A City Squawkers

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Egg CSA, in the city?

I am embarking on a new adventure! This spring I will be starting the first NYC based Egg CSA with bk farmyards! The motivation for this project, 1. I love chickens and want more time with more of them, but really most importantly 2. I want to see a viable local source of protein. I love vegetables, but they are just not enough. Sure we can grow beans and grains, but I want to push further.

Stacey Murphy, founder of bk farmyards, and architect extrodinaire, has designed a wonderful coop. Our hens will live in a 102 square foot palace, with free access to a covered run. We will be feeding the birds organic feed as well as a combinaiton of food scraps from markets, spent grains from beer brewing, left over wheat grass and of course wild bugs grubs and whatever they find wondering the gardens.

Stay tuned for updates, we will soon be building the coop, ordering ridiculously cute chicks in the mail (and training them with my patented chick training method), bringing in 1 year old hens froma near by farm.

The Egg CSA is now accepting members. Membership is open to residents of N. Crown Heights and Bed Stuy. To joing please email bee (@) bkfarmyards (dot) com

Thursday, January 14, 2010

the ladies of Cozy Shack

Laying through the winter: its amazing but true, our 5 ladies are still laying! We have been getting an average of 3 eggs a day! Maybe its that 16 people take care of them, maybe its the good music and fun parties in the building, but our ladies are proving to be hearty and strong.

Spa Time: the cold dry weather, combined with freezing water is taking its tolls on our pretty girls. They needed some special attention. The ladies all received a petroleum jelly moisturizing treatment on combs, wattles and ears this week. As well as full body massage (aka checking vents and bone structure). the spa even came with a hot tea of warm water and vinegar and fresh organic greens.

Fashion Forward: we have also been working on our fashion sense. If egg laying and companionship wasn't enough, add fashion and tricks.

Great Video on NYC Chickens!

Brooklyn's Backyard Chicken Keepers *food curated* from SkeeterNYC on Vimeo.



Meet Pierogi, The Polish Princess & Urban Chicken - *food curated* from SkeeterNYC on Vimeo.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Students Thoughts on Chickens....



“Chickens are great.
Having a good time feeding them.
I love the chickens.
I know the chickens are cute.
No more eating chicks.
Sometimes I hold the chickens.”

-Kayla Howell


Monday, March 30, 2009

2nd Graders at CS 57

a Day in the Garden


On Friday March 27th, the 2nd Graders in the After School Program spent an afternoon learning, working and playing at the Garden of Happiness. The students have been learning about gardening since the fall, working in the gardens, studying horticulture and livestock in the classroom and exploring the health effects of different diets.


The students have a special love and talent working with the chickens at the garden! The students have shown extreme care and understanding with the chickens, as the practice holding and feeding in the chickens. The students have also learned about the differences in raising hens using conventional or organic methods, exploring the outcomes in the eggs and the health of the chickens. In addition to learning about raising chickens, they have been learning about the benefits of keeping chickens in urban gardens.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Students at CS 57

Friday, March 20, 2009

Taqwa Community Farm Chickens in National Geographic Magazine


Posted Mar 18,2009

In New York City, senior gardener Abu Talib oversees the Taqwa Community Farm and its 13 chickens.

In 19th-century Manhattan, hogs roamed the streets and cattle grazed in public parks. Today, chickens are the urban livestock of choice, and not just in New York. City dwellers across the U.S. are adding hens to their yards and gardens, garnering fresh eggs, fertilizer, and community ties, with localities debating and updating their ordinances accordingly.

Urban chickens fell out of favor in the last century because of industrialization and other factors. In the 1990s, though, they enjoyed a renaissance in the local-food-loving Pacific Northwest. The current recession and farm-to-table movement have taken the trend further still. “Just get a few chickens and you can feed yourself,” says AbuTalib of the Bronx’s Taqwa Community Farm. “He who controls your breadbasket controls your destiny.”

Winona Dimeo-Ediger

Photo: Ira Block

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