Cock-a-hoop

CHOOKS are one of nature's vacuum cleaners for the garden.

After running the hand mower over the back lawn last weekend, the feather riot ran round eating many of the insects and grubs thrown up by the cut grass.

This weekend I'll be finally digging in the new vegetable bed which as an extra door from the chook run opening directly into one of the beds.

This means the gals will be able to spend a few days turning over the soil for me and adding their own extra fertiliser.

Not only do the girls wolf down creepy-crawlies, they also love eating all the fresh scraps which would otherwise go in the compost bins.

They beat the hell out of a Dyson with their gorgeous cackleberries too.

Bamboozled

I NEED to borrow a goat.

Last Sunday I chopped down metres of bamboo to clear out the side of the chook shed and studio.

Hard work but so worth it as I also have a zillion bamboo lengths to use as stakes for the tomatoes, peas and beans I'll be planting next month.

Now a goat would be useful as they eat anything, including bamboo which is notoriously difficult to remove bar nuclear fusion.

The feather riot get stuck into the bugs hiding in the bamboo leaves.

The chooks were very helpful in eating all the insects who rushed out of the bamboo leaves.

Now I face the onerous task of digging out the bamboo roots. Once this is down I'll lay down some crushed rock or topping and I'll have a good place to keep the rubbish bins.

If you know anyone with a goat for rent, let me know.