop to so Rosy could have a friend. I gave them rolled oats, half a bagel, and a piece of string cheese as treats today. I looked through the compost and one of the garden beds for grubs to give them but found none.

Late in the afternoon, Rosy and Goldie seemed eager to get out of the coop so I let them out. I figured there wasn't much time left before Chicken Bedtime for anyone to peck anyone else. The chickens did well together until bedtime. And everyone went to bed in the coop like they were supposed to. After dark, I moved the old chickens into one section of the coop and shut the door, and put the new chickens in the other section and shut their door. So in the morning, my roommate will let the old chickens out and leave the new chickens in. I don't know how long we'll do this for. I've never had any pecking incidents before so this is my first. I can't say I'm enjoying it.

Trials with Chickens

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Dec 22, 2011 at 13:23:26 PM PST

I just want to share the craziness of our little flock with everyone, to tell you how it is that I had seven chickens (now six) and get about one egg a week.

Rosy Rose, who is no more

Chicken Blogging: Problems With Mites

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 21:09:27 PM PDT

It started with a broody bird, Elizabeth. My poor girl decided it was time to hatch some chicks and stubbornly sat on her nest for weeks. At first I took her off the nest several times a day but it did no good. Then I decided to get some fertile eggs and let her hatch them, but I had a hard time obtaining some so the plan stalled. Meanwhile, I took her off her nest twice daily, making sure she ate, drank, and pooped. But she wasn't dustbathing.

Next thing you know, I'm covered in nasty, itchy bites from head to toe. I washed everything I own and all of my sheets in hot water. That night, I got more bites. The next day I picked Elizabeth up out of the nest box and looked at my shirt. Mites were crawling all over me. I covered the chicken in diatomaceous earth, put everything I was wearing directly in the washing machine, and took a bath in soapy water.

From there, it all just escalated. Each day, I'd put my clothes directly in the washing machine after handling the chicken, and take a soapy bath too. I washed my sheets and towels. I changed clothes and showered several times a day. At night I'd get more bites.

Elizabeth snapped out of her broodiness quickly actually. I noticed that her comb had gone pink instead of red and she had lost a lot of weight, and I locked her out of the coop so she couldn't get to her nest. Then I let my roommate's daughter spray her with the garden hose a few times. That did the trick. Elizabeth's dustbathing again, but I'm still getting new bites.

Next up for inspection was the cat. I have three, but two of them have the flea-treatment stuff that kills everything on them. The third one was covered in mites and was bringing them into the house and into my bed. She's also too fat to bathe herself properly. I rubbed diatomaceous earth all over her, and then got some more of the flea stuff and put it on her. I locked her out of my bedroom, washed the sheets and the clothes again, etc. My poor cat was miserable because she wasn't getting her usual amounts of cuddles and was locked out of my room. And I continued to get more bites.

Today, I washed the clothes again, picked up everything from my very messy floor, and vacuumed everywhere. Before vacuuming, I put diatomaceous earth on my mattress, on my sheets, and all over the floor and a large area rug. At times I've even rubbed it all over myself.

From what I've read, the little fuckers are nocturnal, unless you have a kind that feeds all day. Most articles I found on them recommend pesticides, which I had not considered using and still would not like to use. That said, I'm now wearing my "Buzz Off" shirt with pesticide in it because I'm that frantic about the whole mess.

I'm open to any advice you've got, but I'm also writing this because I figure it's worth sharing. If you've got a broody who isn't dust bathing, check her for mites and put some diatomaceous earth on her.

San Diego's Urban Ag Makeover - The Good and the Baaaaaad

by: Jill Richardson

Fri Oct 07, 2011 at 11:12:30 AM PDT

As I've already noted, San Diego county cracked down on the proposal to allow backyard goats. I think even the goats will agree that this is very baaaaa-d.

However, the rest of the news is quite good. The proposed rules, plus some of the public comments made are below.

Chicken Blogging: Our Baby Chicks

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Sep 14, 2011 at 12:26:46 PM PDT

Frizzie, the Silkie Frizzle mix (a Sizzle?)

Rosie, our Rhode Island Red, and our Black Australorp, who needs a name.

First attempt to get our Barred Rock, Spot, in a picture, with Frizzie blocking the way.

Second attempt to take a picture of Spot, with Frizzie still slightly in the way.

If you can't tell, the kids named some of the chicks. Patrick and I gave Spot her name (both kids replied, "You should call her Stripe!") Now the Black Australorp needs a name.

The chicks are unsexed and we probably cannot keep all four even if they are all girls, since that would just be a lot of full grown chickens in too small a space. We've warned the kids that any mean roosters are going to be dinner. If we end up with nice roosters, I will gladly try to find them homes where they won't be eaten.

So far, the babies are terrified of us. They spent last night in a separate part of the coop from the big girls. Today, the babies are in the main part of the coop and the big girls are outside. I've been giving both groups lots of treats, trying to teach the babies that I'm the Food Lady, and trying to make the big ones learn to feel comfortable with looking at the babies and not wanting to kill them. Daisy the Ameraucana is VERY unhappy about the babies. She's spent the day walking around the coop making unhappy noises. I find it funny.

