Take a Peak Chicken Coop Tour

We had a good first day on the tour. Almost 100 visitors at the main Coop. Many others reported 25 to 40 visitors (about what I’d expect). Have not heard much from the Westside. Two in the south had disappointing turn outs of only 3 visitors. 

Well you set it up and promote it. Then you get what you get.

Most of the Coop owners have their signs, We have Maps and Guide packages at Buckley’s and 712 N Cedar St, Colorado Springs.

We are asking for a $5 donation for the Map and Guide package. Cheaper than printing the Guide on your DeskJet (40 pages most with a lot of color). But feel free to print your own. You can click the donate button and go that way if you  want just tell us when you pick up the package.

I managed to get two dozen cookies baked in the Sun Oven this afternoon before the clouds moved in. Look for the discount code in the Map and Guide or click the link above. In general it will do most things an oven will do.

The clock says 15 hours to go. Better let the girls out and get to cleaning.

Ok, all of you impatient people. The Maps and Tour Guide are up and working from here.

I’m an old cancer survivor and FORTRAN and Assembler programer (yes it is still used). I’m not a writer or web designer. Just never got in to blogging or web pages. That coupled with the Chemo Fog from the cancer treatment and only doing this once a year means an hour or so of hacking takes four. Fun but frustrating at times.

Anyway, you have to wait until Saturday to see them for real.

Just a teaser I snipped from the Tour Map. We cover a lot of area…. with a lot of Coops. Already people are coming to the door wanting maps! It kind of makes up for the work involved in this enterprise.

Getting ready to leave to get the printing started. Should have main batch of maps and Guides in hand tomorrow evening. Hello, American Express?…..

I’m just about to take the Tour Guide to the printer and finish up the print version of the maps.

Thank you to those who have helped by clicking the Donate button. There is a project (not really a chicken project) that needs additional support more than the Take-A-Peak Tour. I’d be happy if every one who can would support Christine Faith’s Kickstarter project. I’m a supporter are you? Use this link to pledge: http://kck.st/ZbsTtL There are only 3 days left to pledge, Even $5 will help.

Here is the message Christine sent out:

Hey there!  We have some news we are so excited to share with you!  Ben and I have been asked to provide produce to a community asset here in Colorado Springs, and we need your support to realize this incredible opportunity.

Quick Facts:

·         A nearby greenhouse space has been donated to this project; the greenhouse owners will be partnering in this project.  Because the greenhouse is already built we only need the growing equipment to finish the project.  The existing greenhouse donation saves the project $50,000.

·         Seeds Community Café, a no-pay restaurant, is opening next month in Colorado Springs.  When eating at a no-pay restaurant you donate money for your meal, or volunteer some of your time to cover the bill.  No one is turned away regardless of financial status, and everyone has access to fresh, healthy food.  These are amazing assets to the communities that have them, and we are honored to have the opportunity to be of service to this restaurant.  Check out these links for more great information regarding no-pay restaurants:

·   www.jbjsoulkitchen.org (New Jersey – founded by Jon Bon Jovi)

·   www.soallmayeat.org (Denver, CO)

·   www.cafe-180.org (Englewood, CO)

·         The Seeds Community Café proprietor will buy ALL of our produce that comes from our new greenhouse project – the projects revenue stream is defined and set. 

·         We have always, and we will continue to donate 10% of our farm products to our non-profit partner’s food pantry, a different entity than Seeds Community Café.  The new greenhouse operation will triple the amount of produce we can donate to our non-profit partner.

Here’s What We Need You To Do:

·         Please pledge funds today for this community based endeavor – NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL, REALLY!  Pledge amounts start at $5.  Use this link to pledge: http://kck.st/ZbsTtL 

·         Demonstrating support for the project early is critical to the projects long term funding chances so please pledge today! 

·         Share this project link with anyone and everyone you think might be interested in supporting this great project.  http://kck.st/ZbsTtL 

If you have any questions about the project please visit the project site and watch our video (http://kck.st/ZbsTtL ), or shoot us back an e-mail and we’ll get right back to you.  We can’t do this without you, so please support this project to help us bring healthy, delicious produce to our community members in need.  Thank you so much. 

With deepest appreciation,

Christy & Ben

The Tour Guide is out for review by the Coop Owers.  We have a nice on line map setup at Mapquest that  we’ll link to on Friday along with the online version of the Tour Guide. If you want a printed Guide, They will be available at 712 North Cedar St (near Hancock and Monument) and at Buckley’s Homestead Supply, 1505 West Colorado Ave. on Saturday and Sunday.

Some might be interested in doing part of the tour on bicycle. There are several groups of coops that might lend themselves to such a tour. Particularly in the 80903, 80904, 80905 and 80910 Zip codes.  There are also some groupings close enough together to be walkable. With Coops from North Black Forest to Cascade, you will need a car to get between them.

I finally got started cleaning up the Coop today. I’ve been working on a 6×16 foot greenhouse attached to the garage. Project ended up being bigger than expected – correct measurements would have helped.  The picture show the coop, the end of the greenhouse and the ‘legal’ rooster.

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I mostly finished the Tour Guide yesterday. Waiting for a bit of information from a couple of people but close enough to have the edits on the draft ready to enter to day. Still trying to decide on how to do the maps. Not every one has a smart phone or knows how to use it. With 35 sites spread out over the Northern half of El Paso county it will be a challenge again this year.

If you’d like to help with the production of this years Tour, please consider clicking the donate button. All the money goes to the costs of the Tour.