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Chimney Creek Farm
Australia
Приєднався 3 кві 2014
Welcome! In August 2021 our family bought 140 acres off the grid in Australia. We called it Chimney Creek Farm and we are transitioning to a more self-sufficient lifestyle. My name is Tina and I enjoy making handmade products botanically based and inspired by nature. Returning to a simpler lifestyle, learning to live with the cycles of nature and cultivating gratefulness, less dependence, more responsibility, reconnection with nature and the love of our planet - living more sustainably is not only for our own good, but for the good of the planet and for civilization. Thank you for joining us here.
Garden Prep for HUGE Summer Harvest!
🌿 Join us on Chimney Creek Farm as we prepare for the shift from spring to summer in our off-grid homestead in the Australian high country. This week, we’re getting ready for the heat waves by planting seedlings that have been nurtured for weeks: melons, pumpkin, spaghetti squash, and loofah. We share the process of creating soil mounds using a mix of leftover potting soil, garden soil, and chicken poo -all stirred up in a trusty wheelbarrow.
Alongside the work on the farm, I reflect on a recent trip to Brisbane for specialist tests, along the way I visited family, experiencing the warm embrace of Thai culture through my stepmother Mon and stepsister Fern. Discover how the richness of Thai traditions connects us back to the essentials of community and togetherness.
🌱 Back home, Paul and I dive deep into permaculture practices, adding mulch, green manure seeds, and our collection of saved seeds, including red spinach (amaranth), beans, coriander, and calendulas. Thanks to our permaculture teacher Lana, we’re incorporating new methods and plant varieties that will improve our soil health and ensure a fruitful garden through the summer.
💡 With kangaroos and possums testing our garden’s resilience, we install solar sensor lights to guard our precious seedlings during the night. Watch as we balance farm projects, permaculture wisdom, and memories that make life off the grid truly special.
Thanks to Cathi @LittleGardenBigDreams for the seeds xxx
🦋 Don’t miss our story of hope, resilience, and family as we create a garden that nourishes not just the body, but the soul.
🔔 Subscribe for more insights into off-grid living, permaculture tips, and our journey of building a self-sustained life in Australia.
Alongside the work on the farm, I reflect on a recent trip to Brisbane for specialist tests, along the way I visited family, experiencing the warm embrace of Thai culture through my stepmother Mon and stepsister Fern. Discover how the richness of Thai traditions connects us back to the essentials of community and togetherness.
🌱 Back home, Paul and I dive deep into permaculture practices, adding mulch, green manure seeds, and our collection of saved seeds, including red spinach (amaranth), beans, coriander, and calendulas. Thanks to our permaculture teacher Lana, we’re incorporating new methods and plant varieties that will improve our soil health and ensure a fruitful garden through the summer.
💡 With kangaroos and possums testing our garden’s resilience, we install solar sensor lights to guard our precious seedlings during the night. Watch as we balance farm projects, permaculture wisdom, and memories that make life off the grid truly special.
Thanks to Cathi @LittleGardenBigDreams for the seeds xxx
🦋 Don’t miss our story of hope, resilience, and family as we create a garden that nourishes not just the body, but the soul.
🔔 Subscribe for more insights into off-grid living, permaculture tips, and our journey of building a self-sustained life in Australia.
Переглядів: 257
Відео
Last Permaculture Class: What We Learned
Переглядів 46014 днів тому
In this video, we take you on a journey through our off-grid life as spring transitions to a hot Australian summer. Join us as we work tirelessly to plant and transplant as many trees and plants as possible before the intense heat arrives. We share our techniques for preparing the ground, including using mulch to retain precious moisture and protect our young plants from the summer sun. We’ll a...
The Kindness of Strangers, Gardening Wins & Impossible Pie
Переглядів 26321 день тому
🌱 Springtime on the Homestead: Seedlings, Surprises, and Sweet Moments 🌱 In this heartwarming spring update from our off-grid homestead in Australia, we share the beauty, joy, and unexpected kindness that’s touched our lives. Here’s what we cover in this video: Spring Awakening: Watch as our seed trays come alive with fresh growth and our fruit trees thrive with the changing weather, all thanks...
