Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day indeed! In past years we went down to one car for a few months and a few years ago I dedicated four months to bike only transport. This year we planted three trees . . . four way apple, four way pear, and a plum. Also we implemented a new non-paper towel buying policy- we are now a cloth napkin and towel household!

Spring term ended and I have one week before summer term starts so Mike and I wasted no time in making the most of this last weekend and its beautiful weather! Mike discovered that Vancouver, WA, has a farmer's market. At our last place we biked or walked to the one in downtown Portland. Turns out the Vancouver one is close enough to bike with a great 4 mile bike route direct from our house! We had a blast- think Saturday market mixed with the farmers market.

(left) blueberry bushes and (left) partial view of our mini orchard - can three count as an orchard?
We planted starts from the farmer's market, a local seed/start exchange, and a nursery that I wouldn't return to. On Saturday we planted: lettuce, raspberry, strawberry, rhubarb, white onion, walla walla onions, leeks, blueberry bushes, and 2 types of rosemary.

Felix decided to help dig- (and fertilize)

~2.5 week old chickens
This week was better. I learned to be less freaked out and Elinore stopped flying randomly without navigation and into walls. Now they perch on my wrist and peck feed out of the hand. They do fly and spread their wings but it isn't bad. They are so big now!!!! It is amazing how much they grow each day- its my favorite past time to go and spend time hand feeding them.

Ester (left) is our most curious chick and Elinor (right) is gianormal!
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Lessons: 1) the typical blueberry bush needs to have another planted next to it for pollinating in order to get blueberries. There are some small planter varieties that self pollinate but they have small yields and small berries.