The Kitchen Garden

March/April 2006

Worries about Avian Flu must be uppermost in henkeepers' minds at the moment. The frustration of not being able to find information particular to our kind of poultry keeping encouraged me, at the end of last year, to set up a website-based association, giving up-to-date news, practical tips, and useful product directories to those who want to keep the hens in their garden safely.

The Henkeepers' Association went online on February 21 st . Members subscribe (£25.00 for five years) and can log on at any time. As a fledgling association, we hope to expand the site, to cover the members needs - a message board and timely advice diary will be appearing this week. Log on: www.henkeepersassociation.co.uk give us some feedback, and tell your friends - the more muscle we have, the better.

Our most immediate aim is to lobby Defra and campaign for vaccination for our small flocks.

Most of the noise is coming from the poultry industry, smallholders, breeders and those who exhibit. We rarely fall into any of these categories: we don't slaughter our birds, sell them, show them and they don't fly, so our needs are quite different.

Encouraged by the Dutch experience - their small-scale henkeepers have been permitted to vaccinate by the EU - we have had questions answered in the House of Commons, written to the press, and prominent poultry people, appeared on the telly, sent letters to Defra, and are forging links with organic groups who are also keen to allow free range birds to stay that way in safety.

Eventually, hopefully the Henkeepers' Association will get charitable status (when we can spare the time and funds to plough through the 48 page form) but our immediate aim is to marshal as much support as possible from you to protect our hens.

WHAT'S ON

HEN PARTY - Easter Sunday April 15th 10am - 4pm

Celebrate Easter and herald the new season Breeders taking orders and selling eggs to hatch. Poultryfeed, housing, coops and equipment, Siennel cakes, goodies, presents and plants. Egg hunt and refreshments in the Church. Entrance £1.00 includes chocolate egg for each child. PARKING SIGNPOSTED IN THE VILLAGE. In order to avoid red tape and keep safe, breeders will not be bringing their birds, but please support us all anyway.

COURSES

Counting your Chickens - May 3rd at 10am to 3.30pm with Francine Raymond & Hugh Burton. Keepng a few hens in your garden - safe and sound. With hands-on advice, practical tips, and slide show, on-site hints on gardening despite your flock. Join us here at the Kitchen Garden in an informal setting for discussion with a small group of like-minded henkeepers.

Knowing your Onions - April 26th & October 18th at 10am to 3.30pm with Francine Raymond & Penelope Hands. Growing and cooking unusual vegetables. Design your kitchen garden, choose yourseed and plants and you will harvest, cook and eat your own produce. On-site advice for beginners and know-alls alike. Sample a selection of seasonal fruit and vegetables for lunch. £75.00 including a delicious home-cooked lunch and wine.

Cheque payment in full required on booking please. Refunds (minus £20.00 admin charge) offered for cancellatons within a month of the course date, but we suggest if you can't make it you try to find a friend to take your place. If we have to cancel, you will of course receive a full refund.

Call 01359 268322 to book places on the above courses.

JOIN THE HENKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

A website-based information/advice service. To support those who keep poultry; to lobby for the vaccination of small garden flocks; to protect our hens and familities from avian flu. Subscribe (£25.00 for 5 years) on line at www.henkeepesassociation.co.uk or join on the day and HELP US KEEP THE HOBBY ALIVE.