Dishing the Dirt: September 2025

Hello my friends!

Do you remember when our baby chicks and ducklings arrived early this spring? They were sweet and little. We said that we could look forward to eggs in the Fall. Well, right on schedule, our little balls of fluff have grown into beautiful birds with feathers of many sizes and colors. And they have begun to lay eggs!

It may come as news to some (and old news to others) that different breeds of chickens lay different colored eggs. When we ordered our chickens, we ordered what was called a “rainbow assortment”. Our mix of girls will lay eggs that are white, as well as different shades of brown, blue and green! They will all look the same on the inside - and they will be healthy and delicious sources of protein that we can now donate to the food pantries in addition to the produce we grow in the garden.

It is truly amazing what our little piece of land has produced! Thank you to everyone who has helped so diligently to make our first summer a success! I am excited about what we will harvest this fall. We have planted broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, lettuce, kale, turnip greens, spinach, radishes, and collard greens. Some of the summer vegetables are done, so they have been turned under into the soil to make room for the fall planting. Some of the summer veggies- such as the tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and okra- are holding on and still producing, although a little less vigorously.

But let’s talk more about the chickens! They get to eat the garden produce that we do not donate due to bug or sun damage. Nothing goes to waste! And it comes full circle!  We use the soiled straw bedding from the coop to mulch and nourish the crops that are growing in the garden. This method keeps our soil healthy and full of nutrients. Every once in a while, it also leads to an unexpected “volunteer.” A fun example- from the seed of a pumpkin which we fed to the chickens early on, we ended up with a surprise pumpkin patch growing in the strawberry beds!

This month at the Chestertown Farmer’s Market, in order to raise some much-needed funds, we sold those chicken pumpkins, as well as flowers, and the cornstalks which remained after we harvested and donated the sweet corn. We also had a “Name Our Chicken” contest! (Because of course we are going to name our chickens!) The market shoppers voted on a name (either Buckbeak, Smokey, Boots, or Feathers) for one of our hens- a Blue Cochin. Blue Cochins are a large, fluffy breed of chicken known for their calm and gentle demeanor, and especially for their feathered legs and feet. They lay medium-sized brown eggs. After all the votes were counted, our Blue Cochin is appropriately named “Boots!”

My friends, we have a problem.

We have many, beautiful chickens at Sandy’s Garden. (NOT the problem) The problem is that THEY HAVE NO NAMES! After the success of naming Boots, it’s time to name another of our hens! She is a Buff-Laced Polish- a small breed known for their distinctive crest of feathers that look like a hat (or fabulous hair-do). She lays small, white eggs. So, what should her name be? Send your suggestions, and we will vote!

This and more chicken-related fun (and gift-giving ideas!) coming next month!

As we enter into this new garden season, I invite anyone who is interested, to come out to the garden. The crops are different but they are still growing, and we are still weeding, harvesting, and donating. Soon we will prep and plant the greenhouse for winter! The garden is a peaceful and beautiful place. There is always a surprise waiting - a HUGE vegetable hiding in the leaves, a beautiful flower, a spider web covered with dew, a fuzzy caterpillar scurrying across the path. In the background is the constant chatter and honest-to-goodness laughter of the ducks and chickens. It is a happy, healthy place. My hope is that the food we so lovingly produce here, will help others to lead happy, healthy lives.  

Thank you for helping make that happen.

With love and gratitude

Sandy Zappia 🙂

Executive Director