Fowl Play: Small Farm Chats

Jackie has rescued an Indian Runner duck from a local shelter to bulk up the presence of her vulnerable Call duck pair. She reveals how the new duck has adapted to the yard and routine. Laura is having trouble with cabbage moths and frost in Canberra, she gives some insight into how she'll approach her winter garden next time 'round. Meanwhile, in the Shoalhaven, Jackie has discovered numerous fruiting tomatoes and eggplants, as well as some vigorous potato crops, intriguing given that it's the coldest month of the year!

This chat covers even more than Laura's garden frost cloth. We talk through sewing pantry seeds to reap mustard greens, using your dog to meet neighbours so you can offload an over supply of Jerusalem artichokes, Laura's mild fear of Canberra's lake swans, cheeky dogs thieving chicken eggs, mulling over moulting, Jackie's prowling neighbours' cat and ideating adding a rescue duck to the flock as an impulsive intimidation tactic.

Pony has arrived and is settling in at Laura's small farm. Laura is excited to harvest her Jerusalem Artichokes and Jacke has some questions for Laura about setting a future chicken coop of her own.

Anecdotes abound in this episode as Laura and Jackie have a catch up about the challenges of cats and toddlers in the garden, and the excitement of Laura getting a dog named Pony to add to her small farm.

“Put me in the proper ground, I’m stuck in my seed tray!” Laura and Jackie talk about how their flocks and gardens are dealing with all the rain, and talk about their plans and processes for autumn planting.

In this short chat, Laura and Jackie talk through how the ducks have settled into their new digs at Jackie's place. We also talk through new small crop harvests as Autumn begins here in Australia. Apologies for the clicking noises in this episode folks! we were ironing out some technical difficulties, Laura has done marvellously in editing this together. We hope you enjoy this friendly conversation. 

Jackie and Laura talk with their long-awaited first guest, Laura’s chicken daddy and coop expert Johnny Debs. He talks through the lessons learned and design principles of their backyard-defining chicken palace.

'Who is this woman with a broom!' Friends of the pod will know how excited Jackie is to have recorded this episode. She recounts the arrival of her ducks, Lori (Loralyn) and Phil (Philip), including the trials of ushering them into the garage at night through pumpkin vines and over compost heaps. Laura has been punished by the poultry gods this week she's troubleshooting chickens malting and going broody. She shares her effective protocol for dealing with a broody hen. 

‘You can’t bury your wife in the garden!’ We discuss our favourite podcasts and youtube channels for gardening, poultry, and waterfowl inspiration. Jackie reveals her future duck's names and has a whinge about just how long it takes to prepare for them. We also question if mini pigs are real or not... Jackie is not convinced.

'My pumpkins are bananas.' This episode starts with an update from Jackie and Laura on 'what's been growin' on' (queue audible groan). Jackie chats about prepping her yard for the impending arrival of ducks and Laura reminisces about the long (but thorough) process of building and planning her coop.