Coops and Co ops

Luke and I are really into the idea of having a few (like 3) chickens in our backyard. No roosters, just hens, to lay fresh eggs and be funny and teach Scott things about where food comes from and how to treat animals. We look at chicken coop designs sometimes and I think Luke would be more than happy to build one. Our little yard, amazingly, meets the city's requirements for having up to 4 hens (20 feet from the neighbor's building or their written permission) but our landlord still has a no pet policy -- like, no vertebrates of any kind -- so no chickens just yet.

City chickens and city "farming" in general is gaining popularity and I love it. I hear a lot about square foot gardening and most of our neighbors have tomato plants and squash hanging from their balconies or green been vines growing out of their few feet of dirt. It's really gorgeous and fun. We moved in too late to plant annuals this year, but we have herbs, the lemon tree, and so much mint you can't believe it. I'm all about making our yard PRODUCE. This winter I'm planning to plant strawberries ('cause, ya know, it NEVER FREEZES here in paradise!) and next spring tomatoes, maybe rhubarb, and chamomile flowers. And maybe berries. And squash.

Our crop of chocolate babies is coming in nicely!

My other wish-turned-project lately is to start a parents' babysitting co op. Mom was in a neighborhood co op when we were kids and I remember it being very fun. It saves money and builds community, which are two big goals on our unwritten family mission plan. Are any of you in one? Have been in one? Have tips ... ?

Making brownies (and explaining the chocolate face in the earlier picture).