When our children were young, we tried everything to get them outside. Sure, our family life inside was filled with the kind of drama you'd call gloriously ordinary—which pasta for dinner, whose turn it was to feed the dogs or get the phone, and how best to gather everyone around the woodstove hearth every evening.
Outdoors, I figured it was all about the destination, so we constructed paths from one rural attraction to another. We had a picnic path to the blueberries, another to the chicken coop. One trail wound to the tire swing and zip wire, but that was neither our "scenic overlook" nor "outer beltway."
As these paths tolerated all variety of vehicles, from wobbly wheelbarrows and reluctant bicycles to bouncing baby carriages and battery-powered jeeps, there was a fair amount of maintenance required, especially in the spring and winter. Clearing these trails required an arsenal of tools and trashing my weekend jeans; if the chainsaw was involved, there would be a whole other level of supplies and precautions. Turning the mundane into the fantastic, my oldest daughter would often come find me, cutting in the woods. She would collect the sawdust piled up by the logs, carefully scooping up cups full and sprinkling it around her newfound woodland fairy domains. "Magical dust," she called it.
Believe it or not, these paths were chances to confirm household partnerships: My wife frequently invoked The Dogwood Rule: "Never cut down a dogwood tree, alive or dead." I did once, and she wouldn't talk to me for three days. Her rule applies to ferns as well, although she knows I like a good mow, to be able to trim the trail all the way to the edge. It makes for easier back and forth passage. Suffice it to say, we have our share of Zen-like obstacle courses on these crooked, cluttered paths.
These days, the paths are more functional. Like spokes on a wheel, our paths lead in all directions from the back door: to the mailbox, the end of the driveway for the daily newspapers, to the well house and, of course, to our neighbors' houses and their own lattice of paths. One of these neighbors recently discovered a 10-foot tall mound of bulldozed dirt in the brush a hundred yards behind his house. He astutely called it "Arrowhead Head Hill," and his boys have since marched a path toward it again and again. They are playing there with their digging trucks all the time. One day, as they listened patiently, he slowly explained the name to us: "Well, we haven't found any arrowheads yet, but we know they're there." The explorer cycle continues.
My oldest daughter was once inspired to plan a path directly into the woods from the basketball court. I asked her where the path was going.
"I don't know Dad, I just wanted to make one," she responded. "You guys always look like you're having so much fun with your paths. I wanted to do one myself."
Yes, that's it; I'm grabbing my boots and loppers and heading out the back door right now.
2012年2月8日星期三
2012年1月18日星期三
Chickens a calming influence
Chickens a calming influence; small group allowed in Clayton for 'pet therapy'
Chickadee, Peach, Daisy, Brownie and Daphne get to stay at the Casagrande residence, even if their presence there is technically against the law.
"I am so happy," said Nancy Casagrande. "Now we can legally have them."
The five hens are the pets of 9-year-old Bretten Casagrande who suffers from Tourette syndrome. His parents, Nancy and Larry Casagrande, said the pet chickens are therapeutic and help alleviate Bretten's symptoms as well as provide him comfort.
"He feels safe in the chicken coop," said Casagrande. "I would never have guessed a chicken would be so helpful to a child."
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Clayton Planning Commission agreed to a request for "reasonable accommodation" to allow the Casagrandes to keep the birds as long as Bretten lives on the property, or as long as the chickens continue to help improve his symptoms.
Community Development Director David Woltering said by addressing the specific issue, the commissioners' ruling in December made changing the city ordinance moot. Keeping chickens in residential neighborhoods is still forbidden in most instances.
In Walnut Creek, there are specific requirements, but generally, as many as three animals, including poultry (except roosters) may be kept as household pets, with the proper animal permit.
People suffering with Tourette syndrome loudly and uncontrollably spluttering expletive epitaphs makes good cinema, but that kind of outburst is not as common as movies make them out to be, said Casagrande. Mostly, these "tics" are less dramatic, uncontrolled noises and body movements. Bretten has various tics, including making a squeaking sound, bobbing his head and for a while and falling to one knee.
Casagrande said the worst part of Bretten's symptoms is other children's reactions. She remembers once insisting Bretten go outside to play with the neighborhood children rather than observe, but when he did, "they all went away."
Casagrande said one child about the same age as Bretten said, "I don't like Bretten, he does weird things."