Homestead DIY Hacks: Predator-Proof Coop, Seed Storage & Soil Restoration
Переглядів 50328 днів тому
Join us on our off-grid homestead in Australia as we tackle everything from fortifying our chicken coop against local predators to experimenting with sunflowers to help restore soil health! After a recent visit from my son Eli’s city friends, we’re back to our homestead projects, sharing updates on how we’re building a predator-proof chook pen to keep out quolls, which recently broke through ou...
Permaculture, Rain, & Spring Planting Off-Grid in Australia
Переглядів 369Місяць тому
In this episode, we embrace the start of spring. The kale flowers are attracting bees, and our seedlings are bursting through the soil, ready to soak up the warm sun. Join us as we dive into permaculture lessons with Lana, learning about everything from preparing garden beds to building rocket stoves. We also share the joy of Eli’s friends camping on our property again-bringing with them much-n...
Off-Grid Living Update: Worm Farms, Hügelkultur, and a Quoll-Proof Chicken Pen
Переглядів 382Місяць тому
In this video, we take you along on our journey of off-grid living in rural Australia, where we’re slowly transforming our land into a thriving, self-sustaining homestead. Inspired by everything we've been learning in our permaculture classes with Lana, we're putting new strategies into place-from setting up worm farms to creating compost tea, building hügelkultur garden beds, and making small ...
Off Grid Permaculture: Composting, Mushroom Spawn and Natives
Переглядів 587Місяць тому
Join us on our off-grid journey as we tackle the challenge of transforming compact, drought-stricken land into a thriving food forest using permaculture principles! 🌿 In this episode, we dive into all that we’ve learned in recent weeks, from attending Granite Borders Landcare's Wattle Day-where the scientific names of wattles sounded like Harry Potter spells-to starting a permaculture course wi...
The Dark Side of Off Grid Living
Переглядів 8782 місяці тому
In this episode, we share the raw, emotional reality of living off-grid in Australia. Over the past week, we lost 9 of our beloved chickens, including our rooster, Russell Crowe, to an endangered spotted-tail quoll-a powerful apex predator native to Australia. This loss has shaken us deeply, but it's a reminder of the harsh beauty of living so close to nature, where survival isn’t always easy. ...
Between the Seasons: An Off Grid Life in Australia
Переглядів 6 тис.2 місяці тому
This video is a heartfelt exploration of life off the grid in Australia. Follow the journey of a woman and her partner as they navigate the changing seasons in their remote home nestled among the granite-covered hills. From building with their own hands to growing food in harmony with the land, this video captures the beauty and challenges of living off grid in Australia. Watch as the seasons s...
Transforming a Rusty Old Gate into our Outhouse Door (DIY Off Grid)
Переглядів 3233 місяці тому
Welcome to our off-grid journey in the high country of the northern New England tablelands, southern Granite Belt area! In this episode, we take you through the process of transforming an old garden gate into a beautiful, functional door for our outhouse. Our mate Darryl gifted us this gate, and we’ve put a lot of love and elbow grease into restoring it. Join us as we cut, clean, and oil the ga...
We Built a Hanging Utensil Rack Out of Old Fence Posts (DIY Off Grid)
Переглядів 3013 місяці тому
Welcome to our off-grid homestead in the Australian wilderness! In this video, join us as we transform old fence posts into a beautiful and functional hanging utensil rack for our small kitchen. Living off-grid means finding creative solutions to everyday challenges. Our kitchen counter is cluttered with a portable cooker, chicken scraps, and compost buckets, leaving little room for anything el...
Up Close and Personal: Spectacular Wildlife Off Grid
Переглядів 2 тис.3 місяці тому
Join us on an immersive journey into the heart of the Australian wilderness, where we share our experiences of living off-grid and encountering the incredible wildlife that calls this land home. Get up close and personal with the majestic kangaroos and elusive wallaroos to the playful wallabies and more, witness the rich life that surrounds us. In this video, you'll see: - Close encounters with...
