Categorized | Agriculture, Featured

Dragonfly Ranch Hosts “Chicken-coop Raising Party” (Oct 17 & 24)

Backyard chickens loose and not in a coop.

Backyard chickens loose and not in a coop. Photography by Baron Sekiya for Hawaii 24/7.

MEDIA RELEASE

Dragonfly Ranch:Healing Arts Center in Honaunau is hosting a “Chicken-coop Raising Party” with Ken Kilkuskie on two consecutive Saturdays. October 17 at 4 pm will be a day to determine materials (preferably recycled) looking at each participants specific design considerations and assessment of skills. The following Saturday will be a day-long building party.

Kilkuskie, a design consultant and self proclaimed “green minimalist” builder/remodeler, will help attendees to understand how to plan and build a chicken coop combining their skills, available materials, time available and budget.

Barbara Moore, owner of Dragonfly Ranch, realizes she is not the only one who is concerned about avoiding “prison eggs” and “factory chickens.” She decided to raise her own chickens that provide organic eggs and pure meat as well as fertilizer for her organic garden. At the recent Honaunau Coqui Control Community meeting, Moore announced that chickens keep down the coqui frog population. A number of people at the meeting stated an interest in attending the Chicken-Coop Raising Party.

Kilkuskie, known for his ability to do remodeling with limited funds, wants to assist people who are not skilled carpenters. Also known for his ability to “get the job done with what you have”, Kilkuskie wants to assist people who are not skilled builders. He realized that chickens require special housing with protection from the mongoose that eat eggs as well as kill chickens. Keeping that in mind, Kilkuskie believes it isn’t necessary to have complicated plans or expensive building materials to meet the basic needs of happy and healthy laying hens.

The October 17 meeting will cover the basics of planning and design. Kilkuskie, an inventive contractor and resident of Kona since 1985, invites interactive discussion to assess needs and talk about various available materials and design options. He wants attendees to bring questions, design ideas and experiences that affect the building of chicken coops. On October 24 starting at 8 am, the group will meet again to actually build a chicken coop with Ken’s hands-on help.

Moore plans to video this event and post it on the internet so others can learn. “Since I recently decided to sell the Dragonfly Ranch, I am hoping to host as many self-sustainable trainings as possible before I retire,” states Moore. Rev. Scott Larson videoed the last self-sustainability event at the Dragonfly Ranch with Jon Biloon teaching how to create a productive organic garden. Scott made it into a series of eleven youTubes which he posted for everyone to see. http://www.casttv.com/video/qgh53s/gardening-in-hawaii-part-1-of-11-video

“I invite the community to give me ideas for future sustainability events” says Moore. She is planning a December 6th 35th Anniversary Party for her award-winning B&B–welcoming the public to attend this Open House that is also her “retirement” party. Dragonfly Ranch is located in Honaunau on Hwy 160, 1.5 miles from Hwy 11.

While there is no formal charge for the Chicken-Coop Raising Party, donations are welcome. Call Barbara Moore at 808-328-9570 or see www.dragonflyranch.com for map and directions. Kilkulskie can be reached at 938-0395.

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