Project Linus

I found another group of people I think mentionable as GOOD EGGS. They are Project Linus. This group makes warm and wonderful security blankets for children and teens that are dealing with illness in the hospital. A perfect example on how each of us can make incredible differences in each others lives. Something so small as a blanket can make a scary, cold stay in the hospital warm and tolerable. There may be a Project Linus in your area. Check them out. More GOOD EGGS are out there...let's keep looking. Spread the word, spread the love, be a good egg.

P.S. Today's picture is the COOP, where it all happens. This the the little chicken resort and spa. Even while they are closed in they have two 16'x8' runs and a cherry tree for shade on one side. Let's not forget the fantastic view of the valley from their roosts. Chicken Fun Fact: The chicken was once considered a sacred animal symbolizing the sun.

Good Egg in Port Townsend, WA

We went on a little vacation to Port Townsend, WA this last week. I was able to track down an old friend, Bob Stamm, from my Rhinelander Flying Service days. While we were there Bob took us out to the Port Townsend Airport to see the new aviation museum and what is going on there. What's going on is GOOD EGG sort of stuff. Jerry and Peggy Thuotte are giving back to there community in a huge way. They are giving training on plane restoration to young people. These volunteers are learning more then just plane restoration and flying lessons. They are learning valuable life lessons, team work skills, dedication, responsibility and pride in a hard days work. Way to go Jerry and Peggy. Check out their website www.ptaeromuseum.com and learn more about this GOOD EGG.

P.S. The featured chicken is Ruby. She is an '05 Araucana and lays huge blue eggs. Ruby is one of my miracle chickens. She survived a pretty bad dog bite. Her wounds got infected during her recovery and Eric helped me clean her up and make a chicken intensive care. Once isolated she started to recover and returned to the coop a month later. I also call her my opera chicken. She sings beautiful little chicken songs.

Making a difference one egg at a time.

So we were driving home from a wonderful trip to Wisconsin a year ago and I was reflecting on what a happy life I have. I am so lucky to have a husband who is my best friend, a charming old farm house as my home, a fantastic view from our land, and the most beautiful friends and family anyone could imagine. I also get to wake up every day and if I so choose, do what I love...Make Pottery (muddyfishstudio.blogspot.com). While thinking about this I thought about my chickens and how they've changed my life. They are walking lawn ornaments. They are zen. They all have different personalities and are entertaining. I glow when friends ask me about my chickens. It's so incredibly silly, but it's true I just love them. So if they could make me so happy, maybe there was a way for me to spread the love and have them make others happy too.

I started out with 8 chicks in 2005 and have added chicks in '06 and '08. I had been giving my eggs away to friends, but all my friends where always willing to pay for them. So I thought I would change course a little. I would sell my eggs and the money raised would go to Heifer International at the end of the year. This way my customers get a good quality egg, free roaming for at least 8 hours a day, plus they have a very spacious coop and cage area when they are in at night, and my clients can also feel good because there purchase will go to a wonderful cause. My girls put out an egg-cellent product and at the end of the year they will be making other families in other countries very happy too.

My goal was to raise $100. I have already met that goal and still have three months of egg sales left. Be A GOOD EGG!

Namaste

P.S. The featured chicken is one of my Aussies, Teri. She is an Australorp and part of the '08 group. Australorps are known for their gentle nature and year round egg laying. Since I had decided to sell eggs I needed some winter layers. My Araucanas lay beautiful eggs, but come December/January they shut down the shoot and take a few months off. This will be the first winter with Australorps, we'll see how they do. So far they have lived up to their reputation for being gentle, they are very sweet natured and curious. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the dog in the picture is our chihuahua Meadow.

Be A GOOD EGG!!!

I believe we can all make a difference in the world. I really feel that making small steps to help others actually ends up making huge differences. Speaking from experience when I do something nice for someone seeing them feel good makes me feel good. It's a nice circle. Where I'm going with this is that we should all try to Be A Good Egg.

That's what this little blog is about, in a way. I'd like it to be a place to showcase my fabulous flock of working gals, my hens, and the good work they are doing and maybe learn a bit about chickens and kindness toward each other. In January of 2008 I started selling my chicken eggs with the idea that I would donate the money to Heifer International at the end of the year. I was selling them for $2.50/dz, but since the price of feed went up SOOOO much I changed the plan just slightly. I sell the eggs for $3/dz with $2 going to the donation fund and $1 to supplement the cost of feed and scratch. I'll chat about how this started on another day.

I'll also be showing off my girls and their life here on Fairacres. I hope you get a kick out of this little blog, maybe learn a thing a two about chickens with me and inspire you to Be A Good Egg too!

Namaste

P.S. The chicken on this post is Daphne. She is a Buff Orpington. Daphne is a member of the '08's. This means she was raised here on the farm in 2008. She's a gentle gal that makes a sound like a squeaky toy. She lays beautiful medium brown eggs.