Urban Farmers

Summer around here means fresh fruit and berries everywhere. I love this time of year when you can walk into the garden and pick a handful of blueberries or raspberries for breakfast. Pick an apple, peach, apricot or plum for a snack. Gather cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes for a salad. Harvest basil, peppers and eggplants, parsley, zucchini and corn. Pick lavender to dry for sachets and catnip for the cats. It is a busy and bountiful time of year, and then there are the eggs.

A couple of years ago I noticed chicken coops popping up around the neighborhood. Nurseries are stocking baby chicks in the spring along with vegetable starter plants. Neighbors have turned over a part of their garden areas to chickens. These are happy city chicks. Most urban farmers raise the hens for their eggs only. Usually the hens are given names and are pets living long after their egg laying days are over.

Chicken coops have reached architectural designs. We have friends who have a beautiful all brick chicken coop nestled under big shade trees with a brick patio and cedar ramps. The outside is accented with beautiful flower hanging baskets.

I love the eggs from these neighborly chickens. Brown eggs from one hen, blue-green from another hen and speckled egg shells from yet another one of the girls. The taste is so rich and satisfying that eggs from the store, even organic free range, can’t compare. If it gets too hot or too cold the girls don’t lay many eggs, but right now it is perfect. I buy eggs from my neighbor egg lady and her “coop d’villa” hens. These pictures are of some of my favorite neighbors.