If you’re interested in learning more about backyard chickens, this coming weekend is perfect for you. Friends of Salem Saturday Market is involved in two major events this weekend related to chickens.
First, FSSM will host a free backyard chicken-keeping class at our booth at the market on Saturday, June 18. The workshop is at 11 a.m. and will be taught by author and urban farmer Gretchen Anderson. Attendees will learn which breeds are best for the backyard, what type of coop is best for them, how to encourage egg production and how to keep baby chicks safe.
Anderson will also sell copies of her book, “The Backyard Chicken Fight,” which details the work of chicken advocates nationwide to convince their cities to allow hens, including efforts in Salem. A portion of the proceeds from the book sales at the workshop will go to FSSM.
The next day, June 19, is Salem’s first Capital City Chicken Coop & Garden Tour, co-hosted by Chickens In The Yard and FSSM.
Fifteen Salem residents will open their outdoor spaces to the public to show their chicken coops and edible gardens, giving attendees a chance to get ideas for their own backyard ecosystems at home. The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a kick-off event at 10 a.m. at Tour Headquarters, 1580 Roosevelt St. NE, Salem. Anderson will also sign and sell her books at the kick-off event.
Tickets for the coop and garden tour are $7 per carload. We’ll be selling them at our booth on Saturday, and they’re also available at other locations in and around Salem as well as by email: salemchickens@yahoo.com. You can also pick them up the day of the tour at Tour Headquarters. Info: www.salemchickens.com.
