UCP Episode 059: The Livestock Conservancy – Saving Heritage Our Breeds (Discussion with Jeannette Beranger)

The Livestock Conservancy

How many grizzly bears are in the United States? 1,800. How many grey wolves in America?  5,443 in the lower 48 states (there is an estimated additional 7,700 -11,000 in Alaska.)  How many Redcap breed chickens in the States? Fewer than 500 (and fewer than 2,000 in the world.)

There are currently twelve different chicken breeds listed as “critically endangered” and an additional twelve breeds on the “threatened” list (fewer than 1,000 in the U.S. and 5,000 worldwide) according to the Livestock Conservancy. While the WWF is fighting to protect pandas and rhinos, the Livestock Conservancy is tirelessly working to protect threatened heritage horse, cattle, donkey, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and rabbit populations.

Jeannette Beranger - photo courtesy of The Livestock Conservancy

Jeannette Beranger – photo courtesy of The Livestock Conservancy

Jeannette Beranger, the Research and Technical Programs Manager for the Livestock Conservancy joins me on the Urban Chicken Podcast to discuss the mission of this organization, some of the projects the Conservancy is currently involved in and how backyard hobbyist chicken keepers (like you and me) can help save some rare and special breeds from becoming extinct from our own backyards.

Jeannette has over 25 years of experience working with animals first as a veterinary technician and then later for several years with the Roger Williams zoo, where she eventually became the head zookeeper.  For the past few years, Jeannette has worked with the Livestock Conservancy researching, educating, networking and implementing various programs and efforts to save endangered heritage livestock breeds with the Conservancy.  She has a depth of knowledge on animals and particularly heritage breed livestock to share on today’s show.

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UCP Episode 042: City Farmers Nursery – An Urbanite’s Source for Inspiration and Assistance

 

City Farmers Nursery - photo courtesy Bill Tall

City Farmers Nursery – photo courtesy Bill Tall

What separates the average from the extraordinary? Perhaps you think it depends on the context or subject matter that is being considered.  I disagree.  In all things and all people the extraordinary distinguish themselves by seeing what can be – not just what is.  Moreover, the extraordinary have confidence in their own judgment and the strength to follow their convictions, regardless of what may be the norm.

City Farmers Nursery, nestled in the urban San Diego area, is an extraordinary business which has grown and prospered through the vision of it’s owner/manager, Bill Tall.  This unique store is more than just a business – it is a source of inspiration and support for urbanites who want to learn about urban farming, backyard chicken-keeping, canning, beekeeping and many other permaculture skills and techniques.   Continue reading

UCP Episode 022: Feeding our Chickens Well – Discussion of Organic Farming & Chicken Feed with Wes Gibbs

Grain Harvesting - photo by Montana Flour Company

Grain Harvesting – photo by Montana Flour Company

You are what you eat.  This adage also rings true indirectly – you are what your chickens eat as well, if you eat your birds or their eggs.  Studies have shown that the quality of food that a chicken consumes has a direct connection to the quality of eggs produced. Continue reading

UCP Episode 007: Mastering “The Art of the Chicken Coop” – with Author/Carpenter Chris Gleason

rustic chicken coop by faire 1two

rustic chicken coop by faire 1two

So, you want to build a coop that is a little more substantial than the rustic example above, but you’ve never really built anything noteworthy in your life.  Never fear – today’s episode is totally dedicated for those who are willing in spirit, but weak in skills.  Chris Gleason, author and carpenter extraordinaire, is on this week’s episode to discuss his book, “The Art of the Chicken Coop,” and to tell you how you can master the art of coop building, even on your first attempt.

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UCP Episode 006: Chickens, Gardens & Everything Else Grandma Knew and You Don’t – But Can Learn at the Institute of Urban Homesteading

Chickens in the Garden by steve p2008

Chickens in the Garden by steve p2008

In this modern world, we are in poor supply of the sensibilities and skills of our forefathers. Let’s face it – Grandma and Grandpa had a lot of ‘know-how’ and we are slipping into a nation of ‘know-nothings’.  Not everyone is resigned to accept this disconnection with their heritage.  In the past few years, there has been a surge in the number of urban classes and schools teaching city-dwellers how to rediscover traditional skills in the homesteading arts.  Class-by-class, learned skill by learned skill,  urbanites everywhere are becoming a little more self-sufficient and a lot more self-determining as they learn what their grandparents knew – how to create their own healthy, nutritious food sources and tend their own green spaces capably. Continue reading

UCP Episode 005: Cable Cars and Urban Chickens — SF Loves Backyard Hens!

golden gate bridge san francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge at Sunset – by Jen Pitino

San Francisco is, hands down, one of the loveliest, most interesting, charming large cities in the United States.  It is world renowned for its playfully pastel painted row homes and  cable cars that climb the incredibly steep peaks of this hilly metropolis and provide such beautiful vistas of the bay and city. Continue reading

UCP Episode 004: Egg vs. Unegg – Same Problem – Different Solutions

Fresh eggs from the backyard

Fresh Eggs by Normanack

Question:  How do you solve the problem of massive, industrial egg farming and its grossly inhumane practices?

Answer:  Create a fake egg in a laboratory and sell it to all of the major food companies to replace the use of real eggs in their products.  Well, that is at least one solution being offer up by Josh Tetrick, head the new start-up Hampton Creek Foods company.  This small business is back with $2 million dollars of venture capital to create an all plant-based synthetic egg, which they call, Beyond Eggs.  But is this “unegg” all its cracked up to be? Continue reading

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