FYI...
We have a funny little husband and wife joke in this house, where if hubby is getting on my nerves I say, "Don't make me blog about you." And like a good little wife, I never do. Until now...
---insert evil laughter and organ music---
So, apparently every one is laughing at me.
Ok, not everyone.
Just my husband and his friends.
The chicken coop is going up this weekend thanks to my BIL, Joel and a friend... and... they think I am all nuts...
Because I want a Living Roof.
Serious, they are acting like I have said I
want a freekin' aquarium on the roof. A special place to keep my pet shark!
AS IF a green roof is
SO OUT OF THIS WORLD.
Well see, now, I won't back down.
Now way, no how.
I am getting this roof and I won't take "no" for an answer.
I'm gonna shimmy my own a-- up there and grid it into sections and lay the sod myself.
Poop on them.
(Chicken) Poop on them.
Oh, you should hear them!
Just STRESSING out over how I am going to keep it from slipping off, how am I going to keep it alive... and the funniest one of all,
"How am I going to mow it?"
For real?
As if this idea hasn't been around FOR CENTURIES???
As if 99% of the time my crazy ideas don't work out.
Listen guys, just build the dang thing for me.
Make it strong.
Really strong.
(I don't want it fallin on any of my babies when they gather eggs!)
And let me worry about how I am going to mow it.
That still makes me laugh every time.
I should get them going and say I am going to build a ramp and drive the mower up it once a week... total dead-pan, and see what they say.
Come on girls.
Can't you just see a little coop with a living roof?
Can I get an A-MEN!???
Photo credit - Pinterest. Dugh.
34 comments:
I think it is a fantastic idea! Look forward to pictures. I am sure it will be wonderful!!
so funny! you know a looooong time ago they would just somehow get the goat up there to keep it mowed. Are you planning on having goats? loved this post, and I think we all have this same feeling now and again! love keeping up with your new endeavor!
i say...
"amen!"
Plant some trailing herbs along the edge. :-)
I accidentally found one in Alaska...pic in my FB Alaska album. Steal it.
You go girl!!!
Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...
How funny... Have had that conversation before around here! All I heard was what happens in the rain when it washes all the dirt out.... I think, if you put a chicken mesh over the dirt and plant in the holes it would grow roots and be fine! Let us know what you do! Yes they do this in Europe all the time I can't believe we can't figure it out right....
Best of luck!
xo,
Gail
]http://www.casualloveselegance.blogspot.com
How funny... Have had that conversation before around here! All I heard was what happens in the rain when it washes all the dirt out.... I think, if you put a chicken mesh over the dirt and plant in the holes it would grow roots and be fine! Let us know what you do! Yes they do this in Europe all the time I can't believe we can't figure it out right....
Best of luck!
xo,
Gail
]http://www.casualloveselegance.blogspot.com
I'm NOT laughing...saw all your 'pins' today and wondered what you were up to ~ it'll be fabulous!
I'm NOT laughing...saw all your 'pins' today and wondered what you were up to ~ it'll be fabulous!
I can't believe it. You are sounding like one of those Portland hippies on the East side. They wanted to do some kind of "green" building in down town Portland a while back. I wondered if they had never end noticed that almost everything in this town is covered in green moss. Sometimes it rains so much I wonder if I'm going to start getting mossy on my north side!
Really, I think your idea sounds like fun. Just so you and your babies get your chicks. Your old city can stick that in their back pocket and sit on it. Fooy on them.
Amen! I like it!!! I want a chicken coop someday when we buy a house...dreaming of those days!!! :)
Not a crazy idea at all. Have you ever sen the British programme 'Grand Designs'? I remember a guy who wanted a green roof for the whole of his house. It looked amazing. What about a chamomile lawn for your green roof? There's a non-flowering version called Treneague. Bring back the eggs and snip some off for a relaxing cup of tea! I've recently planted some German chamomile near my pond. It's so beautiful and stays green. Our chicken roof is covered in passionfruit vine but I don't climb up to harvest the fruit in case there is a snake lurking in the undergrowth!
Smile
I like the green roof idea, I've seen them planted as herb and ground cover flower beds.
Since somewhere along the way you mentioned the need to get chummy with your crock-pot during your fix-up-the-farm-athon, I'm suggesting a book I got out from the library the other day: The French Slow Cooker by Michele Scicolone. I have no idea how actually "French" the recipes are, but I do know that I'm about ready to lick the pictures in hopes of a taste.
What is the reason for it? I don't think that I understand why it is done.
