The Vegetable Patch Eggery

It's pouring here AGAIN, and you know who is having a great time? Hoagie.

Hoagie and the rest of The Bready Bunch loooove running around in a downpour when everyone else is trying to stay dry in the coop. Ducks right?

Does anybody here have diva ducks who actually want to be dry vs running and quacking like idiots in the rain? 😂

(Also I swear I'm not mad at it because this is better than drought and triple digit heat for months on end...but come on now)

Yesterday some peace was restored back to the flock with the addition of the VPE's new future head rooster 😍

Unfortunately we had to part ways with Ozzy because he was too good of a rooster for what scenario he was in charge of here, he needed a real challenge and to be able to protect his ladies on a larger scale. Because he was bored he wound up overbreeding the hens and they stayed in the coop to avoid him, which obviously wasn't good for them but also not fair to him.

So meet Dib!
I decided I wanted to either find another Golden Laced Polish like Caveman, or a Polish mix like Zorro to step back in because I feel like that breed/mix has the right amount of "initiative" that this flock needs 😂 Dib looks just like baby Zorro did and I'm thrilled to have another Polish mix that'll lead but hopefully not be too overbearing(:

Who wants to play Guess That Vegetable?

Weeeelcome to The Garden of Hotty 😂

I'm not sure what he's growing, but clearly someone was jealous about the rest of the garden and decided he wanted to contribute lol. Stay tuned for whatever this thing eventually fruits

My growing little egg business just got a big upgrade!

Say hello to the VPE's new egg stand 😍

This vintage gold shelf has had many lives in our house, but keeps finding ways to outgrow the space or need somewhere new to go.

I think this use is its best one yet! Now my customers can pick up their egg orders on the top shelf and return their cartons on the second! Loose in the container or bagged to the side(:

It's so cute to have a constant turkey shadow following you around, but Benni's out here looking for a little morning loving if you know what I mean 😂😂😂

Who has a tom they're willing to loan for a day LOL

Cutest Easter Bunny I ever did see 😍🐰

Did I ever mention we have a rat? 😂

This is Augie! She was born here with us and was the only rat pup to survive the first week of life out of a whopping 14 babies. Her mother unfortunately did not tend to them and by the time we realized, it was too late for half of the babies. 7 pups were then in our direct care, where we lost 4 within the first hour and another 2 overnight.

But Augie, she was special and the only one to make it past night one, night two, three and so forth. She was on heated pads and fed kitten replacer from a paint brush every few hours. She even came to work with me every day so I could make sure she had her feedings.

That was almost two years ago! She is by far the neediest and friendliest rat to exist - a little miracle baby!

A few weeks ago we got this cute local and handmade bird feeder for the front of the house(:

I think it brings so much life and personality to an already bright and colorful porch 😍

Now I just need to attract some birds! Anybody have tips on how to show them I've got a snacks to share? Birds used to come up onto the porch but haven't since rearranging a bit

I swear the only time I can get a decent picture of Tuna is when she's dust bathing 🙄

Any other time she's running around like a spaz - your typical Polish chicken...but they're still my favorite! Something about their two braincell personality is just so great and fun to own, plus have you seen them as babies?!

What's your favorite chicken breed?

And here I thought I liked fresh cut grass 😂

How's everybodys "spring" going in your part of the US or world?

Here in North Texas everything is blooming and the weather is mostly pretty, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about what the summer heat has in store for us. The last few years have been horrible, each hotter than the last and with record highs littering the months of February and March I can only imagine what's heading our way.

Fingers crossed it'll be mild!

Starting my daylight savings morning off right with a heart healthy breakfast and a gorgeous view 🌷

Plain rolled oats sweetened with the most deliciously rich local honey from (seriously a must try).

Simple and amazing 4 ingredient cinnamon cardamom tea from for the girl who really isn't a tea fan but had to have it after trying it(:

And the most stunning tulips from gracing my table and bringing an insane amount of life to the whole home 💛

(Tea and flowers are available at the Denton each Saturday so if you're in the area and want some for yourself that's where you need to go!)

Oh and maybe get eggs from me, I don't set up there but I'd love that either way!

After a week of deliberating all the great name suggestions submitted for the VPE's three new silkie sisters, I am elated to introduce Bed, Bath, and Beyond 😂

When I read this submission I started crying because I laughed so hard, it's the most original and absolutely ridiculous name of the bunch - and if anyone knows me the more random the better!

Thank you so much for choosing their name!

The VPE girls damn sure heard that groundhog say Spring was coming and they kicked it into high gear for 2024!

For the month of February these 25 ladies laid a whopping 360 eggs.

Three hundred and sixty eggs in 29 days. Can you believe that!

This isn't a flock full of high producing layers, or really even any at all. It's a flock with a wonderful mix of all types of birds, and that's why this is so monumental. Good food, good health, *good weather*, and a happy environment can make anything happen(:
#2024 #360

This was the look on Yasmíns face a few days ago when I told her we'd be getting thunderstorms at the end of the week and to enjoy her sunshine then ☠️😂

Classic lol

I have a really bad habit of going radio silent don't I? 😅

The last few weeks have been filled with sickness and injuries but that's okay and we're ready to roll again now(:

This weekend was beautiful and I finally put my very poor craftsmanship skills and leftover wood to use by building this rickety (but cute) raised planter box!

We've also decided to ditch growing by seed because we suck at it and grow from nursery aged plants instead, so say hello to a flourishing new little garden adventure. Soon there will also be two 4ft garden beds built and filled with you guessed it - chicken compost 😎 where more veggies will grow.

(Not pictured are my thriving herbs in the kitchen windowsill but maybe I'll take a picture of that too)

Happppppy Spring 🌻

Today wasn't supposed to be a wildly busy day, but it totally was 😅 I had intended on potting a greek oregano plant I got, possibly building a planter box out of some old project wood I have leftover from Hotty's house, and a few other things too. None of it got done!

So here is a reminder for me and you, to just take a minute to breathe(:

🤌🏼🤌🏼

Did you know that you can get an idea of which chickens are laying in the winter by the color of their comb? 😎 Just like when birds start to lay for the first time, their combs are a very bright red when they are raring and ready to go!

In the winter you'll notice that production dies down with the cold weather and shortening of the days, but it never fails that you'll suddenly have an uptick in eggs again and wonder from who! Some of your normal layers combs will be a little less vibrant during the break period, but the ones who still have a bright comb are your A-team.

You'd think with how red and full Wade's comb is that she'd still be laying for us! But she is happily retired after being the best producer of the flock for the last 2 years. Wade has passed the torch and I'll tell you what, her sisterhens (😂) picked up the slack and have been giving me 16 eggs a day this early winter!

Officially taking donations to bring these vegetables home, because HAVE MERCY! 😂 I know metal working is pricey, and these are adorable so you know it's going to have some heft...but dang!

Guesses on what the price per veggie is?

(A little cutie eggplant isn't pictured)

I think I've made more loaves for other people than I have for myself!

Dreaming of bread, fed the starter so I can bake 😎

Somebody gifted me a faaaairy egg 😍

Sure he is 😂

I made homemade pizza out of my sourdough discard!

I definitely oiled the cast iron just a tad too much, but it still tastes great and the crunch is amazing 🍕 I can't wait to continue to perfect these and make more pizzas with fun toppings

🫣😂

They're BEAUTIFUL, and they're everywhere 😍