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In the shade of a big mesquite tree, my hubby is building a chicken coop using recycled materials. The shingled walls are made from an old fence that was torn down from his childhood home. There is quite a ways to go on this project, but it will be finished and filled with four or five chickens before we know it. We will be painting the back wall that is made from an old, political sign that he found laying around on a job site. And, of course, the trim will be painted. We are not sure what else will be covered in paint, on the outside. He is still working on the doors, but I have a feeling they will be on by the end of the day today. We cannot wait until this project is completed, but it is fun watching it all come together, piece by piece. The chickens will have a pretty large, shady area to run around in. I have been painting a few signs to hang (of course) and being a female, I am eager to decorate this little house. This takes me back to my dollhouse days, as a young girl. We have much to learn along the way, but my sister has a successful flock and we are getting a lot of “hip tips” from her. Before this time next year we will have fresh, organic eggs. There will probably be a lot of quiche and egg dishes in our future!

These are photos of the chicken coop and run at the camp at Arco. The coop is straw bail and stucco. I LOVE the way the bottles in the walls let in colored light. Kudos to the Arconauts who had a hand in building this.

The chicken run goes all the way around the outside of the orchard. It is just beautiful. ~ Lucky chickens!~

Because I spend more time in the city than not, these simple things thrill me. Arcosanti has a fabulous agricultural system. They have a wonderful, natural, organic balance~ so harmonious ~

This last visit I discovered that they now have a white peacock.

They are often mistaken as “albino peacocks” or thought to change color over time. However, neither is the case. There really are white peacocks. This is what they look like in “full bloom”…

Gorgeous, huh?

” I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more.
No, I ain’t gonna work on Maggie’s farm no more.
Well, I wake in the morning,
Fold my hands and pray for rain.
I got a head full of ideas
That are drivin’ me insane.”

Actually, this is one farm that I’d LOVE to dig my hands into. And, it smells delicious when the trees are in bloom!

So, I’m back in the city daydreaming about chickens and farming.