Life in a rural setting can get kind of weird sometimes. Like having to wrangle all your chickens one morning after they escape during the night, having spent the whole time staring into their yard trying to figure out how to get back in. Chickens are unbelievably brilliant you know.

All sarcasm aside, I truly appreciate their efforts every morning when I bound down to the little door and find presents inside. I’m not sure how the hens feel about this activity, but to me, it’s like Christmas every morning only there’s the somewhat unattractive ammonia/barnyard scent to overcome instead of gingerbread and peppermint.

I think the best part of all is teaching Cohen and Isla that food production can be something you control, and not simply left in the hands of aproned strangers standing behind deli counters and produce displays.

This year I’ve decided to actually put some effort into our produce growing. Our garden last year left me wanting as we just picked random seed packets without really researching whether or not those plants would grow well in our setting. This year, I plan to buy all our seeds from Salt Spring Seeds (a local company that grows and harvests all it’s own product) and am eagerly perusing their catalogue this week for strange but delicious sounding heirloom varieties. Of what? Whatever will grow in my neck of the woods. Corn? Not really doing so good in my shady garden. Pole beans? Take up too much room and we didn’t care for them enough. Lettuce? Of course, but this time no “mystery mixes” of terrible tasting bitter greens.

We plan on putting the emphasis on local this year and by producing as much as we can in our own garden, we’ll save ourselves money and time. Having the closest grocery store be at least 25 minutes away (by car) does not help keep driving down when you forget that that curry needs a touch of coconut milk and you have not a drop to be seen in the pantry.

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