Embracing Winter’s Beauty: Life Off Grid in the High Country
Переглядів 4053 місяці тому
Embracing Winter’s Beauty: Life Off Grid in the High Country
AEG Post Hole Digger, Tragedy, Repairing Masport Ride On Mower, Garden and Wildlife Encounters
Переглядів 6574 місяці тому
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The Best Sweet Chilli Sauce You Will Ever Taste | Easy 10 minute recipe
Переглядів 4104 місяці тому
The Best Sweet Chilli Sauce You Will Ever Taste | Easy 10 minute recipe
Easy Cucumber Relish: Off Grid Winter in the High Country
Переглядів 1774 місяці тому
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2024 Solar Panels, SHOME Insulation, & Off Grid Living!
Переглядів 6474 місяці тому
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Off Grid Challenges: From Compost Toilets to Hot Showers
Переглядів 5364 місяці тому
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Wood Heater Repairs and Winter Prep: Life Off the Grid in Australia
Переглядів 4475 місяців тому
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Friends, Campfires, Guns and Outhouse Flashing: My Off-Grid Birthday Bash
Переглядів 2435 місяців тому
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Переглядів 2956 місяців тому
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Discovering the Untold PH Secrets Beneath the Surface
Переглядів 2466 місяців тому
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Igniting Awareness: The Impact of Fire on Biodiversity
Переглядів 2756 місяців тому
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Why Soil Health Is The Key to Saving the World: Granite Borders Landcare Workshop
Переглядів 1808 місяців тому
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Off the Grid Wildlife and Seed Saving
Переглядів 2778 місяців тому
Off the Grid Wildlife and Seed Saving
Stormy weather heading our way! #offgridliving #offgridlife #australia #offgridhome
Переглядів 1088 місяців тому
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Переглядів 2059 місяців тому
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4WD Adventure on South Stradbroke Island: Explore the Untamed Beauty
Переглядів 1099 місяців тому
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Переглядів 2709 місяців тому
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Lovely video. It's great to start the day slowly, with coffee 😀
It really is! I love those mornings when I can start off slow.
Good stuff 😊😊😊
Thank you! 🙏
Everything is looking beautiful Tina. I'm so glad the seeds are popping up for you. I am slow to plant in the ground here because I am selling lots on our stand lol. But have got some beautiful peas I've been eating straight off the plants, and broad beans and strawberries galore. I love this time of the year. I do hope you are feeling better after your appointment, I sure know the feeling...and how beautiful is it to get back home to the serenity. Your storytelling is lovely and poetic as always, please keep well and take care lovely. xx Cathi xx
Thanks Cathi, I am hoping some more of your seeds pop up! I am so glad to hear that all is going well with your stand. It’s so satisfying to eat straight from the garden isn’t it? Our garden is getting better bit by bit! I’m hoping to get a nice harvest in a few months time. Thanks so much for your kindness 💜
Thanks for sharing Tina.Looks like we are going to have more food from the garden soon. The chicken was well stuffed and I believe it tasted delicious 😋. Lovely garden.and looking forward to daily harvests😊❤❤
Hoping we get a nice harvest over the coming months! Fingers crossed! That was a duck 🦆 I stuffed not a chicken and yes, it was very yummy!
@Tinachimneycreekfarm you will Get a good harvest sis🙂 Oh iv never tasted a Duck I should try one day.Have a lovely day 🌹🌹
I hope the garden does well for you.
Thank you. I am hoping for our best season yet!
Getting lots done & you’ll reap all the efforts you put in, in time 😊❤️
I’m hoping so!!! It has been a full on year so looking forward to reaping the rewards 💜
What state is your farm in? I'm in NSW & after some on season garden tips. Thanks for the video
We are in Northern NSW, northern New England tablelands. Thanks for watching :)
Hi Tina.You have done a great job with Paul planting all those trees.M so curious about the tree you said indigenous ppl used to make flour? Interesting.i love how you take classes from Lana .Her tutorials seem easy to follow yet very organic.You have inspired me to start attending too. That radish ? Is so huge😮😮 Have a wonderful weekend ❤❤ More comfrey roots😊 13:37
Yes, our indigenous people made flour with wattle seeds apparently. Aunty Helen made a wattle seed damper for us to try, it was lovely. I think they mix it in with regular flour these days though. This one is lightwood or hickory wattle. Lana has been very inspiring for us, I will be interested to see if you attend anything similar. The radish is massive! The biggest one I have ever seen I think! More comfrey roots :) You have a nice weekend too :)
I often have plenty of 'garden mysteries' too. Lots of promise of future growth and produce to come.
