It is characteristic of me to put myself in challenging situations by taking on massive tasks, especially ones that involve a tight deadline. Over the years I have completed countless projects by cramming the work into long sessions that go late into the night. The projects involved in getting this farm going are proving to be no different.

As you can see, the seedlings are up and well on their way. Soon they will be demanding a more spacious home in a well-tilled garden somewhere. I would be happy to accommodate those wishes if only I can manage to swing the purchase of the tractor in time. As well, a visit to our farm calendar will show that there are a number of crops that should have been planted already!

In the same way, the brood boxes are getting increasingly crowded as the chicks eat their way to maturity at an alarmingly rapid pace. They are beginning to squabble and fuss more and more. I'm sure it is due to the crowded conditions. If I don't manage to get a coop built soon, I may have to resort to creating larger temporary accommodations for them.

Luckily I have the day off today and getting a start on the coop is high on my list. I spent time yesterday having a very helpful discussion with our local extension agent about chicken rearing and got some additional helpful hints from the Michigan Department of Agriculture office. This morning, I hope to have one final conversation with the organic certification agency to make sure I don't include any prohibited materials in my coop construction. Once that is complete, it will be time to break ground and get the project underway!