More Greens Added to the Mix & Happy Chickens

Village Farm Team,

We continued with transplanting this week, adding green and red cabbages, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts to the mix. The greens we planted last week have nearly doubled in size! Now that we’ve got crops in the ground we will be diligently checking for signs of damaging pests like cutworms, aphids, and cabbage loopers. If we do notice signs of any of these pests we’ll be able to treat with organically approved pesticides like Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). Bt is a naturally occurring bacteria that when ingested, will make caterpillars sick without affecting beneficial ones as destructively as traditional pesticides.

Now that we have crops in the ground by the chicken run, we set up a temporary fence to allow our flock to forage and roam. We let them out during the day while we’re working so that they can get exercise and enrichment without ravaging the leafy greens. Having the opportunity to spend time outside their run reduces stress and makes for happier birds.