Every August I am reminded of the fact that in spite of my best laid plans, in spite of the optimism I had in early spring, and in spite of all my gardening knowledge applied, there will be disappointments. There are so many variables in a garden that can lead either to success or to more lessons learned. Some plants may have produced an over abundance of crops, which can be sold, shared, given away, or even fed to the compost pile. Some seeds will fail to germinate and some plants, regardless of our best efforts, will simply fail to produce. Some years are better for one plant, but not for another. Above or below average temperatures, sufficient rainfall or the lack of it, the number of cloudy or sunny days, the presence of pollinators and beneficial insects, pest infestations, soil-borne diseases, hail, and wind all play a part in the outcome of the garden. We may have been diligent about weeding, watering, fertilizing, and staking. We may have had wonderful humus rich soil, used companion planting, and adhered to strictly organic methods. In essence, we may have done everything right, but some plants still failed to flourish. Or, we may walk out to the garden one morning to find that the chickens (or some other animal) had beat us to the harvest. Did I say chickens? Shouldn’t I have known better than to allow my chickens to free range in my garden? Yes and no.
When the chickens were only a few weeks old and I had only just begun to let them outside in a small, enclosed area, I saw hundreds of baby grasshoppers. Since I have been allowing the chickens to free range, I have not seen a single grasshopper. As they scratch and peck, they are eating nutritious herbs and weeds, building their health and immune systems. They are fertilizing my soil every day with their droppings and they are helping me to turn the compost. Most importantly, they are happy. It has been suggested that perhaps I am over-mothering my chickens. Is there really such a thing? As I continue to “chicken-proof” my garden, I am reminded of when I needed to “baby-proof” my home from the inquisitiveness of a toddler just learning to walk. Good mothering requires some discipline. My chickens are smart. They love me. They trust me. They let me pick them up and pet them. They listen to me when I talk to them and they are learning to stay away from certain areas when I clap my hands and say “no, no, no”. This August, as always, has been a mixture of successes and failures; but the joy of having my chickens keep me company while I am working in the garden, is priceless.
