b"sufficient room to run around. Its alsoReesasays, predator-proof with rubber horse matIts what we on the ground, gravel underneath forlove so much drainage and hardware cloth at the bot- especially tom so nothing can dig under it.in the spring Theyusethedeep-littermethod,and the sum-whichallowswastetobreakdownmerwhen onitsour garden is owningrowingto thewin- be able to eatOne of the Salomon terandfood that wechickens - a Golden provideeitherhar- Laced Wyandotte.warmthvestedfromourgardenorcollected forthefromourhens.WecallitSalomon chickens.farm. Another benefit, Reesa notes, is Inthethat the chickens happily eat pests and Denver gets along just finewinter,mosquitoes.with his chickens. thehensShe adds, Theyre Zen-like. I love typically lay two eggs a day, increasingwhen the yard is nice to just sit out-to four eggs a day in the summer whenside and watch them hang out because thedaysarelonger.Katenotesthattheyre funny little things. She makes when they lay, they [the eggs] have asure,though,toshoothembackin coating on them that keeps them fromtheir coop once she goes inside. Chick-3/21New Jersey Makers Day rotting in the heat or freezing. Knownens arent allowed to roam freely with-as the bloom, this thin layer of film onout supervision and Reesa warns that 3/21Marcel Chishimba Art & Music Receptionthe outside of the egg seals off the tinyher chickens have been harassed by an pores on an eggshell and prevents bac- interested hawk.3/23Andrea Bernsteinteria from entering it. That means eggsPHOEBE HANDELMAN: can keep on the counter for days. South Orange, 3 chickens3/25Mary Barr Mann & Carolyn Parisi REESA SALOMON:3/26Marta L. TelladoMaplewood, 5 chickens3/28Ibi Zoboi 3/30Jenifer Hixson 4/1 Jill Carr 4/2 Toni Morrison Book ClubNow in seventh grade, Phoebe has three chickens that she keeps in The 4/4 Writing a New Story Campaign Launch Reesa has kept chickens the longestOmlet,acharmingcoopthather of the group. Her husband, Roger, putmotherorderedonline.Phoebesays, his handyman skills to work, repurpos- The eggs are a little plus, but theres ing a childrens playhouse and addingthat chair over there and after school ABBY SHER a chicken run to it. As the gardener inI just throw my bag next to it, sit and Receiving the the family, he appreciates the rich com- watch them just run around. Theyre Maplewood post to which the chickens contribute.really very relaxing. Literary AwardApril 4 at 2 pm www.maplewoodlibrary.org Roger Salomon converted the children's playhouse into a coop and added a run. Phoebe's mail order coop: The Omlet.24/ matters magazine / hearth & home 2020"