Category Archives: chickens

The Chicken Hutch

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Bettina Colonna Essert

We live in the surburbs, on a river, on several acres of pecans, pines and salt bush. In this world of well-groomed lawns and tidy little boat docks, ours is a wild heaven. Fairies and devas collect here and plant … Continue reading →

Posted in chickens, Four Oaks, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, Mark, suburban homesteading | 5 Comments

Good Things

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Bettina Colonna Essert

Life throws pies. Some are filled with shit and some whipped cream but the truth is, no matter what the pie’s filled with, getting hit in the face with one is no fun. Today life hit me with a pie. … Continue reading →

Posted in bees, cats, chickens, children, decency, family, health and well-being, honey bees, horses, Mark, parenting, personal | 2 Comments

The Saga of the Liver

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

For years now my husband has been consuming a commercial brand braunsweiger. He eats. I bitch. Finally, last week, we had a light bulb moment. Thanks Oprah. He is eating crackers slathered with the pink putty-ish substance and I’m all … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, chickens, environment, family, health and well-being, Mark, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Suburban Homestead Update

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Bettina Colonna Essert

It’s Spring and we’ve been busy doing the obvious springtime things: tilling; amending; spreading compost; mulching; planting; getting bees. Getting bees? Yes! Mark has been a busy bee himself and totally obsessed with bees and, to be honest, bigfoot. Bigfoot … Continue reading →

Posted in chickens, environment, Four Oaks, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, herb/herbalism, honey bees, suburban homesteading | Leave a comment

FRESH, a movie about food

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Bettina Colonna Essert

Some of us wonder what the world is coming to. I hope this is it.

Posted in activism, cattle, chickens, children, container gardening, decency, environment, food, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, health and well-being, rural life | Leave a comment

Chicken Processing at MTBar

Posted on August 23, 2008 by Bettina Colonna Essert

*If this is going to upset you please don’t read it and please don’t look at the pictures, some of them are graphic.*All of our home processing is done in accordance with North Carolina State Law. Today we processed our … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, aleia, chickens, children, Mark, Martina, rural life, Travis | Leave a comment

Field Day at PolyFace Farm

Posted on July 20, 2008 by Bettina Colonna Essert

July 12, 2008 The Essert clan: Mark, Travis, Martina and Tina attended Field Day at Polyface Farm. We were much in need of an energy boost in our little farming enterprise and, not surprisingly, the visit to Polyface did it … Continue reading →

Posted in cattle, chickens, children, environment, family, food, gardening-organic biodynamic natural, health and well-being, Mark, Martina, parenting, personal, reviews, rural life, travel, Travis | Leave a comment