10 Hens... 1 Rooster

"Animals are born who they are, accept it, and that is that. They live with greater peace than people do." ― Gregory Maguire

Philajakosken sää tänään : High of 27. Low of 13.

Summer has arrived here in central Finland!

The lake Päijanne melted in less then a week, and the remaining patches of snow went with it. Grass started to jump out of the earth and tiny birch leaves appeared. And then almost instantaneously summer was here! It has been above 25 degrees for the past week and not a cloud in the sky. The weather has broke some records for the earliest summer in Finland this year, even though I like to imagine this is what it is like every May...

But the heat has been getting to our brains a little, for we are not used to any warmth except when in the sauna, and our motivation has slowed a teeny tad. But we are learning to enjoy the days we bask in the sun, and also the time we spend working. Like Katie Thurmes once said, "You can't do a good job if your job is all you do!"

But in the days it haven't been as hot, Teemu has been building a kitchen counter for the aitta, and last week we made a fence for the animals. We have planted kale, and managed to find an old hose and connected it to the spring for water.

But it is just too hot out now!

So in the meantime I will introduce you to our wonderful chickens whom I have not yet had the privledge to talk about, they are really so amusing and have been doing more work then we have lately...

A few days before summer arrived. :)

We got the wild beasts a few weeks ago in Jämsä, the closest 'city' from the farm. We have 10 kanat (chickens in Finnish) and 1 kukko, (rooster) named Maca. They came from a northern town called Urjala, and didn't live in the greatest of places. They grew up in a farm with hundreds and hundreds of other chickens, so we were very happy to give them a better home.

It took a few days for them to get used to the new surroundings and being outside, but now the hens enjoy their new life. We give them as much freedom as we can, and they spent their days running around Räntamaki, and eating bugs and soaking up the sun. It is more like a chicken-resort then a working farm at the moment hehe.

The first eggs!

Meet Maca, the beast!

Chickens are a wonderful companion to have in any homestead, farm, yard, and really do brighten our days. Not only do they provide us with enough healthy eggs to have two breakfasts each day, they are also important in Permaculture for many reasons, and I will share a few with you now. Woo! :)

Chickens have given the earth a lot, and without taking too much for themselves.

I know that sounds bizzare, because when most people think of chickens, they imagine a pink slab of meat bought in the grocery store, and it isn't a secret that chickens are mass-produced, antibiotic-injected abused animals that the world now frowns upon.

We can all stop this, by not buying the big factory-produced and colorfully labled chicken meat, but I personally believe we have to do more then just that. Avoiding chickens and their eggs in all ways possible, isn't necessarily the best option.

We can start producing our own chickens, and benefit more with their eggs, organic meat, and incredible fertilizer for the earth.

Chickens are sustainable, believe it or not, if we allow them to be. They provide many outputs in Permaculture, with a very minumal input.

Chickens don't only provide the glorious first meal to most of our mornings, they also give the soil and surrounding trees what they need; Manure.

Chicken crap is very high in nitrogen and calcium. We don't recommend applying chicken poop directly to plants or vegetables, for it is quite strong and can actually damage the roots, but it works great in compost! It speeds up the process of breaking down organic matter, and it produces more carbon. The calcium which chickens produce for eggs isn't entirely absorbed, so a lot of it will show up their droppings and eventually the garden, which is fantastic for plant growth.

If you live in a area where your soil PH is acidic, you can also use chicken manure instead of lime to balance the soil*.

I mean, the first step in Permaculture is to pay attention to the quality of the soil!

But that is not everything, chickens give back in many, many more ways. One could collect the feathers of a chicken and after cleaning them properly, make comfy pillows. There is a reason people have slept on feathers for centuries!

One could turn their chickens into meat-birds. Organic chicken meat has a high amount of protein, healthy fats, vitamins A, B, D, regulates cholesteral and blood pressure, reduces the risk of colon cancer,** and makes our taste-buds happy. (Unless your vegetarian..sorry...)

Maybe this isn't something you automatically think when you imagine chickens, but they help the environment! It wasn't their fault that the poultry industry is one of the biggest productions on earth. Chickens were born to sustainably manage pest control on our land without having to use pesticides. They will eat almost anything you give them. Instead of throwing out food, we can re-use it for these omnivores that will turn our old scraps into amazing compost, over and over again.

And chickens, are therapeutic animals. The more we spend time with these funny creatures, the more we realise that they have memory, and they have personality. It sounds crazy, but it is true.

If your not completely horror-stricken of all animals, chickens reduce anxiety. When I feel anxious, or stressed, I go visit these critters and observe them. They are completely okay with their lives. They just carry on. They don't question or complain. They are practically cost-less when you are start feeding them your scrap food! They keep each other company and therefore are a low energy-consuming companion.

