Day 323

Garden gold is a nice thing to have. Chicken poop is a true indicator of our farm’s success. We have used it to cultivate a successful garden. Welev added it to our hibernating garden beds and look forward to seeing how it will continue to support our garden for years to come. But in its essence, garden gold is not as exciting as it may seem. After all, it’s just poop.

Having a nurse wife and being an early childhood educator, we are quite aware that poop runs the world. When a kid or student is sick, you always have to inquire about the poop. If there is an issue with the poop, there’s always an issue somewhere else. Did you poop yet?  This is usually the first thing my wife asks when the kids are feeling icky? Before sending a sick child to the office, I ask as well. I am not as straightforward, but I tend to seek out the same response when my students complain of a stomach ache.

It probably goes without saying, but raising around fifty chickens can create a large mess. Luckily, chickens tend to be messy in the same spot so the cleaning process isn’t as terrible as it might initially seem. With the deep litter method we used when we built the coops, we don't have to do a complete coop cleanout very often and instead can attack the stinkiest spots in smaller bursts at times that work best for our schedule. With winter on the horizon, the season of frozen poop is coming. This makes cleanup a bit trickier.

Similarly, our dog can leave a few small landmines around the yard. Considering we are a family that is outside a lot, cleaning up after him is crucial. Similar to the chickens, he has favorite spots so we know which areas to either clean up or avoid.

Our cats provide us with plenty of love. But when it comes to their poop, there is a whole different issue. Cleaning out litter boxes isn’t a desirable chore, but a necessary evil. We love our kitties, but on occasion, they don't reciprocate that love the way we would like.