Sheryl Dutton

Observation is key in any environment and creating a habitat where animals can completely provide for themselves takes time and tweaking. I think there is a healthy balance of area per animal, diversity of habitat available to them and managing the impact of their behavior on the land. I'm new to keeping chickens but I have managed to reduce feed to about 20% of their overall diet in the past months. I live in a subtropical climate so I am able to let them free range year round in a very small backyard garden. I have observed my flock consuming different types of grasses and seeds, weeds, sweet potato leaves, different types of amaranth that readily reseeds, lizards, slugs and insects. I also give them kitchen scraps and some black soldier fly larvae harvested from the compost bin. When I do keep my chickens in their run I know exactly what to bring them from the yard. My goal is to wean my chickens off of feed completely so I have enjoyed reading these responses. Best wishes in adapting your plans to your environment.

Enjoying this very much...thanks.

Thanks so much, now I have one heck of an ongoing project and plenty of solutions. I got some apple cider vinegar.  I have to attract more birds. I wonder if morning doves, blue jays and mockingbirds eat ticks and/or slugs?  Brice, the DE info is a blessing!!!  This is the first time I've heard of it.  I think I'll listen to the P.W. podcast while I'm cleaning like a mad woman! Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Still grossed out but completely empowered!

Ok, apple cider vinegar for the pups.  What can I do about the house? I am not lying, I just saw one crawling on the keyboard. Thanks for the link Lolly.  Pretty sure the HOA would have COW about hens.  Do you think I could bribe my neighbors not to say anything with eggs??? 

Out of balance yes.  Stink bugs breeding and white flies too.  I'm happy to create habitat, but the habitat is coming indoors.  eeek

I am writing this from a place of extreme grossed out-ness.  I have been battling ticks for the past two days and fear further infestation.  I have a small forest garden and two dogs in SE Florida.  I cannot identify the ticks.  They don't look like any of the pictures I have found.  I am looking for an organic method of control that WORKS.  When I search online, all I get are recommendations to poison my environment.  Very worried about ticks biting my children or myself that may carry Lyme Disease or other viruses and/or bacteria.  Any advice on tick management would be really reassuring. Going tick manic at the moment!   

Hi Cory,
I'm in contact with Marcus down in Miami.
Hope all is well.

I'm a South FL native.  I've got some very drought resistant/hearty plants and herbs growing here with little care.  Moringa, malabar spinach, quinoa, calaloo and cherry hibiscus for greens.  Fruit trees:  Papaya, mango, lychee, strangler fig.  Herbs: rosemary, mint, basil, fennel.......  Many plants can take the summer heat under a thick layer of mulch and sandy soil can most def. be improved. 

I am working on perennial peanut as a nitrogen fixing ground cover/green mulch.  I got cuttings from a friend.  I'm in SE FL.  I ordered some seeds from the FNPS for beach flower and blanket flower to use as ground cover but I don't know the specifics on what they contribute to the soil.  They are native though and attract bees.  Have you had any luck? 

Hi everyone,

I came across this embarrassment of a site this morning and wondered if anyone here has heard of this company or of the Montana land acquisition mentioned in the link below? "The new property, known as the New Miami, is located in the Madison formation in northern Montana. It has the potential to accommodate up to 17 shallow horizontal wells and contains an estimated recoverable oil reserve of 2.4 million barrels."

http://www.americanenergyreport.com/