I feel like an ambassador for the bird but if you have at a chance, even the slightest chance of gettings hens, please do!

Our rooster, Maca, is a really good bird. He does his job by protecting the hens, and keeps them in a row. ;) He doesn't eat until they do. He listens to them. One day when we collected the eggs, Teemu saw a hen confront Maca about this horrible matter, and Maca suddenly starting chasing Teemu around the yard and looking for the eggs. He does his job by protecting the hens and making them feel safe. Safe = Less stressed = Better overall quality of life = More eggs.

So I believe our Finnish chickens have probably had enough good words put in about them. They are modest and don't like too much attention, so on that note I will leave you with one more interesting fact about chickens.

Their eggs...

Healthline.com states that, "Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet."

BBCfood.com has recently wrote, "A study published in Paediatrics*** magazine has suggested that giving young children just one egg a day for six months, alongside a diet with reduced sugar-sweetened foods, may help them achieve a healthy height and prevent stunting."

Eggs are also one of the most richest dietary sources of choline.

In a post written about choline on Draxe.com, he explains; "Choline is a macronutrient that’s important for liver function, normal brain development, nerve function, muscle movement, supporting energy levels and maintaining a healthy metabolism. Choline is present in the form of phosphatidycholine, a compound that makes up the structural component of fat, and thus can be found in different types of foods that naturally contain certain fats. Choline plays a part in several important processes within the body that are carried out hundreds of times, every single day."

One of the best ways of getting this in a natural supplement is through eggs. It helps memory loss, muscle aches, nerve damage, cognitive function, neurological development...the list goes on.

Eggs aslo contain almost a little bit of every nutrient we need.

A single boiled egg contains: Vitamin A, Folate, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Phosphorus, Selenium, and decent amounts of Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Calcium and Zinc. Amazing! Who needs supplements when we have access to local, free-range, oragnic eggs.

(But be careful when purchasing anything nowadays that states it is, "organic." Things can be written on egg containers that isn't entirely true. Just because it says organic, that could mean the farmer gives the chickens organic feed, but we still don't know if the chicken was able to peck it's way around the yard, if it lived in an ethical way, and what specifically the chicken was eating..)

So...as you can see I am passionate about eggs. And and I hope you will be too. :) Eggs reduce cholesterol and actually raise the 'good' cholesterol in our bodies called High Density Lipoprotein .**** Eggs help benefit eye health. They contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin which reduces the risk of cataracts! They have Omega-3 fatty acids which reduces heart disease. They contain protein, amino acids, and vitamin D. And they taste incredible...

So as you know now, eggs are incredibly healthy. The amount one can eat per day varies on overall health, but it is recommended to eat 3-6 eggs each day! *****

So without further adiea, I now present you with our secret recipe for the best eggs on earth. It is loaded with herbs, onions, spices that one would think would be too drastic to eat in the morning, but it is a wonderful way to wake up.

Teemu invented this recipe a few years ago when he discovered the health benefits of tumeric and black pepper. (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric) and wondered how to consume enough tumeric each day.

The secret to this recipe is sprinkling the tumeric the minute you put the egg on to fry. That way, the tumeric absorbs into the white of the egg when it cooks, and doesn't stick to your tongue when you eat it. ;) Enjoy!

Teemu's Magnificent Eggs

Ingrediants

2-4 organic, grass-fed eggs

1 large orangic onion, sliced

2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil, grass-fed ghee, or butter

5-8 cloves organic garlic, chopped fine

Salt/Pepper

Tumeric

Black Pepper

Spices and Herbs (Thyme, Basil, Paprika, Oregano, experiement with your own...)

Heat pan on medium heat and melt the coconut oil or butter. Add the chopped onions and garlic. Sautee until they get soft and golden. Add the eggs, and immediately after, the tumeric. Try to sprinkle it on the egg when it is still 'gooey.' It will absorb better and turn a nice reddish color. Then add salt, pepper, spices, and herbs at last. Cook until you like your egg fried. Serve with cheese melted on top, or pesto and enjoy!

Thank you for listening and enjoy your summer days. :)

Kiitos :)

References:

* - http://animalwaste.okstate.edu/welcome-folder/pt98-7manureraisessoilph.pdf

** - https://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/news/20051227/chicken-may-cut-colon-cancer-risk

*** - http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/06/05/peds.2016-3459?sso=1&sso_redirect_count=3&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3A%20No%20local%20token&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

**** - https://www.drdavidwilliams.com/foods-to-reduce-cholesterol

***** - http://www.thewholesomefork.com/2017/02/23/how-many-eggs-is-it-safe-to-eat-per-day/