Losing out

Harris Hawk about to launch onto glove

These days have been feeling empty in the garden.  We lost two baby chicks and Bolt (one of our adult chickens) to what we think was a raccoon attack. We missed them very much. I feel guilty for leaving the door to their coop open for the night because we were away. 

We found a hole in the fence and covered with rocks and wire fence. The next night, the raccoons came back and we ran after them to scare them off and since, they haven't come back. Now we have two adults, Negra and Dina and we will protect them at all times. 

We love our chickens, they are more than just food bearers, they are our pets. A project to make a chicken run is on the drawing board and until then we don't plan to get more chicks. 

Finally Morels

Unexpectedly, as I was leading a group of students down a trail to a waterfall, I found what I have been wanting to find for a long time.  Morels.  Edible mushrooms that could be black and yellow, growing in deciduous or coniferous forests in mid Spring. They could also be found in burned apple orchards, or so I hear/read.  We ate them in pizza and they were delicious. I love finding wild edibles. The whole idea of being fed by nature without human intervention and dedicated expectation leads to a great feeling of connection with the Earth.