A sight all too seldom seen, even on family farms-- a mother hen tending to her brood of chicks. I don't raise chickens commercially, or sell eggs-- I have enough things to lose money at already even without chickens to help-- but I do enjoy a few eggs now and then. Or, in this case, when I stop collecting the eggs and let the hens brood, baby chicks. It is amazing to see the normally placid, even docile, hens transform overnight into highly attentive, fiercely protective beings.
New this week are peas.We grow snap peas and snow peas, although we grow many, many more snap than snow, because people seem to prefer them and they take less time to pick. Both are edible podded peas. Simply remove the stem end and any bit of string that comes with it, and you are ready to go. The snap peas are fatter and quite a bit sweeter than the snow peas. The snap peas can be eaten either raw or lightly cooked. I find the snow peas are best cooked, but don't overdo it-- just a few minutes does the trick.
Next week we expect cabbage and chard. Can cucumbers and beets be far off?
John
