If you want to make some changes in the way you eat and inhabit our planet finding a starting point isn’t always easy. There is so much information out there, so many conflicting points of view and just when you think you have it figured out, some Outlaw type comes along and ruins your whole feeling-good-about-shopping-at-the-farmers-market experience for Heaven’s sake. Those cotton pickin’ Outlaws are always up to no good.

My advice is start with eggs. They’re inexpensive and super healthy (a rare combination). Most of y’all like eggs and more importantly so do your children. They keep for a good long time too. Eggs are versatile and super easy to cook with. Plus you can feel great about supporting humane animal husbandry when you buy eggs from a small farm. I won’t go into the sordid details of industrial chicken houses here. It’s terrible stuff. Thankfully, you have options even if you don’t know them yet. Oh sure you can pay $5 a dozen at Whole Foods. You may even have a vendor at your farmers market and that’s great if you do. But you might be surprised to find better prices and more variety simply by checking craigslist. Lots of folks like me advertise there.

Once you get started, the rest is easy. Chances are, your egg supplier will have a line on pastured meat, homegrown veggies, real milk, fresh bread,  maybe even cheese and butter. One thing leads to another and before you know it, you’ll be starting your own backyard chicken operation!