They have some very strange idea of where to sleep.

They have some very strange idea of where to sleep., originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I built them a roost with four levels and could hardly wait for them to start using it. Now they just use it as a ladder to get to the top of the wall and out under the eves. One is even roosting on top of the fan and I had to turn it off because I could hear the fan clicking on her toe nails. The bantam breeds might be able to continue this but the six standard size breeds including the Black Jersey Giant on top of the fan are going to find it hard once the are full grown. They might still be able to get in the rafters but I doubt if they will fit on the narrow ledge on top of the wall.

An orchid I guess. Can anyone name it? Correctly identified by two friends Carole and Joyce. Pyrola elliptica Shinleaf "White Wintergreen" Pyrolaceae (Wintergreen Family)

An orchid I guess. Can anyone name it?, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I found this growing on my property a few years ago and there are even more of them know I guess it is an orchid but I'm not sure. Can anyone help?

Time Lapse Bumble Bees in the Lavender Bed

Time Lapse Bumble Bees in the Lavender Bed, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

The Lavender Bed is alive with bumble bees.

Late July in the Square Foot Garden

The wonderful weather that we have had in July has made a big difference in the garden. Lots of Broccoli this year and the Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts are coming along nicely too. Thanks to a comment posted on my last update I discovered that my soil has a Boron deficiency and an application of Boron has made a noticeable improvement in my Beets and Cucumbers. I also give you a look at the monster mystery squash plant that is growing out of my compost pile.

Chickens nine weeks old, lavender and bumble bees.

Just another short look at my little flock, the lavender bed in bloom and the bees.

Dehydrating Food Grapes, Garlic Scapes and Salmon Jerky

I just received an inexpensive food dehydrator and I'm having a lot of fun using it so far I have made raisins, dried Garlic Scapes and made Salmon Jerky . Right now I'm dehydrating blueberries. You can pay a lot of money for these things but I went with the cheapest I could find. $35.00 and it seems to be working very well. As summer goes on I plan to dry a lot of things from the garden such as peas, beans and herbs.

Bay of Fundy Tides at Campobello Island, N.B. Canada

I live on Campobello Island at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy which has the worlds highest recorded rise and fall of the tides. This is a time lapse taken over a 14 hour period which covers one and a half tide cycles.

The girls enjoying their Breakfast scratch feed.

I think the status is in being the highest

I think the status is in being the highest, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Ginger has made it to the top roost but she hasn't tried the top of the wall yet. The hen on the right on the top roost is Ginger. Tonight there are five on the top of the wall two of them are even peeking out from under the eves. I left a quarter inch space all along the eve and covered it with window screen, for ventilation, so maybe it is cooler out there. Whatever it is great fun checking ever night to see where they are roosting. I don't think the larger breeds will fit up on the wall much longer, they are only about half grown.

Eureka Ginger is on the roost with everyone else

Eureka Ginger is on the roost with everyone else, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I'm pleased to report that ginger was able to get up on the roost tonight with all of the other girls. I put a little makeshift ramp up to the bottom rung but I'm not sure that she used it. I will leave it there for a while just in case she needs it. Also as you can see we are now roosting on three levels Ginger and a friend on the third roost, eight more on the fourth roost and two of the bantams have out smarted everyone they have gone to the top of the wall next to the fan which is running. Maybe they like the breeze.

Time Lapse of my 3 Sisters First Nations style garden

This time lapse was taken between June 29, 2011 and July 18, 2011. The camera was watching one of the six mounds in my First Nations Style three sisters permaculture garden. During that time span the mound was attacked twice by raccoon the first attack tore down one of the two large corn plants and the second attack last night got the other corn plant so I decided to end the time lapse experiment at this point. Obviously I'm not going to get any corn but the pumpkins, squash and beans are still struggling on so there is still hope for a harvest of some sort. I will keep you updated on the progress. Hope you enjoy the time lapse.

Island Hopping in the Bay of Fundy

The title tells it all a day on the ferry boats in the beautiful Bay of Fundy.

The score is now 11 to 1

The score is now 11 to 1, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Last Ginger was the only one not sleeping up on the roost, all 11 on the top roost I guess I didn't need the other three roosts although I doubt if they all fit on one when they are full grown. There was a lot of squawking out of just one chicken when they were going to bed and I suspect it was her trying to get up on the roost. I don't think it is anything serious, this morning when I let them out she came running out with everyone else.

