permaculture

[paul wheaton <paul@richsoil.com>]

Jacque,

Thanks for the lovely feedback!

Most of the negative feedback I received had to do with my displeasure
with chicken tractors.  Although my first article made it clear that
some people use chicken tractors like a salatin-pen and I
differentiated between the two, the people that were upset were
certain that NOBODY would use a chicken tractor in any way other than
a salatin-style pen.  And you can see for yourself just how upset they
were.  Well, my experience is that I have seen the style I am
concerned about - and I got the "chicken tractor" book from the
library and shore nuff:  thar it is.

So I double-emphasized that the article is my opinion and I
double-clarified the different ways a chicken tractor may be used.

I debated with myself for a long time whether to include the harsh
comments in the article.

As for forage:  yes!  I will add a lot about that in the future!  For
now, let me start by saying "mulberry trees" and saying that there
have been some rich discussions on this topic:

http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/997_0

http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/845_0


On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 3:35 PM, Jacque Greenleaf<jacque@book-woman.net> 
wrote:
> Hi Paul, your article is shaping up nicely.
>
> I've only had one season of raising chickens, in an ad hoc coop/run/
> free range situation, and I've come to the same conclusion you have.
> They need protection because we put energy into them for our own
> purposes, and we expect to get a return on that energy. (The single
> most important thing I've heard a permaculturist say is that it is all
> about closing your energy loops.) But allowing them to be filthy and/
> or crowded is counterproductive and inhumane. I am at a loss as to why
> the people who disagree with you are so vehement about it. It's not as
> if there is only one decent way to raise chickens, and your experience
> is your experience, how can it be erroneous? Clearly, if you are
> keeping two laying hens on an apartment balcony, you are not going to
> use any of Joel Salatin's methods no matter how much they appeal to you.
>
> I hope you will eventually include some specific forage species
> recommendations. If you know anything about forage species that will
> maximize omega-3 in the eggs, I'd love to hear that. And is there a
> difference between winter and summer foraging that will come into play
> in managing a paddock system?
>
> Again, thanks for writing this and allowing us to participate.
>
>
>
>
> "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies
> hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness
> in a descending spiral of destruction....The chain reaction of evil --
> hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars -- must be broken, or we
> shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation." -- Dr. Martin
> Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
>
>
>
> On Aug 14, 2009, at 2:25 PM, paul wheaton wrote:
>
>> I have added a lot to my article "concerns about the way most people
>> raise chickens".  I've polished a lot of the article and I've added a
>> significant section on predators.
>>
>> I have received a LOT of feedback on the article.  Including some
>> rather harsh words!  I think I struck a nerve!
>>
>> You can find the latest version, along with the harsh words at
>> http://www.richsoil.com/chickens.jsp
>>
>> I could still use some pictures for the article!  Details at
>> http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/1958_0
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 10:02 AM, paul wheaton<paul@richsoil.com>
>> wrote:
>>> For years I've tried to tell people about stuff that I think is a bit
>>> of a better way to raise chickens. But it all comes out sounding like
>>> crazy talk. So for the last few weeks I've been trying to write it as
>>> one gob that gets the point across. I think this now gets the point
>>> across!
>>>
>>> http://www.richsoil.com/chickens.jsp
>>>
>>> Please tell me what you think!
>>>
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