Victoria's Last Stand

by: Jill Richardson

Sun Sep 11, 2011 at 23:17:40 PM PDT

Victoria

Chicken Blogging: RIP Victoria 2010-2011

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Sep 08, 2011 at 11:51:27 AM PDT

We lost our girl Victoria yesterday. It's been HOT lately, even for here. Yesterday was a high of 104. The day before, a high of 105. Victoria was on the nest, incubating 12 eggs. She'd been there for about 10 days. She hadn't been eating much or drinking much water, and it was just too much for her.

Details below, including many lessons learned about what to do with a broody bird.

Chicken Crisis Averted

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Aug 03, 2011 at 13:24:36 PM PDT

Daisy with the two roosters. She's in the middle.

Girls Only - No Cocks Allowed!

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Jul 26, 2011 at 23:09:12 PM PDT

From left to right: Rose, Daisy, and Angel.

Chicken Blogging: Chicken Personalities

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Apr 26, 2011 at 18:02:10 PM PDT

Chicken Blogging: Busted

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Apr 14, 2011 at 17:30:26 PM PDT

My impression, up til now, was that the city tolerated chickens so long as your neighbors don't complain. I don't think our neighbors complained because we talk to them and we know they don't mind the chickens. I've even checked with the mailman, to make sure he doesn't mind them. He replied that dogs on his route might bite him but our chickens never will.

I like our neighbors, and I appreciate their tolerance of our chickens, so I won't complain about their dogs. But it strikes me as absurd that their chihuahuas, which bark 24/7, are okay while my quiet chickens are a problem.

Chicken pics below... the babies are getting bigger!

Homegrown San Diego Food Activism

by: Jill Richardson

Sun Apr 10, 2011 at 03:58:09 AM PDT

The next day, around 11am, I heard a knock at the door. I was still in bed, dealing with that migraine. I got up, in my underwear, without my glasses, and ran to answer it. It was a reporter from the local ABC affiliate, and she wanted to do a story on my chickens. I told her I'd go put pants on. So my little chickees were on TV! The best part of the experience for me was the reporter's reaction to my chickens, because she was surprised how they did not smell at all and there weren't any bugs. I explained that chickens are natural composters and that compost, done right, should not smell bad. She was also impressed that the chickens were part of a larger, very well thought out plan for my garden.

But the big kahuna of local San Diego food activism came this weekend with the Cultivating Food Justice Event. This is a conference held annually that never fails to impress me. I attend food-related conferences around the country, and this one is unique. It's all local attendees, focused on local, national, and international issues. There's a mix between workshops that cover larger issues, like the farm bill, and workshops with immediate hands on applicability, like building solar ovens. In the past, I've attended workshops on backyard chickens and beekeeping.

This time, I went to one on farming in areas of scarce water and I learned some mind-blowing strategies for growing food without much water. For example, give your plants a few deep waterings a week instead of shallow waterings daily to encourage the roots to grow deep. Or direct seed when you can instead of growing or buying starts, because it will make the roots grow deeper, down to where there is moisture. But the craziest was a story about how people in some parts of Africa will trim the leaves and side shoots off of tomato starts until they have a 2-3 foot tall plant with leaves on top. They dig a narrow hole and lower the plant in, back fill it with rich compost, and give it some water to start it off. The result is that the plant is rooted deep enough to reach the moisture in the soil and survive without rain. Amazing!

The event was held in City Heights, a low income area with a large population of immigrants and refugees from all over the world. You can hardly walk a few blocks without seeing a thriving garden there. It's truly inspirational.

A new event this year was gathering into groups of people by their neighborhood in San Diego to make plans for how to improve our own communities. We gathered email lists for each neighborhood, so that activism can continue beyond the conference.

To me, the best part of the conference is its inclusiveness. It's always free, accessible via public transportation, with child care and translation available, and there is usually free food too. The result is that the attendees come from all segments of society, reflecting the diversity of our city. This is crucial, but it's not something that every conference like this achieves.

Saturday night, after the conference, we all gathered at a nearby home for a fundraiser for a new non-profit, Grow Strong. Founded by Amy and Malaki, a couple that is invaluable to our local food justice community, the organization is going to work toward food sovereignty in Malaki's home region in Kenya. The fundraiser included traditional Kenyan foods and locally brewed beer and mead, including an East African style beer made from millet and sorghum that was delicious.

Every year I am so inspired by the amazing people and knowledge of San Diego, which is, by and large, a conservative area where you wouldn't necessarily expect to find such an amazing food justice community. This year is no exception.

Chicken Blogging: The First Egg!

by: Jill Richardson

Sat Apr 02, 2011 at 16:01:26 PM PDT

Story and more pics are below.

Chicken Blogging: Baby Chicks!

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Mar 23, 2011 at 18:35:15 PM PDT

I got four unsexed chicks from a local breeder today: Black, blue, and lavender Ameraucanas (one of each color) and a Silver-Laced Wyandotte. They are all nameless thus far, particularly because my roommate is talking more about eating any that turn out to be roosters.

The new girls (well, we hope)