Free-Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard

Description

Many gardeners fear chickens will peck away at their landscape, and chicken lovers often shy away from gardening for the same reason. But you can keep chickens and have a beautiful garden, too! In this essential handbook, award-winning garden designer Jessi Bloom offers step-by-step instructions for creating a beautiful and functional space and maintaining a happy, healthy flock. Free-Range Chicken Gardens covers everything a gardener needs to know, from the basics of chicken keeping and getting them acclimated to the garden, to how to create the perfect chicken-friendly garden design and build innovative coops.

Jessica Bloom is an award-winning landscape designer who has her own landscape design firm, N.W. Bloom EcoLogical Landscapes.

"If your garden fantasies involve chickens, Jessi Bloom. . . is here to make those dreams come true. . . . an expert guide for the untutored." --The New York Times "A manifesto on the many ways to pamper your hens--with plants for foraging and shelter, rain-fed water bowls and eco-friendly lawns." --Sunset "A comprehensive guide from mating to medicine that will particularly help beginners. . . . Bloom makes a persuasive case." --Publishers Weekly "Numerous illustrations, full-color photos, charts and tables, garden layouts, and useful tips. . . . a wealth of practical advice." --Booklist "Exquisitely produced and artfully photographed." --San Francisco Chronicle "Bloom's obvious enthusiasm for good design and for her birds will inspire both novice and experienced chicken owners to create a garden space for hens and humans to enjoy." --American Gardener "Complete with gorgeous photos, diagrams, plans, and a very well written and easy to understand approach, you will want to get your hands upon this book if you have ever dreamed of incorporating chickens into your lifestyle." --Small Town Living "A great basic guide for first-time chicken owners and chicken owner wannabes." --Horticulture "The only book I have seen that tells you exactly how you can have your chickens AND your garden too." --Living Homegrown "Solves the dilemma of having free-range chickens and a vegetable garden." --The Oregonian "Provides a good overview on coop building styles and considerations, very basic chicken care info, do-grow/don't-grow plant lists for the chicken garden and lots and lots of gorgeous inspirational pictures." --NW Edible "I've had chickens for four years and I wish that I could have had Jessi Bloom's new book in the beginning." --Diggin Food