The New Year

Glass Gem Popcorn

As the 2018 gardening season comes to a close I am able to focus primarily on the changes that are soon coming to the Bossy Hen Homestead. I am very excited to implement a number of new options to our thriving space.

The overall scope will be a refined approach to sustainable gardening which is turn will provide the opportunity for a few CSA options for interested parties. The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) will be seasonal organic produce with options for chicken and rabbit meat. Partners in the program will eat from the same exact garden that my own family eats out of. From my family to yours. 

Structurally BHH will be different as well. Inspired by a visit to Common Roots, Inc. in Burlington, Vermont I will be removing old stone beds and replacing them with wood beds that will not only be more visually appealing but allow for more intensive growing. It will do so by providing more defined and contained growing areas and walking paths which in turn will allow pinpoint focus on direct soil health.

BHH will be moving away from laying hens and leaning more towards rabbits this season. Though we will have a few hens for eggs the goal is to condense and utilize space as efficiently as possible while maintaining healthy and happy urban livestock. Frankly speaking this is simply becoming increasingly difficult in regards to the hens with the massive amount of rainfall we now experience in the Northeast. Add the fact that rabbits are cleaner and quieter while producing top rate garden fertilizer it just makes sense.

Flemish Giant/Californian mix doe

Another goal this year is to provide a sanctuary for the pollinators and beneficial animals in the garden space. Mason bee nest will be added as well as homes for toads and snakes both of whom will eat nearly one thousand insects a day! Bird houses will be placed among the bramble too.

In an attempt to move toward a more professional setting the goal is to establish a sightly fence, paint the properties home and in turn make it more attractive to visitors.

Aside from the CSA BHH will also continue to offer individual sales of greens, garlic and seasonal produce. Another top priority is to take excess garden produce to the local food bank.

Last but certainly not least will be the Bossy Hen Homestead blog itself. 2019 will see more post on gardening techniques, garden produce, recipes and a bit of green philosophy. Big things in store for this little property!


You can also find the work of Tobias Whitaker at Mother Earth News, Grit Magazine and on Facebook. Be sure to see what he is up to on Instagram

All photographs by Tobias Whitaker unless noted.