Doin' The Funky Chicken

Mar 22, 2009

Doin’ The Funky Chicken!
Sounds like a dance but it was so much more exciting. Today I went the Funky Chicken Farm in Melbourne http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M18934 and learned how to make a Growbox. We started with an 18 gallon Sterlite container. The process was very systematic. First we put the container on the lid and cut out the center of the lid. Then we marked off four circles on the top and cut them out with a drill and circle cutter (gotta get me one of those). We cut four pieces of sewer drain pipe and used ties to place them under each circle. We had already drilled three holes around each circle to use for the ties. Multiple holes are put in the lid section that was cut as well as a small circle to hold the PVC watering pipe. A drain hole is also put in the side of the bin. A 30” piece of 1” PVC cut for the water pipe.
What you end up with is a box with built in drainage for growing your plants. You water through the pipe and excess water drains away. Suzanne (Growbox Teacher) has a complete garden in her yard using this method. She had carrots, celery, lettuces, Swiss chard, corn, sunflowers, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, sugar snap peas…I am sure I am forgetting something. It was amazing. I am glad Marty was with me because after he saw all that she could grow-he agreed it was a great concept.

These growboxes can be moved around your yard as needed, taken in when too cold, moved to the sunny spot, etc. Also, it is more elevated that putting the plants in the ground and a lot easier to tend too.
Along with the class (25$), I purchased the manual for (10$)-on a cd. This will allow me not to forget anything important. It has information on planting in the growboxes, directions for cuttings, how many plants per box, etc. This class was worth every penny and very exciting. A bonus was the tour of the chicken farm afterwards. Look at the pictures in my albums. Suzanne will be doing classes on Thursdays and Sundays at 3:00. You can contact her at DivaDyes@cfl.rr.com. As I completed my first box in class today, I plan to use the manual to make the shopping list for other things I want to get (soil, etc.) I plan to have my first Growbox planted by next weekend! WHOO HOO!

See pictures here
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1097899532&k=3613P5SXV4YM5DEASK64W4

wow

Time flies.....Every day as I go through the day, I am constantly writing. If what was in my head went directly to paper, I surely would fill half a journal daily. Due to the fact there is no technology that scribes from brain to paper, I resort to pulling out one of my many little notebooks (I have three sitting next to my desk to go through today), and I write a few notes/lines so I can get back to it later.

So today after reading a favorite blog I follow, I decided to come here and see when I wrote last. It was almost one year ago. Sad thing is-it feels like yesterday.
A lot of great things have happened since last year. Two monumental ones come to mind. Marty's daughter Katie gave birth to a boy August 5. He was a few months early but had to come on out as Katie was at risk. From the moment he was born, Marty insisted he was perfect-just small. I was a bit too emotional and had a hard time seeing that little being with all those tubes attached. Everytime he took a breath his little body shook and small little sounds came out. I held it together until we got in the car. I am glad Marty was able to calm me rather than getting upset with me or being influenced by my collapse. As it turns out, Marty was exactly correct. Zander is now 6mos old and he is perfect-and small. At five months old the doctor said he could sit up as well as a full term six month old. THANK GOD! Katie is a great mom and her mother, Julie, is a great grandmother. Zander will be going places...there is no doubt.

Another important event for me was getting a cat in Dec 08. Okay, I know getting a cat is not as monumental as getting a grandchild...but I have wanted a cat for years and Marty was always resistant. Although I have a dog I adore, Maya, she can not fulfill my desire to have my cat. Megan went with me to the shelter and in the end, Maya did as well. We made a great pick. Jack Jingles is AWESOME!!!

As always, time presses in as I must go get ready for the day (church, lunch, travel to Ft. Pierce). Now that I have written like this, wish I could write a few more hours. But...until next time