Fruit trees, a vegetable garden, and chickens were my consolation prizes for getting priced out of New York in 2007. Yes, we had to leave our hometown when our first kid was born, but at least in Portland, Oregon, I could keep chickens in our small urban yard, and grow food. It never really felt like an even trade, but the fresh eggs, the baskets full of plums and figs, and the ability to grow kale and arugula year-round somewhat eased the sting of losing home. At the height of my efforts, we grew almost all of our own vegetables in beds that filled the backyard, front yard, and parking strip, and had enough eggs to share with neighbors. The eggs were gorgeous and delicious, with rich orange yolks.
Oh Cari! How awful! I lost one of my young girls to ... an owl? earlier this year. There she was, headless? But all your pretty chickens? At one fell swoop?
I've cut way back on the urban homestead myself. Still have my raised beds in the backyard, but mostly grew flowers and herbs and greens last summer. I had an empty coop for a bit, but I missed them clucking around so back up to 4 birds. We'll see. Age is creeping up, and it's all a lot of work, and we can get good local greens now here --
But I'm so sorry about the massacre. Raccoons are the worst.
I relate so completely to this. So sad, losing your flock. Beautiful writing. The ache of the stranger in a strange land. For me. Home will always be California. My relationship now but a sigh.
Oh Cari! This is so beautifully written. I was hanging on every lovely and heartbreaking word. Maybe it's just me, but I think every Brooklynite dreams of doing what you did, even if it ended sadly. That said, would you ever try sending this to the NYTimes? It seems like a story that would have a welcome home there. Sending love.
Oh Cari! How awful! I lost one of my young girls to ... an owl? earlier this year. There she was, headless? But all your pretty chickens? At one fell swoop?
I've cut way back on the urban homestead myself. Still have my raised beds in the backyard, but mostly grew flowers and herbs and greens last summer. I had an empty coop for a bit, but I missed them clucking around so back up to 4 birds. We'll see. Age is creeping up, and it's all a lot of work, and we can get good local greens now here --
But I'm so sorry about the massacre. Raccoons are the worst.
I relate so completely to this. So sad, losing your flock. Beautiful writing. The ache of the stranger in a strange land. For me. Home will always be California. My relationship now but a sigh.
Oh Cari, I am so sorry! I know how much you loved them all, especially Rue 😞
Oh Cari! This is so beautifully written. I was hanging on every lovely and heartbreaking word. Maybe it's just me, but I think every Brooklynite dreams of doing what you did, even if it ended sadly. That said, would you ever try sending this to the NYTimes? It seems like a story that would have a welcome home there. Sending love.
Cari, I'm so sorry about your chickens. Sending love to you ❤️
Oh Cari. How hard and sad. I am so sorry. Losing them all like that is heartbreaking. Sending love.