Lyme Farmers Market—Chickens, Cupcakes, And Angels

This just goes to show that if you want to repopulate an endangered species all you need to do is put them on the menu.

Although today we think of chicken both for meat and eggs, they were originally domesticated in India for cockfighting. So in a place where cows are sacred and allowed to run wild in the streets, chickens were bred to wail on each other. If you’ve ever seen the movie, “Rum Diaries”, you know what cockfighting is all about. I know a lot of women are in love with Johnny Depp. Even if they aren’t into cockfighting they’ll watch the movie for Johnny. Political correctness can only be carried so far.

In order to talk intelligently about chickens it helps to know what the different sexes at different ages are called. Adult male chickens over a year old are called roosters. Under a year they are called cockerels. Castrated males are capons. Do you know why roosters crow at dawn? It’s because they’ve made it for one more night without becoming a capon.

Female chickens over a year old are called hens and younger females are called pullets until they start to lay eggs. Baby hens are called chicks.

All chickens tend to hang together. In the sixties hanging together was called communes. For chickens they are called flocks. Like the sixties, chickens tend to be communal in incubation and raising their young. The best study of this behavior is in Hillary Clinton’s book, “It Takes a Village”.

Our neighbor Lisa once told me that “chickens know exactly how to be chickens”. Truer words were never spoken. The chickens we have running around the farm know exactly when to come in at night, where to roost and how to lay their eggs in the nesting boxes. Having chickens is relatively easy. We can’t walk around barefoot anymore, but there’s always some sacrifice. It’s like when you start drinking wine instead of beer. You feel more sophisticated, but you have a glass to wash instead of just tossing the bottle out the pickup window. I know there’s a fifty/fifty split on what I just said. Some of you think I’m serious and some of you wonder why I drink beer in a bottle instead of a can.

I know someone out there in newsletter land is wondering why chickens lay different colored eggs. It all has to do with the breed. Since the eggs don’t taste any different, it’s not something to worry about. Worry about being audited by the IRS not what color a chicken egg is.

Are the farm fresh eggs you pick up at the farmers market really better for you than the ones from the supermarket. Fresher is better and some studies have shown that small farm eggs have less cholesterol and saturated fat and more vitamin A,E, and beta carotene.

The poultry itself is better tasting than store bought. The chickens are also treated a lot better. Instead of being cooped up in a chicken prison many have concierge service in swank apartments with 401k plans and free dental insurance.

Do yourself a favor and fill your poultry needs at the farmers market.

Food Truck

Nora Cupcake Truck is rolling in from Middletown this Saturday. It’s their first time at the market so I want you to be nice to them. Remember- we have your email address and won’t hesitate to turn it over to the NSA.

Guest Vendors

Kim and Laura are coming to make you beautiful. You need it.

SkySpyders load their pottery up in Columbia and cruise on down here on Saturday. First time at the market this year.

Diane Earl is coming with her wooden jewelry for the first time this year. A lot of firsts this Saturday. Your firsts are probably mostly behind you.

Cindy Fencher shows up with her Jewelry designs.

Lucy Brainard is coming with Orkeeswa’s Angels. Get comfortable because this needs a bit of explanation. Through her school, Lucy is involved in a project in Tanzania that helps employ women who can then afford an education. They make these little beaded “angels” that Lucy will be selling at the market. Help Lucy out. She needs to graduate so she can go on to college and support her parents in their old age.

We also have Connecticut Farmland Trust coming. They’re a great organization. If you haven’t figured them out by their name, they preserve farmland in Connecticut. I don’t think they’ve preserved any land in Bridgeport, but it’s probably too late for Bridgeport anyway.