Me at Tomales Point
I’ve been blogging off and on since 2005. I started out writing about my hobbies — knitting, gardening, cooking, and raising chickens — but haven’t stuck with one particular focus area in a long time. I’m a person who likes to learn new things and have new experiences, as well as reflect on my life, in general. I write about all of that here in one place.
I’m divorced and child free by choice. I’ve focused on raising animals instead: dogs and chickens.
I work in a profession that involves combining technical and people skills (knowledge management), but doesn’t produce stuff that you can hold in your hand. So, I seek other ways to fulfill my drive to produce tangible things: knitting, gardening, and cooking.
After growing up in the Chicago area and living within the Chicago city limits for over 20 years, I pulled up stakes and moved to the northern Bay Area in California in late 2014. Onward to new adventures!
Windycitygal 
I recently stumbled upon your blog and wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying it. I believe I may have found you through the Eglu website, but as I was clicking on links right and left, I could be wrong.
I currently live in Aurora although my husband and I plan to move to Central Illinois as soon as next year. We look forward to a quieter, less commercial life than we get in the suburbs.
We are in our upper 30’s and also childless by choice. Despite my web surfing on Eglu, we do not yet have chickens. I had no idea you could have chickens in the city or burbs. You have given me something to think on. I also consider myself a beginning gardener as my enthusiasm far outweighs my skill.
I notice you do not get many comments on your blog entries but I wanted to let you know that I am reading and enjoying them immensely.
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Jennifer,
I am a student & filmmaker. I also maintain a small flock within the city limits of Chicago. Quite close to the loop in fact.
A friend and I have been working on short documentary film about backyard coops around Chicago. I was wondering if you would be interested in letting us film your coop and do an interview.
You can see a sample of some of my work at the link I provided. Let me know what you think. My email is the best way to contact me. Thanks!
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sorry wrote that to the wrong person that supposed to go to windycitygal.
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Hi. I bought an Eglu last summer and have 2 Bantam Hamburgs, Sally and Daisy. Chickens are technically illegal in Lawrenceville, GA but as long as the neighbors don’t complain you are ok. I clean my Eglu every morning> I also have two parrots so I guess i am the birdman of Lawrenceville.
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Hi Linda: Thought of you recently while on a trip to NYC with Shelley and another friend from Detroit. We stayed at the Embassy Suites near Ground Zero and I noticed your company has an office a building right near there. Also, thought of you as we searched out yarn shops — we visited Purl and loved it and then had dinner in a nearby small, quaint restaurant. Didn’t make it to the spa this year, but plan on going in January 2009 – I turn 65!
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I am married and childless by choice. We have (as of last Thursday) three dogs, 13 chickens, and a bountiful organic veg garden. I am thrilled beyond words to be able to step outside and find FOOD in my own yard.
We compost the chicken droppings to fertilize the garden, which in turn supplies treats to the chickens, and round and round and round.
My very best friend in the world lives in Chicago.
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Hi,
Thomas from Urbanchickens.net referred me to you, as I’m doing a story on raising backyard chicken flocks for Healthy Dining Chicago. I was wondering if I could interview you about how you got started and the highs and lows of tending your flock.
I’m a freelance writer near Midway, and I have a small flock of my own. My deadline is the 15th, so I’d like to visit you or speak on the phone this week. If you are interested please email me with your information.
Thank you!
Juliet Martinez
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Found ur website while browsing for info on chickens; quite interesting/informative.
Originally got interested in raising our own chickens because my wife has food allegies (having a goat was a bit over the top, though) and as move towards somewhat self-sufficiency.
Got 12 Barred Rock eggs in Sat 12/13 from Gabbard’s in AR, hopefully, the trip up here wasn’t too cold/maybe we’ll get something to hatch out. Am in the process of building an enclosure for the basement to keep the odors down and temp steady & draft free (photos to follow as it’s being built) as a staging area until the chicks are old enough and the weather warm enough to take them outside. If those work out, we might get some Wyandotte hatching eggs in the spring. Look forward to comments and advice as this is new to us. We’ re out in the Joliet/Plainfield area.
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hi I just read your blog and I too live within the chicago city limits. I Thinking of raising some hens but every poultry site I find they are only saling chicks 25 or more. do you know where i can buy 2- 4 to raise and enjoy the eggs they will produce
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Great blog!
I have the exact same question as Jeff (above) Where did you buy your chickens? Do you know of a local or mail order company that will allow an order of less than 25 chickens? We just bought a house in the Belmont/Cragin neighborhood of Chicago with a PERFECT yard for chickens and a garden. I was planning on ordering in march (for several months) so they will be old enough to live outside once the weather warms, and I hit this road block. Any suggestions? thanks, and take care. A
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Hi Linda, I am working on an article about keeping chickens in the city. It would be great if you could answer me some questions, but I didn’t find your e-mail address. Could you please send me an e-mail? Thanks, Kristina
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Hi
I’m a freelancer with WBEZ, working on a how-to story about keeping chickens. You seem quite popular!
