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rshen's picture

Chickens in mobile homes

After walking three minutes this morning I approached the white tents that comprised the farmer's market. One particular tent stood out to me, Wilmer's Organic, manned by two post-college-mid-twenties guys. Phil Smeltz was one of these said guys who was more than willing to talk to me about the free range chicken eggs and organic produce. 

 

The free range chickens are an experiment in its first year. Wilmer's Organic has around 400 chickens in six different varieties kept in a mobile home unit. Before this experiement went underway, Phil spoke of his chicken house that seemed to be more effort than it was worth. The mobile home unit is moved to different pastuers and the chickens can feed on fresh grasses and pick at bugs. However, Phil emphasized that grass alone does not have all the nutrients the chickens need to survive and are also fed an organic feed. Passionately, he discussed in length the slated floor of the mobile home that allows the chickens' feces to give nitrogen back to the Earth.

Both people manning the stand reminded me of the people in "King Corn," very earnest individuals who had great intentions and were passionate about their foods.

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