Helen’s Farm received a chick shipment this past week, so Robert (the photographer) and I paid a visit to their mobile coop this morning.

Photo by Heather Gladstone

Blake met us there and showed us to the coop. He shared with us that the 300 or so chicks that now reside in two separate, well-lit, heated spaces had made a recent journey from Oregon to Lopez.

Photo by Heather Gladstone

Photo by Heather Gladstone

The chicks are being raised for meat, and in 2-4 weeks they will be let out into the grassy field.  Blake was excited to show us the line in the grass that has been created where the chickens forage versus where they do not. He pointed out the healthy dark green grass that is within the fence line where the chickens are let out, and the browner grass outside of the fence line.  He explained that slowly moving the chicken pen across the land is one of the ways in which they are working to revitalize the property.

Photo by Heather Gladstone

Photo by Robert Harrison

Photo by Robert Harrison