Sunday, January 4, 2015

Sunflowers and Chickens: A new year - and era

Come with me to visit the sunflowers, they are shy but want to be friends; they have wonderful stories of when they were young…(Mary Oliver, The Sunflowers)



These beautiful heritage sunflowers (3 different varieties and sizes) from Seed Savers Exchange were the hi-lite of my summer
Though it took patience, it was worth every impatient moment. Every time I walked over to Nammah, they greeted me with a cheerful wave and I responded with a smile.
They lined both entrances from the road

Fall 2014 also brought 8 new family members to Nammah:

Swannie, Robin Red Breast, Gudrun, Hazel, Cleopatra and Little Crow and two unexpected roosters Hans Jacob (formerly Synneva) and Frey (formerly Freya).

They hatched in late August, all 8 survived and we have grown to love them. They are hearty in the winter and absolutely beautiful!
Our PLAN was for 3-5 laying hens (noting special) and bought a coop to match. We connected with the amazing David Grote at Whipperwill Farm and were sold on the concept of preserving these "old world treasures" - Icelandic Chickens. We are both scandinavian, we plant heritage seeds - why would we settle for "nothing special" chickens?




In the meantime, Nammah continued to provide us with her bounty





The gaudy leonine sunflower hangs black and barren on its stalk, and down the windy garden walk the dead leaves scatter - hour by hour (Oscar Wild)

Though the melancholy sets in along with the fallow darkness,  I am reminded of the requisite renewal it holds.

Hidden seed
deep in the dark
soil of the earth.  
Fertile ground
womb of the night
Bring us new birth. 
(Sara Thomsen, Darkness Cover Me)  

Until spring Nammah, may we reunite with renewed fertility for the year ahead. The light is already returning and the calendar marks a new year.