The score is 10 to 2.

The score is 10 to 2., originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

The score tonight is 10 to 2. The 3 hens who roosted for the first time last night have been joined by 7more and once again they are all together on the top roost. Just Ginger the Road Island Red and the Barred Rock Bantam on the ground. This little Bantam hangs around a lot with Ginger so I suspect it is just down there to keep her company. Ginger has developed a problem with her left leg and roosting might not be too comfortable for her right now. If she walks slowly you don't notice a problem but if she tries to run she has a noticeable limp. I caught her this afternoon and examined the leg I don't think anything is broken or dislocated so hopefully it is just a sprain or something that she will grow out of. An interesting thing happened when I was examining her it took her a while to settle down so I held her and talked to her then once I had finished my examination I just sat her on my lap so she could leave whenever she wanted to and she hauled her feet up under herself and settled in for a chat sat in my lap for almost 10 minutes.

Barred Rocks leading the way

Barred Rocks leading the way, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

The ladies will be eight weeks old on Sunday and for the first time tonight three of them have decided to sleep on the roosts. Interesting to see that they also went to the top roost of the four to choose from. I took the photo with a flash well after dark so I guess they are settled in for the night. Interesting that it would be all three of the Barred Rocks, I have two sets of three hens of the same breed these Barred Rocks and three Bantam Mottled Chochins and both of the little trios seem to know that they belong together and often do things together.

Poor little guys are scared of the dark.

Poor little guys are scared of the dark., originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I took their brooder lamp away today and I went out after dark to see if they were using their roost . They were all huddled on the floor in one corner. Now I feel bad. It is nice and warm at night now and they have all of their feathers so it is much healthier for them to start getting used to the regular climate temperatures. hopefully they will start to roost soon, they take naps on the roots in the daytime but they are still accustomed to sleeping on the floor like they did under the brooder lamp.

Three Sisters Garden attacked by Coons, Video 6, July 11, 2011

Very upsetting this morning to discover that the coons attacked my 3 sisters garden and tore down most of the corn and left it in a state beyond salvage. I wouldn't have been surprised to loose the ripe corn later in the season but I have never seen them do this much damage this early in the year.

First Nations Style 3 Sisters Permaculture Garden - Video 5 - July 10, 2011

The 3 sisters permaculture garden seems to be working out very well so far. The corn is a bit short but it has tassels and ears starting to form. The beans are already at the top of the corn and have buds but no blooms yet and the pumpkins and squash plants have started to run with lots of buds but also no blooms yet.

Free Range Chickens

I've installed 164 feet of four foot high electric poultry netting with a solar charger so the chickens are able to explore a large green area outside there normal enclosure. It is surrounding a long narrow section of my lawn and they are having great fun running and flying around searching for bugs and trying new green things.

An Early July Look at the Square Foot Garden Beds

In an effort to make my garden update videos shorter I have decided to do them at various times in three separate categories today's is a look at what is happening in the Square Foot Garden Beds. The other two categories are the non pruned Tomatoes in the garden and greenhouse with a look at the things that are growing with them and the last category is The first nations style permaculture three sisters garden. So each future update will cover one of these topics.

Who is this Mystery Clematis ???

Who is this Mystery Clematis ???, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I suppose I must have planted this in my garden years ago but I don't think I have ever seen it bloom before. It is growing in a garden that I have allowed to go wild a mixture of shrubs, trees and perennials in a woodland setting along with wild flowers. This is sort of hidden behind some tall shrubs and is growing up a natural arch that the American Bittersweet has designed all on its own. It might have bloomed other years and I just didn't see it but I'm sure I would have remembered if I had, it is a stunner. If you know what variety this might be let me know.

Lavender and Roses blooming must be summer.

Lavender starting to bloom, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

We have had a wonderful change in the weather lately. Dry sunny and at last warm. The lavender is almost in bloom and the roses are at their peak. I have never made them before but I plan to try Lavender Wands as soon as the Lavender is in full blooms.

Joyeux Anniversaire Canada - Happy Birthday Canada 144 Today !!

A bit of a long video documenting my Canada Day on Campobello Island. A look at my chickens of course then a hike on the island and finishing up with a look at the local Canada Day Parade.

Putting the finishing touches on the Chicken Coop

Installing the chicken door, a tarp for shade and protection for rain and the new large hanging feeder and three gallon water fountain.