"It breaks my heart," she said.
Said Bretten, "The chickens, they don't think I'm weird."
His mother said the bond between boy and his brood maybe their similar tics.
At least once a day, Bretten goes to the chicken coop, a converted dog run, to sit on a small bench and visit with his feathered friends.
"I just like watching them run around," he said. "My favorite is Chickadee. They all run up because they think I have food."
He usually does and feeds them from his hand. When he doesn't have food he said, "They try and eat my hand."
Bretten became fascinated with chickens after a trip to a petting zoo in Pleasanton, and in May 2010 Cassagrande and her husband bought a pair of baby chicks for him.
"He was very excited," Casagrande said. "At that point we didn't think of them as therapy. I didn't know they would help him so much."
She also didn't know Clayton had a law prohibiting the keeping of chickens in residential areas.
The outlaw fowl were brought to the attention of the commission in October after neighbors complained about the smell and noise. A code enforcement officer visited the Casagrande home and determined the source of the odor was two compost bins containing kitchen food waste, organic grass clippings, leaves and chicken droppings left open in the rain.
The Casagrandes removed the composting bins and agreed any future composting bins will be kept closed when it rains and no kitchen food products will be used.
In addition, a small chicken coop visible to neighbors was removed.
The Casagrandes may have no more than five hens -- no roosters -- and they are to be kept in a single coop or covered pen not bigger than 50 square feet or taller than six feet. It must be a minimum of 20 feet from any side or rear property line, and must be cleaned twice daily or more frequently to assure there are no odors bothering the neighbors.
Chickadee, Peach, Daisy, Brownie and Daphne get to stay at the Casagrande residence, even if their presence there is technically against the law.
"I am so happy," said Nancy Casagrande. "Now we can legally have them."
The five hens are the pets of 9-year-old Bretten Casagrande who suffers from Tourette syndrome. His parents, Nancy and Larry Casagrande, said the pet chickens are therapeutic and help alleviate Bretten's symptoms as well as provide him comfort.
"He feels safe in the chicken coop," said Casagrande. "I would never have guessed a chicken would be so helpful to a child."
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Clayton Planning Commission agreed to a request for "reasonable accommodation" to allow the Casagrandes to keep the birds as long as Bretten lives on the property, or as long as the chickens continue to help improve his symptoms.
Community Development Director David Woltering said by addressing the specific issue, the commissioners' ruling in December made changing the city ordinance moot. Keeping chickens in residential neighborhoods is still forbidden in most instances.
In Walnut Creek, there are specific requirements, but generally, as many as three animals, including poultry (except roosters) may be kept as household pets, with the proper animal permit.
People suffering with Tourette syndrome loudly and uncontrollably spluttering expletive epitaphs makes good cinema, but that kind of outburst is not as common as movies make them out to be, said Casagrande. Mostly, these "tics" are less dramatic, uncontrolled noises and body movements. Bretten has various tics, including making a squeaking sound, bobbing his head and for a while and falling to one knee.
Casagrande said the worst part of Bretten's symptoms is other children's reactions. She remembers once insisting Bretten go outside to play with the neighborhood children rather than observe, but when he did, "they all went away."
Casagrande said one child about the same age as Bretten said, "I don't like Bretten, he does weird things."
"It breaks my heart," she said.
Said Bretten, "The chickens, they don't think I'm weird."
His mother said the bond between boy and his brood maybe their similar tics.
At least once a day, Bretten goes to the chicken coop, a converted dog run, to sit on a small bench and visit with his feathered friends.
"I just like watching them run around," he said. "My favorite is Chickadee. They all run up because they think I have food."
He usually does and feeds them from his hand. When he doesn't have food he said, "They try and eat my hand."
Bretten became fascinated with chickens after a trip to a petting zoo in Pleasanton, and in May 2010 Cassagrande and her husband bought a pair of baby chicks for him.
"He was very excited," Casagrande said. "At that point we didn't think of them as therapy. I didn't know they would help him so much."
She also didn't know Clayton had a law prohibiting the keeping of chickens in residential areas.
The outlaw fowl were brought to the attention of the commission in October after neighbors complained about the smell and noise. A code enforcement officer visited the Casagrande home and determined the source of the odor was two compost bins containing kitchen food waste, organic grass clippings, leaves and chicken droppings left open in the rain.