Thanks Rachel, I’m looking forward to seeing these all grow up and hopefully produce one day!
I have always been a tenant but have looked after homes and the land as though it was my own. I have purchased up to 200 plants at my own expense and applied mulch and love to each property I have lived at. A few months ago I had to move and have ended up at a rental that wouldn't allow my spade into the earth. Twang, crash, grating sounds met every spade blade. Turns out the property owner had buried two household loads of tiles, concrete rubble, metal car parts, clothing, etc underneath about 5 inches of top soil and lawn seed. I just cried at this disrespect of Nature. I have spent countless hours cleaning up what I can. This might turn out to be a yard where I can only plant above the soil (straw bale gardening). I look forward to watching your videos for all of the helpful tips that you share. Congratulations on reaching 1,000 subscribers and becoming monetized. I so love the energy of Truffles!
Thank you so much for your support along the way! We have just planted potatoes in some hay bails which we will show soon plus our last permaculture class. It’s a real shame that so many don’t respect our earth. It’s nice to find our people though too! I hope you’re still able to grow what you can for yourself. We have an arsenic pit under the ground to deal with! Just trying to improve the soil slowly but surely.
Another lovely video share. And your impossible pie looks delicious.
Thanks Rachel, it tasted amazing!
Great video. I love impossible pie. I got the recipe from Mum many years ago, she called it Impossible Pie because it seems impossible for it to turn out in distinct layers when all ingredients are thrown in together. Either way, it's definitely delicious 😊
I thought it was impossible too! It is definitely a tasty pie! Will be making it again one day when I find some time. Thanks for watching!
Hey Tina?Thanks to @Cathy shes a good friend 😊. The book really is good and has a lot one could learn. Yes can see everything is blooming .Your farmstead is really looking great.Comfrey is really a must have and it helped me to heal my leg bone faster.I also give to my chickens coz its good in proteins. The pie really was looking great and i can understand why is was finished by dusk😊 Enjoy the rest of your weekend ❤❤ 16:48
Cathi @littlegardenbigdreams is lovely isn’t she? I’m looking forward to reading the pumpkin book properly, I’ve just had a quick glance through so far. So much to do in springtime. I’m looking forward to seeing how the comfrey grows, I’ve heard that it has great healing properties. Everything is getting really green again now, it’s lovely 🥰
@Tinachimneycreekfarm Enjoy it sis will be checking her out.Yes it also softens skin and is anti inflammatory.Also lowers swelling. Youd love it it grows fast but very evasive.Like Mint🙂❤️
What breed your water pooch? My Kelpie cross-Border Collie is a water nut too😂
She was a rescue dog, they said she was a Labrador crossed with ‘something’ we are not sure really. She does love the water, chasing things and the car!
🤣🤣water pooch - love it!
@Tinachimneycreekfarm so easy to have fun by watching exercise nutters😜
@badajoma soo true! 😂
Thank you so much for sharing your family memories, your Impossible Pie recipe. Possum family is simply adorable with a cutest baby sitting on charming mother's back.
Our pleasure! I hope you found the recipe easy, it is so yummy! We enjoy watching what the possums are getting up to. The baby one is super cute! Thanks for following our journey 🙏
@@Tinachimneycreekfarm I rewrote your recipe under your channel's name and will try to bake. It looks delicious. As for Possums they are beautiful. Thank you. Have a pleasant day.
Let me know how you go with the pie! Apparently they have been making it since the 70’s! I must have been living under a rock 😂
@@Tinachimneycreekfarm By all means I will let you know.
Always a welcome sight with new life & growth in garden🥰👏
So true! It really brightens up my day!
