<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/chix.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-505" title="chix" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/chix-300x283.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="283" /></a>

Today was our first day volunteering for <a href="http://loudgradeproducesquad.org/">Loud Grade Produce Squad</a>!!  We discovered this fantastic organization at the <a href="http://www.weisshospital.com/news-classes-and-events/farmers-market.aspx">Weiss Farmer's Market</a> on Thursday mornings.  Jed, one of the founders, was selling produce they grew on the roof of the hospital's parking garage.  We got to talking, and it turns our they need help with weekend chicken feeding.

So, the Goodnicks made it a family affair.  Weiss is only about a mile from our building.  Ben and I strapped O into the stroller, bundled her up, and went for a brisk walk on a super sunny Sunday morning.

Feeding the chickens is a simple process, but I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive about opening the door and heading right into the coop with them.  My first fear was that they were all going to escape and I would spend the rest of the day chasing chickens around the parking garage.  Thankfully, that did not become reality.  However, the whole flock of them was clustered at the door eagerly anticipating our arrival.  They didn't get the memo about daylight savings time.  So, they were HUNGRY!  My second fear was that they might peck at my legs until I was left with two sperical peg boards.  Again, my imagination was getting the best of me.  Aside from a little pecking at my shoe, they gals were pretty well behaved.

I scattered around some bagels and stale bread donated by local businesses, tossed in some grains, and used the rainwater collection barrel to change their water.  I tossed a bunch of food nearest to where I had parked the stroller, and the hens made an up close appearance for O.  She LOVED the chickens.  She smiled, giggled, clapped her hands and tried to talk to them.  I cannot wait until she is old enough to help me!

After a brief search, I even foumd 3 eggs waiting for us.  Jed tells me that less daylight means that the egg production has had a sharp decline.  I guess that's why we associate eggs with spring...a return of longer days means lots more eggs.  Makes you stop and think about the unnatural methods that industrial farmers have to utilize in order to get year round production.  But...we do have a lot of people to feed in this great big world of ours.  Must be a balance somewhere.

We are really looking forward to continued and deeper involvement with Loud Grade Produce Squad and especially their chickens.  We should be posting pics from our visits on their Facebook page soon.  So, keep an eye out.

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