First Ave Farm

I get asked often about how our hens do in cold amd snowy weather, so here’s a peek to see how well these Australorps do. Here are a few things I do to help: 1. Their coop and run are located on the sunnier south side of our yard, and they have a windblock on the northside protecting them from those icy breezes. 2. Their coop is small - easier to maintain warmth, and I am generous with their bedding (I use straw.) 3. I cover their coop roof in a couple of moving blankets and then 6mm plastic doubled on too of that (to keep things insulated and dry). In the coldest weeks of winter, I also wrap their run in plastic amd this plastic gets cleaned and recycled every year. 4. I use a warming plate for their water, a very low temp one specifically designed for this task. 5. I remember that feathers are whatʻs in my coat to keep me warm, and theyʻre covered. #backyardchickens #keepingchickensinwinter #urbanfarmingdenver

How are all the southern birds doing down there with all this snow?!? #coloradochickens #snowhens

Looking for something to promote your own self-care in these winter months when the hands-in-the-dirt therapy just isn’t as abundant? That’s why I put together this Garden Therapy Guided Journal - to offer guided reflection prompts anchored into the connections between growing a garden and growing our own lives and dreams. This isn’t a garden data-collection log, or instruction manual on how to garden. This is a space to promote self-care, reflection, healing, and dreaming. Need one for yourself or someone else in your life? Click the link in the bio of the 1st Ave Farm Instagram page. Be well 💚 #gardentherapy #guidedjournal #giftsforgardeners

If you’re thinking about growing your own food or expanding what you grow, take this as a sign that you deserve all the abundance that harvesting from your yard can give. Sure, there’s enjoying the fresh veggies now. There’s also the reward of already having a lot of what you need in the winter. Often overlooked, though, are the ways scraps give juice, worm food, chicken treats, and compost. Nothing is wasted from all the energy that went into caring for that plant from seed. The way it all gives back never gets old. #growourownfood #urbanfarmingndenver #closetheloop

Late Summer Garden Tour Part 2: The front yard This western-facing front yard means this is where sun-loving veggies grow. Peep this tour of what’s been growing here this summer. #growourownfood #urbanfarming #urbanfarmingdenver

Late Summer Garden Tour Part 1 Our urban farm’s backyard faces east, and this cooler morning sun (along with protection from harsh afternoon sun) means this is where most of our spring/fall veggies grow. All was started from seed, and the greens and brassicas shown here were just transplanted out a few days ago. These veggies will tolerate the frost of fall to early winter. (Although if you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I’m itching to get a grow tunnel built onto the long u-shaped bed that my sweet potatoes, lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage are currently growing in. Just waiting to feel confident enough with my building skills or until I have some more knowledgeable help beyond the many online tutorials I’ve watched over the years) Stay tuned. I’ll share the status of our front yard beds tomorrow! #growyourownfood #urbanfarmingdenver #fallgardening

HOW TO GROW THE MOST FOOD IN LIMITED URBAN GROWING SPACES Strategy 1: Dense Planting In this bed are various tomatoes along with their companion plants of basil, nasturtium, marigolds and for increased, organic pest mgmt (and more herbs) sage, calendula, and pyrethrum daisy. Once these plants grew enough to offer some shade on this southwest corner of our lawn, I tucked carrots and beets in the spaces. And so far, the plants seem happy. Stay tuned for harvest time. We’ll see how big and tasty they get. #growyourownfood #urbanfarming #growingcarrots #growingbeets

Because the garden/farm chores are robust this time of year, and this one often falls off my radar in busy times. #makeyourowncompost #composting #urbanfarmingdenver