Allegedly we were headed for 16 today, but if we got there it was only recently. The rest of the day was spent in cold and windy weather with a foggy start to top it off.

I got the tape measure out and  had a look at suitable spots for the chook shed and associated yards - and yes, there is a good spot, set 1 metre off the boundary so that with privacy screening the chooks, the bees and I could go about our business with the minimal aggravation. Basically the idea is to build the central run (which has a ramp-accessed roosting box and externally accessible nesting boxes), and attach three runs, each 3 metres by 3 metres, so that say five hens can live in peace and harmony and have access to fresh feed on rotation - with the additional bonus of being able to pile garden waste into unoccupied runs for the chooks to scratch over when they move on to that enclosure. The scratched over waste can then be raked into a heap to accelerate decomposition when they have moved on once more. One metre square frames with wire over them will protect a  planted fodder crop and the drip irrigator for each run, and be moved into the next one as required. The chooks can therefore not scratch under the fencing and so escape. There will be room to position the beehives against the mesh of one of the runs so that they are flying up and out in their most concentrated flight pattern over said run - which removes the risks associated with trying to mow around the hives. A drop-down mesh cover can protect me if I am working in that particular run. Similarly, the hebel blocks I have stockpiled can create a firm, level and weed-free base for the hives. So that should work well, if the guys come good with their promise.

One of the locals has offered me the pickings of his stockpile of hardwood 4x2s so materials should not be a problem. And I have lots of mesh lying around to enclose the pen and runs. I will see if I can scrounge some shadecloth to cover the runs to a) provide shade, b) protect from neighbouring birds of prey and c) make it absolutely impossible for the little darlings to fly out. The food can be kept in the main run which would be enclosed with bird wire rather than chicken wire, to avoid starling and sparrow population explosions. - so that's all good.

Also liaising with the school head master about Art in the Garden. We hope to have a local artist doing a workshop on our open day in November - kids making clay garden monsters like these:

But she would also like to do a scarecrow sculpture with the school kids which would be a great exercise and invite them into the garden as a fun activity.

I am also plotting to take over a small central raised bed to be a picking garden so the local teachers can make their own lunch from it (lettuce, soft herbs, baby carrots, radishes etc) which would hopefully draw them into the garden also.

And get the Men's Shed to prepare some boards with pegs in them so tools can be hung from them... and ... All good fun.