Now through October 24, the Morris Farm Trust is conducting a public pastured poultry demonstration in the Wiscasset Primary School Garden. The demonstration gives homeowners a firsthand look at raising meat birds for personal consumption at home. Meat birds do not require a lot of space, just a fresh space every day.

The Morris Farm broilers are in a small scale chicken tractor which is moved every morning and, sometimes every evening as well, to give the birds fresh grass, clover and bugs to forage on. The fresh greens and protein afforded by the lawn supplement the chickens' regular diet of non-medicated game bird crumble.

Meat Birds 101

Want to learn all the details? Come to Meat Birds 101, part of the Backyard Farmer education series, on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. in the Wiscasset Primary School Garden located at the Morris Farm. This will be an informal discussion lead by Kim Andersson on raising meat birds for personal consumption.

Class attendees will get plans for their own chicken tractor plus detailed information on the costs of the chickens, their feed, the tractor and a firsthand look at what a small lock of meat birds can do to the lawn. If you have ever considered raising your own birds for meat, this is the class for you.

Remember, you are what your food eats. The Morris Farm is a nonprofit educational farm located at 156 Gardiner Road in Wiscasset. It is open to the public seven days a week from sunrise to sunset.

For more information about the Morris Farm, its full series of Backyard Farmer classes or to register for Meat Birds 101, visit www.morrisfarm.org or call 882-4080.