Please drop me an email. I’d love to interview you.
Best,
Julianne
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Pingback: le jardin roerich | the roerich garden project » urban agriculture around the world
Hi, I was googling about do- it-yourself greenhouses and happened onto a forum about chickens. Anyway, I read you were looking for panels for your chicken coop and I had this place in my favorites. They have all kinds of supplies for greenhouses including polycarbonate panels. http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/. My brother keeps chickens in New Hampshire I never thought about telling him about these panels. He has a coop attached to the side of a barn so the chickens can go inside for protection from the weather.
Tom
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Windycitygal,
I am a student & filmmaker. I also maintain a small flock within the city limits of Chicago. Quite close to the loop in fact.
A friend and I have been working on short documentary film about backyard coops around Chicago. I was wondering if you would be interested in letting us film your coop and do an interview.
You can see a sample of some of my work at the link I provided. Let me know what you think. My email is the best way to contact me. Thanks!
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Hello,
I was looking a a Wikipedia entry and you garden is featured on it. I am very interested in urban agriculture even though I now live in the country. You blog has been very entertaining, especially the chicken entries. am originally from Chicago (Franklin Park) and have been gardening since I was in 5th grade. My wife had been living in Northbrook and I had a really large garden there. We moved out to Dahinda, about 35 miles west of Peoria a few years back. We now have a 22 acre farm and plenty of chickens. We also raise steers, goats, ducks, pigs, and a llama. I enjoy your blog and if I had stayed in Chicago I think that I would be doing something similiar to you.
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I live in Chicago (Edgewater) and am doing my research as I begin the adventure of raising chickens. We will be constructing our own coop. My biggest concern is the best way to keep them warm in winter. It is not necessary to provide a heat source during the coldest months? Also where is the best & economical place to obtain feed/supplies, as we obviously don’t have farm supply stores in the city.
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Wow! Great Blog! I’m in!
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I just ordered 3 chicks. I’ll keep you posted… 🙂
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Hi Linda N (a windy city gal),
Please bear with me–I have an odd request. On Wikipedia I found an image of yours being used to illustrate Chicago urban farms (and found the same image on Tell Us USA) and wanted to contact you to inquire about the possible use of this photo. Can you please contact via email?
As a side, while trying to find a way to contact you I totally enjoyed the amazing images on Flickr (esp. the Galapagos images, wow) and have enjoyed your blog.
Thank you very much for your time, I hope to hear from you, Kristen Hall
khall2@jenniferbarrydesign.com
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Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!
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hi linda,
where can you buy chickens within chicago ? nice blog keep it up. im trying to build a coop very soon. you are an inspiration for city dwellers who like to get into chickens.
good luck with everything!!
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Hi Linda,
I have been vegan for several years for ethical reason but have just learned that I have several food allergies that severely limit my options for lean protein. I am really having a difficult time wrapping my head around consuming animal products. I know everyone has different ideas about what is acceptable regarding diet and consumption and I realize that my comment might elicit snarky responses, however, I truly believe that diet is really personal. To each their own. I hope my concerns are equally respected.
The reason I’m writing is because I have rationalized for myself that I could potentially be okay with consuming eggs if the chickens are treated humanely and are not killed. I have not been able to find a farm that does not kill their chicks, so I did a search for Urban Chickens in Chicago and stumbled upon your blog. Would you ever be open to selling eggs? If not, are you aware of anyone in the Chicago (or nearby) who treats their hens incredibly humanely, does not kill and might be open to selling their eggs? This whole thing has been really challenging for me so I’m reaching out wherever I can!
Thanks for any ideas you might have!
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Linda,
It’s always a pleasure to read of urban homesteaders making the most of their resources and sharing knowledge with others. Please send me an email when you have a moment; I’d like to share with you a web application I’m building for urban farmers and locavores alike.
Cheers!
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I enjoyed reading through some of your blog entries, particularly those about the chickens. Thanks.
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Do you have time to chat during the week? I see that you accept advertising and would like to set a time to discuss having you become an affiliate for Spalding Labs. We offer chicken owners one of the best ways on the market to organically control flies and are looking to team up with bloggers such as yourself. We currently offer a 15% gross commission across all your publishing platforms and would like to discuss the potential of a mutually beneficial relationship, where you would receive free product to try as part of the effort. Please contact me at: bsummers@equilink.com or ring me at: 626-375-4043 at your convenience.
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I came across your blog and was able to go through some of your post and I would say I enjoyed reading most of it especially about your dogs and your garden. Looking forward for more of your post.
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