@Tinachimneycreekfarm so true, energy boost motivator to keep going👌
That’s for sure!
Always a pleasure to share with you Tina, you have such a kind, grateful and gentle heart. My self sown sweet peas are in bloom now, and the aroma is amazing from them... That is so lovely that they bring you memories of your Grandma. Let me say that once you have sweet peas, you'll always have them!! I have that pumpkin book too, and it is a great read. Naomi is such a sweetheart, she is so kind and thoughtful. Take care beautiful and I can't wait to see your blooms. That pie looks so good too! xx Cathi xx
You have been so generous to share your seeds with me. The sweet pea seedlings are up now and almost every seed germinated I think so there were heaps and I think I dropped a few by accident that came up too! I’ll plant them out into the garden soon so thank you so much! I can’t wait to see the blooms too. Naomi has been such a big supporter too! I’m lucky to have you both in my life! The pie was amazing!
I’m so glad you’re sowing the seeds Tina🌱🌱and I hope they produce well for you! I’m out in the garden today doing some UA-cam catch up while I work. Have an awesome week lovely xx Cathi xx 😘
That’s great Cathi! Thank you so much! Im excited to watch them grow. I’m mentioning you again in my next video, I’m just finishing making it now 💜
@@Tinachimneycreekfarm you’re a sweetheart Tina💕🌸🌱 Enjoy your day xx Cathi xx 😘
You too 💕
Hi sis still trying to leave comment.Thanks for the tips on strawberries. You and hubby are doing a great job you did a lot of planting .great you kept all those seeds❤
Thank you so much! Your comment came through this time, yay! We’ve done more planting over the last couple of weeks too! It’s nice to see everything going green again after some rain.
@@Tinachimneycreekfarm I know how it feels.Seeing everything spring back to life is therapeutic 😊❤️❤️
@@bongiwesminihomestead6981 sure is!
I wish you had kept the video going so that we could see what your potato casserole looked like
Yes, I know. I’m sorry. I think I forgot to video the final product! Too hungry 😂 I’m trying to remember to do that more often now though. Thanks for watching!
I know that pain of losing your birds. I hope the new protections do the trick. Like yours our remaining girls went off the lay after the fox attack. But they came good over time. Lovely seeing you are still enjoying your course.
Thanks Rachel, we are getting one egg every couple of days now which is a start. They seem to be getting back to normal now, still a little wary though I think. The pen is holding up well so far and we’ve seen prints around that look like a quoll so hopefully they can’t get in now. The permaculture course has been so awesome and now we have some more awesome neighbours to trade with!
Great video guys. All the learning is being put into practice which is awesome 👍
Yes, it has been such a practical way to improve everything we have been working on, trying to grow a food forest here. People laughed and said good luck with that out here and now we have the perfect example of it working just 5 km from us. Maybe you could go to next years one. I’m planning on going again 😁
@@Tinachimneycreekfarm how good is it to show people that you can do something they thought impossible. Well done 👏 Yes, definitely something we would consider attending 😁
Another lovely episode
Thank you so much for following our journey and for your kind words ❤
That coop looks good. Apparently the chooks like a bush mulch as a floor option too, gives them something to scratch around in and encourages bugs. Also good for your gardens afterwards 😊I'm sure it's the stress that has halted egg production. Great information too 👍
Yes, I forgot to say that the old version was just held together with plastic zip ties that came with the coop, they got brittle over time and could be easily broken off. This time we fixed the chicken wire with metal fencing clips so it makes it was extra strong! We put some hay in there afterwards as well, we still let them free range during the day which they love, gives them a chance to scratch around naturally as well. They have finally started laying again! Yay!
@@Tinachimneycreekfarm excellent news all round 👏 👍
Poor chooks 😢
I know! I feel so sad for them.
You’re doing a great job 😊 You’re teaching us new ways to do things too Keep up the good work Look forward to seeing how things are progressing So sad about the chooks 😢❤
Thanks so much 😊We have been learning heaps at the classes. It will probably takes years to get it really good but hopefully we will get there eventually!
