The newly released book, Gardening with Chickens, by Lisa Steele combines my two favorite hobbies. It blends chicken keeping with gardening in an original and purposeful way that will open up your eyes to new possibilities. If you are looking to raise a healthy flock, this book covers gardening for optimal egg production, edibles to avoid planting and herbs to add to nesting boxes.
Spring is right around the corner, so this is the perfect time to start your planning. This book will assist you in finding the perfect spot for your garden. You will also be guided on how to start seeds, and the pages are filled with multiple landscaping ideas. There is a whole section dedicated to gardening in the spring! Just as every poultry lover does, I enjoy watching the chickens nosh on freshly grown micro greens, wheat grass, marigolds and herbs. It's always rewarding to be able to provide your pets with freshly grown plants. One day soon, I would love to have multiple gardens dedicated to chickens, and this is the perfect guide!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Lisa teaches you how to plant with a purpose and create a sustainable way of living. If you are looking to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle while saving time and cutting down on waste, this is the book for you. It is great for a person like me who is just starting out and looking for a step-by -step guide. Each chapter is filled with information that will take you down the path of becoming more self-reliant and a homesteading expert.
In chapter 2, The Raised Bed & Beyond, Lisa covers the benefits of growing in containers. She dives right into how you can construct your very own raised-bed garden and protect your crops from chickens and weeds. There are plenty of detailed descriptions that will fill you with ideas and plans for more beneficial growing. I enjoyed reading about building your own salad bar for your feathered friends. I've always wanted to give this a try, and this book really gave me the motivation to do so! I love how she talks about adding window boxes. It's such a simple way to add so much beauty to your coop, and keeps the plants off the ground and safe from rabbits and groundhogs.
I've always heard of chicken chunnels, which are tunnels for your chickens, but I wasn't sure where to start. These tunnels allow your chickens to roam in a designated area in your garden without harming your crops and also protect them from flying predators. They are very easy to build and can be picked up and moved often to whatever spot you desire. Lisa provides all the information you need to create your own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa runs one of my favorite blogs, Fresh Eggs Daily. Her love of animals really shines through in everything that she writes! She is always sharing new tips and tricks on backyard poultry keeping, as well has helpful gardening advice. In her most recent article, Plant A Nesting Box Herb Garden, she shares some great information from the book! Her blog has recently been named one of Better Homes & Gardens Top Ten Gardening Blogs. Make sure to check it out!
Lisa is a fifth-generation chicken keeper, who currently lives on a small farm in Maine with her chickens, ducks, dogs and a barn cat. She holds a Maine Master Gardener certification and is a regular contributor for Backyard Poultry and many more of my favorite publications. She also frequently appears around the country speaking at events like Mother Earth News and Country Living fairs. Make sure you follow along with her on social media!
I would definitely recommend Gardening with Chickens to anyone who wants to run their very own healthy and happy household. Maintaining a flock of chickens, as well as your very own gardens, can be a very rewarding experience. Combining the two can take living a sustainable lifestyle to the next level. Even if you don't own any chickens yet, this book can really assist you with setting up an area and landscaping your yard for a future flock. Whatever point you are at on your farming journey, this book is here to keep you motivated and provide you with the ideas you are looking for. I want to give a big thanks to Lisa for inviting me to review her wonderful book! Don't forget to click the button below and get yourself your very own copy.
51 Comments
Elizabeth O.
February 24, 2017 at 9:30 pmThat sounds like a great book for people who are planning to grow chickens but don’t really know where to start. It’s very informative and detailed.
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh
February 24, 2017 at 9:09 pmI want chickens and a garden!! This book was sort of meant for me! Ha! 😉 Really though, I have a black thumb, and have tried to garden, going to try again this spring. However, I will say that I’d LOVE to have a couple of chickens.
Teresa
February 24, 2017 at 8:27 pmWe have hatched baby chicks so many times, but we were never able to keep the chickens as we cannot have chickens in our village or subdivision. So jealous
Lynn
February 24, 2017 at 8:22 pmWe had chickens for a few years. They each had their own personality. Friendly, playful, bossy, skittish, etc. And fresh eggs are the best. Thanks for the great review.
Lynn N.
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Angie
February 25, 2017 at 5:05 pmThey definitely do! I love the sassy chickens who can get a bit feisty. I completely agree Lynn, fresh eggs are a lovely benefit 🙂
Gennifer Rose
February 24, 2017 at 8:06 pmWe had chickens growing up and I so wish I could have chickens again. Unfortunately my doggies would have one of my chickens for lunch :/
I just started planting my seedlings for this summer’s garden. Can’t wait to see my little sprouts 🙂
Gennifer Rose | http://www.GenniferRose.com
Angie
February 25, 2017 at 5:04 pmThat’s awesome you grew up surrounded by chickens Gennifer! They really are such wonderful and beneficial animals. Good luck with your little seedlings, I did the same this week 🙂
karen
February 24, 2017 at 7:13 pmPlanting with a purpose is major. I love the mindset of this book. Especially with the chickens. I have many friends who have chickens and its been intriguing to me.
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:54 pmExactly Karen! It’s really enjoyable to have a lifestyle that includes animals and nature 🙂
Jacqui Odell
February 24, 2017 at 5:33 pmI have a friend who is interesting in getting some chickens. I bet she would like this book!
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:52 pmChickens make such great pets 🙂 Have a great weekend Jacqui!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife
February 24, 2017 at 1:50 pmThis book not only sounds helpful, but it looks lovely too! So many people I know raise chickens and have gorgeous gardens but sadly I am not talented in either area 😉 Thank you for this book review! I can think of a few friends who would love this as a gift.
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:51 pmIt is! I love visual books, I feel like I learn better when I can see it too 🙂 This would make a perfect gift!
HilLesha
February 24, 2017 at 1:33 pmI have always wanted to have chickens, but alas, I don’t have any! Despite that fact, I’m still looking forward to gardening this spring. 🙂
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:50 pmOh, me too! It’s so close, I can see the daffodils and tulips beginning to poke out of the ground!
Jeanette
February 24, 2017 at 11:40 amA friend of mine would like to do this. She’s been doing a lot of research on chickens and gardening and all that stuff this book would be perfect for her. I will tell her all about it.
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:48 pmThanks for spreading the word Jeanette! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Debra
February 24, 2017 at 11:20 amI have always wanted to have chickens, I love to garden and I think it would be such an adventure!
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:19 pmIt is such an adventure Debra! There is nothing like growing your very own tomatoes and enjoying the love of your animals at the end of the day 🙂
Nikki
February 24, 2017 at 10:03 amThis sounds so cool! I have always wanted to start my own garden, but I seem to kill plants lol. I am just not cut out for farming and gardening, but its so cool how people can live off the land.
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:18 pmI know how you feel Nikki! Gardening is lots of trial and error, but it is a very rewarding hobby! Books like this help set up farming and planting for success!
Alexandra
February 24, 2017 at 9:57 amYou don’t normally think gardening and chickens go together – and they shouldn’t. Great ideas for keeping them separate. I loved the “chicken chunnel”!
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:16 pmIsn’t it so cool? I can’t wait to try building one 🙂
Helen
February 24, 2017 at 8:01 amWhat a unique hobby! Also, your chickens are adorable.
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:14 pmThanks Helen!
image-in-ing: weekly photo linky
February 24, 2017 at 6:27 amI miss having chickens… hens, anyway. I think the neighbors would have a stroke if we were to have chickens here!
I hope you’ll come share at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/02/worship-in-beit-sahour.html
Angie
February 24, 2017 at 9:11 pmI would be happy too! Thank you for the invite and have a fabulous weekend 🙂