Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?
My Neighbors Lending Me a Hand (and the kitchen gloves)
Busted Chicken!
Clipped Their Wings

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road? This is an age old question. The answer is because they just leap before they look.

The animal is harmless, and it is also completely ignorant of cars and unafraid of humans. Unless they try to chase them. Then all of a sudden they are feathered Braveheart.

Taxi Driver

My chicken coop has a substantial run attached to it, and a free range space that is bordered by a 1.2m (48″) chain link fence AND a 1.8m (6′) euonymus hedge next to that. You can see the setup here. Well this Roo-Paul-Ster has discovered if they jump straight up AND flap their wings they can go 2m straight up and over the hedge.

The animal is harmless, and it is also completely ignorant of cars and unafraid of humans. Unless they try to chase them. Then all of a sudden they are feathered Braveheart.

So I had to clip all of the chickens wings today. Life finds a way, yada yada yada. It does not hurt the animals one bit. For good measure I also clipped the rabbit’s talons.

Shout Out To My Neighbors

Living on an urban farm is usually a blast, except that the urban part often is at odds with the existence of the farm part. That is going to take just a bit more engineering, I think.

I would be a fool to not throw some love to my neighbors — homes and businesses — who are always looking out for me. Every time an escape plan is hatched I have had a neighbor from my street, or the next street over, or from the doctors office behind me reach out to me. This is a grace and a much adored kindness.

They know these animals are much more than citizens of Mezzacello, and much more than mere curiosities. My neighbors know they are an integrated part of my ecosystem and thus very important to all of Mezzacello. That makes my heart fill with pride.

I love where we have located this urban farm. I love my friends and neighbors and these neighbors and I could NOT do this work without them. They are my extended garden of love and respect and I count myself lucky to have them.


Welcome Neighbors to 501C3 Day

Welcome Neighbors to 501C3 Day

Welcome Neighbors to 501C3 Day
First Garden Party as a 501C3 with neighbors, family, patrons, and supporters at Mezzacello.

Tonight was a milestone for us here at Mezzacello. This was Welcome Neighbors to 501C3 Day — the first event we had as an official 501C3 non-profit. We have functioned as a non-profit in the past as a program of the extraordinarily generous PAST Foundation, but tonight we were flying confidently.

we love that we are starting to shift peoples mindsets towards a web of life and not a war of wills.

Jim Bruner

It’s been quite a journey to get here. It required rebuilding THREE times. So many lessons learned and insights.

WE know we are an ecosystem and we love that we are starting to shift peoples mindsets towards a web of life and not a war of wills. We are working towards a vision where people really begin to see they are part of a circle of life, and not just a circle of their life.

We worked hard to get here. The friends, neighbors, and family that were here on this fine Sunday in May know how hard we have worked. They helped with so much of the work themselves, or they donated biomass, materials, insight, money and most importantly, patience, hugs, and wise words when we needed them.

Mezzacello Is Gratitude

Mezzacello was founded in a principle of gratitude, grace, proportion, and sustainability. This part was a proof of that commitment. 100+ people and they did not destroy the place. They – like us – love this postage stamp paradise as much as we do. And they should – they helped us build it.

We’ll have another for the boards and friends and companies we have been graced to work with. Tonight was personal and local. Do not take offense that you were not here. We all of us were celebrating that we at last could be here.