Sorry to hear about your chooks!! I would be very upset and angry if that happened!! But I guess that's life!! P.S...your dog is sooo cute!! LOL!! Where abouts in Australia are you?? Fellow Australian here!! Cheers!! Adelaide - South Australia!!
Thank you! We were very upset about the chooks when it first happened but now that we have fixed up the pen we are hoping to get some more. We are in the New England Northern Tablelands of NSW, Southern Granite Belt area.
Yummo
Lots of yummy Christmas food!
Beautiful narration, had to pull over and watch your lovely video!!!
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it 💜
It makes me smile to see your motivation to put into practice soil building methods which the earth and nature so desperately needs. I look forward to seeing your land become abundant with diversity, fertile soil and nutrient dense food. Nice video 😊
Thanks Lana! You have really lit a fire under us and we’ve been so excited to get all your strategies in place! Your knowledge and experience is amazing and all the time you’ve been so close to us!
It all starts with the soil 🤎
It sure does!
Hi Tina Thanks for sharing sis.Iwill be following closely to learn more . Permaculture is what we should ALL be practicing and everything would be balanced . Truffles enjoying himself 😂❤❤
Thanks so much! We have learnt so much in just a few weeks! Can’t wait to show you what our mushroom spawn looks like now! Truffles is always entertaining!
@@TinachimneycreekfarmYes he is.Looking forward sis❤❤
Really helpful information & always interesting to watch ❤
We have been learning so much it has been so inspirational!
Beautiful ❤
That is why vertical split is the best
Love your advice ref stinging nettles, I have an abundance of them and really should put them to use rather than burning them once they've dried out 🙏
Beautiful video, but full of tears for your dog, that's so so sad, I'm very sorry 🙏
Thank you, it was a very upsetting day. Our new dog Truffles now 2 years old has brought us a lot of joy!
How wonderful and clever! It looks gorgeous top job!! new sub here from the mid North Coast nsw
Thank you! It is so useful and doing an awesome job so far!
We live in rural Missouri, U.S.A. Last Thursday a neighbor's large dog came onto our place and enjoyed killing eight of our black-laced silver Wyandottes. The rooster escaped. We have one still MIA, and four left. I just ordered new ones; but we'll have to have a large area fenced in to protect them as we hate to leave them in our run, which is only 14 x 20 feet. I'll be making it into a permaculture area per Edible Acres example. Best of luck out there.
Oh no, how heartbreaking for you💔It is a terrible thing to happen. We let our chickens free range out of their pen during the day so that they can enjoy a bit of freedom. We have to try to fortify their pen before we get any more. We’ve had to lock the two remaining chickens up overnight in our outdoor dog kennel while we get this pen fixed up. Thanks for the encouragement and good luck to you as well!
My big problem with any predator is the waste . I will never understand why they kill so many then not even eat a whole one. Although we know we have foxes, goannas ,eagles , hawks ,dingoes and neighbours dogs here and even right close to our house some nights, somehow we havent lost any for a long while. I can however appreciate that those animals are beautiful in their own right. Last Spring my boys and i saw a gorgeous fox cub , all black except for its feet . Last week , i saw it grown up , i was mesmerised and we stared at each other for maybe 20 seconds though it felt like minutes then it disappeared into the dark night. I was incredibly excited to have seen such a beautiful creature and at the exact same moment a chill went down my spine, knowing it could take my beautiful hens next . I hope you love your permie course , I've done a few short ones now and im constantly learning new things or sketching more ideas out. We are getting down to 2*c tomorrow, so I'll have to protect the few trees that hate the cold. Somehow you created a beautiful video from a harsh reality of homestead life.🥰 Thank you for sharing lovelies ❤❤
That’s exactly what I thought when I saw all those dead chickens and hardly any of them eaten. Such a waste. Your experience with the fox sounds like Dances with Wolves! We got back down to -0.3 degrees last night but no frost thank goodness, I just planted out my new seeds! I am looking forward to going to the permaculture course. It was a very sad day losing our chickens but hopefully we have learnt our lesson.
Great video,thanks for sharing such an inspiring story ❤❤❤
Thank you for watching and commenting 💜