This week I made my first real barter of homestead goods when I traded a coworker some onions from their garden for some of my free range eggs. Both my coworker and I are relatively new to homesteading and this is the first time either of us has made a barter trade of homegrown items. He was able to start his garden earlier than I so he had onions ready to go. I have had my chickens laying now for almost a year and he just started with some chicks this month. They won't be laying for a few months yet. It was satisfying to be able to trade the fruits of our labor and everyone gained in the bargain.
Congrats on your first homegrown barter - may your life be filled with many more!
ReplyDeleteWay to trade! I'm hoping for some of the same. I'm going to have an over-abundance of a few veggies and hope to trade some with neighbors that have something I don't. In a few years, I'll have eggs, too. Can't wait!
ReplyDeletePlease? Will you hold my hand while I do the chick-a-dee shuffle? I'm a little overwhelmed, even with the Murray McMurray catalog telling me I can do the chick'n thing. I've lived on backyardchickens.com but I'm still hesitant. My co-worker, a sweet and totally off-grid lady, has chickens and she had to call in one day this week because her chicks were pecking each other so violently, they were bleeding... profusely. It involved black sharpies to hide the dreaded color red, filed down beaks and lots of bloodshed. Last year, her (former) chicks were predated by a hawk. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteBackyardchickens.com is a great resource. I turned to the chicken wizards there more than once after bringing home my babies. Honestly, Ginger I think chickens are very easy to take care of. They require less work than my cat does and they are such a joy to watch in the yard I wish I had done this sooner. While I have heard of problems with predators, most can be problem solved with adequate fencing and a secure coop. Not sure what was going on with your co-workers chicks but I think that is not a common problem.
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