My place of employment put in a green roof on a section about two years ago and you don't have to mow it. You just have to use certain types of plants and I could probably get the name of the organization who did it for FREE. Tell your hubby that is a grand idea!
Alice
My place of employment put in a green roof on a section about two years ago and you don't have to mow it. You just have to use certain types of plants and I could probably get the name of the organization who did it for FREE. Tell your hubby that is a grand idea!
Alice
You go Angela. Get your green chicken roof!!!
I've thought the very same thing, a living roof for a coop is a great idea, one that won't fly with my hubby either, but I may have to try it anyways! lol
I say AMEN!!! and look what you are doing to help the environment!
~Absorb CO2 and help lower the urban heat island affect, or in this case, the country's! and ozone levels
~ Reduce ambient air temperatures
~Filter air, bind dust particles & reduce glare. (after all, you want your view's to be easy on the eyes!)
~Absorb and filter heavy metals &
pollutants (you can catch the filtered water and feel much better about using it!)
~Reduce runoff flow rates & retain 50 -95% of rainwater, (just think, the chicks won't have sloppy muddy entrance to their home! That is great for you and them!)
~Supply green habitat and nesting areas for displaced birds, butterflies and other
wildlife
~Provide acoustical insulation & reduce noise, (I am sure they will lay better when it is more peaceful!!! and you will have more to eat!Yum, yum!)
***taken from http://www.greenroofs.com/Greenroofs101/advantages.htm
~Also, think of the insulation value, holding the temps just right for the fowl! (lay better when the temp is just right!)
; )
Ti
Actually a very brilliant idea :) Always love reading your blog all the way down here in Texas...definitely can't wait to see pictures of the coop...P.S....won't a sod roof make for nice insulation this winter? ;)
I love the idea of a living roof-genius! Maybe the chickens will nest up there. There is a store in Clayton, Georgia called 'Goats on the Roof', and yes, there are live goats grazing on the roof!
Go for it!
xo, Lissy
Lol!
I would LOVE a green roof.
So this is from another garden fanatic. . .
'amen'! :D
Wonderful idea. Tin roof would last better then try chicken wire to hold moss & a bit of soil (you don't want it too heavy)succulents/ hens&chicks are so forgiving. Yeah show us pictures
I just bought your magazine yesterday it is lovely
When I see roofs like that I think "hermit". But I guess yours would be "henmits".
Hi Angela! I just had to respond to your green roof chicken coop...we just built one this Spring ! The most important thing I can tell you is that you have to cover the roof first with a latex roof coating ( 2 layers) before you plant! We did succulents which are almost care free especially with really hot summers like the last one! We have our chickens in our greenhouse for the winter...they are very spoiled!
Go for it! We built one this Spring but you must coat the roof planter with a latex roof coating !! We used succulents and its pretty "no care" . We built out coop out of recycled pallets and old wood!! E-mail if you want pictures or have more questions! Kathi @ Everlasting blooms
The blogging sisters are behind you all the way.....Roxie
AMEN..Love the idea..
Go for it...
You go, you fabulously fearless farmgirl you!
Hilarious! Sometimes men just don't get our fanciful, somewhat
"lofty" visions, and you have to just be persistent, which I don't think you have a problem with:)
If I ever have the space to build a stationery coop, I would totally consider doing the same thing.
And if not that, definitely a couple of window boxes brimming with herbs and flowers.
If a skyrise building can have a green rooftop, why can't a small chicken coop have the same???
I'm looking forward to seeing the coop!
Mandy
Joel will end up showing this roof off to visitors as if it was his idea all along. Count on it.
You are probably not too far from the Angelic Organics Learning Center, right? They're in Caledonia (near Belvidere). My husband was there last month teaching a homebrewing class, and got a nice tour of the new addition on their green building (very cool, I remember it's a straw bale construction with an old live tree growing through the center, they built around it). Anyhoooo, hubbie told me they added an addition this year with a living roof. Unfortunately, the severe drought in this corner absolutely killed the roof, but I'm sure it will come back next year. Perhaps you can get some ideas from them, or even visit to see how they did it. They're very helpful. Our farm is a member of their CRAFT network, a training / networking in northern Illinois for organic specialty crop growers, which is awesome (perhaps if your farm takes off you could join too)!
Anyway... Couldn't hurt to get their opinion, as they just added it this year, and they're close to us, so same climate, etc.
Good luck!
-Penny
Love these green roofs, I am making one using succulents.
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