January 2010

  • National Bird Feeding Month

    By sarajean on 1/30/10 2:00am
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    Want to add some zippy bursts of color to your yard, wake up to melodic music, and drive your indoor cats psycho all at once? Behold, the bird feeder!

    Installing bird feeders in your yard is one of the easiest things you can do to attract wildlife. Most bird feeders are super cheap (or free, if you’re into DIY projects) and birdseed itself isn’t going to break the bank, either. Here are some great bird feeding gear you can buy or create for well under ten bucks. Remember, a little time and effort will reward you with plenty of feathered friends to share your backyard with.

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  • Lecherous Sparrows

    By lisala on 1/28/10 2:22am
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    Chaucer in Canterbury Tales, compares his Summoner's concupicity to sparrows. The summoner, we are told is "As hoot he was and lecherous as a sparwe" (General Prologue l. 628). It turns out Chaucer was on to something.

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  • Baby Chicks Are Coming!

    By erika on 1/28/10 12:29am
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    They Were SO Cute Back Then!They Were SO Cute Back Then!As February approaches, baby chicks will soon start being shipped to feed stores across the country.  When I stopped at my local feed store last week to pick up another bag of Layena, I saw the notice on the front door.  This feed store's chicks are in such high demand that they have a waiting list months in advance.

    Chicks are cute, but they grow into chickens, and they're a big responsibility.  I'm going to assume you're not one of those awful people who would buy a chick as an Easter present, without a thought for its future!


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  • Celebrate Bald Eagles

    By sarajean on 1/15/10 1:21am
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    January 17 is Bald Eagle Appreciation Day. Did you know that our national bird is the only eagle that’s unique to North America? Here are some other facts about bald eagles you can use to celebrate the day or teach your children (or use at your next trivia contest).

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  • Heritage Chicken Breeds

    By erika on 1/8/10 2:05am
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    Ethel, a Buff OrpingtonEthel, a Buff OrpingtonI have been thinking a lot about heritage breeds, because the topic of heritage livestock seems to crop up a lot in articles about eating locally, sustainable living, that kind of thing.  Heritage breeds are valuable not just because they are old and interesting bits of living history (although they are).  Most heritage breeds were developed to be hardy, in keeping with the times in which they lived.


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