The Casagrandes removed the composting bins and agreed any future composting bins will be kept closed when it rains and no kitchen food products will be used.
In addition, a small chicken coop visible to neighbors was removed.
The Casagrandes may have no more than five hens -- no roosters -- and they are to be kept in a single coop or covered pen not bigger than 50 square feet or taller than six feet. It must be a minimum of 20 feet from any side or rear property line, and must be cleaned twice daily or more frequently to assure there are no odors bothering the neighbors.
2011年4月10日星期日
Valley Coop Tour gives chicken farmers opportunity to share wisdom
Patrick Burns built a chicken coop in his backyard after watching instructional videos on YouTube, he said. It has wheels and was supposed to be mobile, but it’s too heavy to move.
Sharing that lesson and others with chicken farmers was the Burns family’s goal Sunday as they participated in the Pioneer Valley Backyard Chicken Association’s Valley Coop Tour. As the first of seven stops on the tour, the Burns family drew more than 20 people to their chickens’ humble abode.
Patrick Burns and his wife, Christine Burns, who began keeping chickens about a year ago, said they average four eggs almost every day.
“They taste like eggs, but better ... because they’re fresh,” said Christine Burns. “We love the eggs, but more than anything it’s the whole experience.”
The Burnses told tour-takers how they keep their chickens warm in the winter, cool in the summer and producing eggs regularly.
Patrick Burns said one of his favorite parts of raising chickens is caring for them when they’re young.
“They’re like babies in the womb,” he said. “I don’t think I could bring myself to eat them.”
So, just the eggs, then. But, unless it’s a special occasion like the Coop Tour, at which a dozen eggs from the Burns family cost $3.50, they aren’t for sale.
“It would be like work,” said Patrick Burns. “We still want it to be a hobby.”
Keeping chickens in residential areas is a point of contention in many cities, including Holyoke, which has been debating the issue since at least last year. The Burnses, however, live in a part of the city where it is allowed.
“I think that people should be allowed to do it,” said Christine Burns, who said she also sees how it can be a problem. “I think there should be strict guidelines” such as how many chickens can be kept in a certain amount of space.
John Perdrizet, a Holyoke veterinarian who came to see the Burns’ coop, agreed.
“I’m a big advocate of bringing back small farms in local communities,” said Perdrizet. “It’s needed not just for healthy living and fresh food, but for the humane treatment of animals.”
There were six other stops on the Coop Tour in Pelham, Northampton, Amherst, Florence, Haydenville and Williamsburg.
Sharing that lesson and others with chicken farmers was the Burns family’s goal Sunday as they participated in the Pioneer Valley Backyard Chicken Association’s Valley Coop Tour. As the first of seven stops on the tour, the Burns family drew more than 20 people to their chickens’ humble abode.
Patrick Burns and his wife, Christine Burns, who began keeping chickens about a year ago, said they average four eggs almost every day.
“They taste like eggs, but better ... because they’re fresh,” said Christine Burns. “We love the eggs, but more than anything it’s the whole experience.”
The Burnses told tour-takers how they keep their chickens warm in the winter, cool in the summer and producing eggs regularly.
Patrick Burns said one of his favorite parts of raising chickens is caring for them when they’re young.
“They’re like babies in the womb,” he said. “I don’t think I could bring myself to eat them.”
So, just the eggs, then. But, unless it’s a special occasion like the Coop Tour, at which a dozen eggs from the Burns family cost $3.50, they aren’t for sale.
“It would be like work,” said Patrick Burns. “We still want it to be a hobby.”
Keeping chickens in residential areas is a point of contention in many cities, including Holyoke, which has been debating the issue since at least last year. The Burnses, however, live in a part of the city where it is allowed.
“I think that people should be allowed to do it,” said Christine Burns, who said she also sees how it can be a problem. “I think there should be strict guidelines” such as how many chickens can be kept in a certain amount of space.
John Perdrizet, a Holyoke veterinarian who came to see the Burns’ coop, agreed.
“I’m a big advocate of bringing back small farms in local communities,” said Perdrizet. “It’s needed not just for healthy living and fresh food, but for the humane treatment of animals.”
There were six other stops on the Coop Tour in Pelham, Northampton, Amherst, Florence, Haydenville and Williamsburg.
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