what if the small work of how we live could transform the world?
elisa rathje makes films about learning to live regeneratively at appleturnover farm. part walled kitchen garden, part silvopasture, all 1 ½ acres of this heritage apple orchard are turning food forest, fibre, fodder, fuel and medicinals garden, with ponds, root cellar, tiny summer house, art studio, espaliers, grape arbours, compost toilets, hazelnut greywater beds, hidden rainwater catchments and a creek running through a thicket.
appleturnover is home to a pair of little milk goats, a flock of chickens, runner ducks, a trio of geese, a small unschooling family of artists, writers and filmmakers, as well as a charming farm cat.
together we document slow, simple approaches to culturing resilient patterns at home and in our island community, drawing on traditional skills, permaculture living strategies and creative responses to everyday life in an era of ecological emergency.
How do you entice the geese to use the house? If you do nothing, will they soon occupy it or ignore it? Will they poo inside the house or do they do their business elsewhere? (I know nothing about geese).
you know, they immediately got that it was their home. it’s not hard to herd them there. they poop a great deal inside, yes, but we keep sawdust in there so it stays nice and dry. watch ‘deep litter’ for more about how that works!
1:29 is that a bieldfelder? we have one too who just hatched chicks! I’m trying to find out how to gain the chicks trust while she’s raising them. She’s pretty tame herself but her chicks run away..
yes! try feeding her seeds that she can feed her chicks, and then when you can grab them let them look in your eyes and talk to them. they’ll associate you with good things eventually.
Using deep litter is amazing! We use almost exclusively straw because we have almost unlimited access to it. It’s also nice because they break it down while they dig and it saves great mulch around everything in the garden
sound on to hear lavender duck’s comments. lovingly setting the boundaries (*^▽^*) if you loved the long-form film, ‘running ducks’ you might like to get on the mailing list to hear about events at appleturnover farm eepurl.com/dO0KAz
you might also like my film on how to build a goosehouse and keep geese to create a resilient farm, at appleturnover ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HUvbeb0B4RM.html
by the time i move them out they don’t need anything at night, but if it is warm where you are and you have them move out quite early you might want to for a while. just not so much that rats start breaking in! and water can eventually rot the house. late spring is such a long day, they’ve had plenty of food all day.
i like to wait til every chick is bouncy enough to keep up and get out of the way of her super-charged digging. once she gets out she really goes foraging and it isn’t good if there’s someone too new to keep up. it’s usually just a couple of days. she might need bathroom break though…but she’ll kind of let you know.
I can't tell you how amazing you are, listening to your stories frees me. I look across the bay and wonder if you feel the appreciation for your stories of your life. Thank you. I hope to see upcoming videos and shorts. 🎉
this means a great deal to me, thank you marie. do follow free or subscribe over at patreon.com/appleturnover for writing and films, and if you use instagram look for appleturnover. stay in touch x
My big black hen Susan is going on six years old, she doesn't lay or hatch clutches anymore but she steals every batch of chicks she sees 😂 it's not uncommon to see this great great grandmother hen with 40+ chicks behind her in the hayloft.
I just love this! I’ve watched it several times over the years just because it’s SO peaceful and sweet. I’m finally working on my own broody momma house just like this 🎉
Important question: do you bother about determining fertility of your eggs? If so, how? I remember as a kid learning a bit about candling eggs, which I’ve long since forgot! Secondly, I’ve got a large double sided doghouse (for a Great Pyrenees-who never used it) designed for like 2 labs, and the roof lifts off for egg hunting. What would be a rough guess as to how many ducks could comfortably sleep or nest in there? It’s at least 4 1/2 ft x 3 ft, 2 large entry flaps (which can be rigged into doors that secure them inside. Thank you for your good help. I have no dogs at present. I’m trying to trap pesky raccoons: the fact raccoons are thriving is a sign coyotes aren’t here.
the iphone/handy is made for candling! i do try to, just so i know i have some little lives happening for my broody. rough guess, 6? as long as they are free ranging. more if you attach a secure run that stays open to the house (like my chicken run) plus they freerange. just mind it is not on the ground. rats easily eat in and then other predators. you might like to come over to patreon.com/appleturnover to see what that’s like. you sound very at ease with it all but if you need a few weeks of mentorship to get a project well off the ground there’s a tier for that. and free stuff etc.
✊🏻Water is Life ✊🏻 Thank you . I needed to see a good view of runner ducks. They seem delightful. I may, or I may not, follow your path-I’m older with mobility issues, & a history of coyotes hereabouts. But….. I would add in a few geese for fun! Had some years ago & they did great. Neighborhood fox got their chicks, tho….. free range nesting….. You’ve been a big help to me. I had been thinking about a few Swedes, rather than a larger breed. But the runners would meet my purpose - eggs & entertainment- as you clearly show. There are rattlesnakes & moccasins here and the occasional turtle. Hopefully the commotion of ducks would discourage them to the very nearby water and woods. I’m toying with the idea of releasing some native type turkeys as some live nearby, and some neighbors feed the deer. I’ve only seen deer once in the yard but people tell me their hoof prints are everywhere. I have completely enjoyed this quality presentation ❤❤❤. Love the cats! I have 3.
amazing plans. wonderful. ganders complicate everything but the geese are so great! glad to have been of help. see my other comment and do join us over at patreon.com/appleturnover if it is a fit. i do a farm tour film monthly and there’s a good 8 months in the archive now.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this adventure! My husband and I are hoping to introduce fertilized eggs to our hens for the first time this spring. When the chicks hatch, have you ever had to be concerned with the rest of the flock bothering or challenging the babies, or do they tend to automatically accept the chicks as part of the family?
i definitely separate them. mama will protect them and i don’t like to see her wallop anyone. once she weans them i begin to integrate them…she’s usually already introduced them to the henhouse by then herself and they learn to be quick and stay out of trouble. but that’s 7 weeks or older. best to observe and see how things look. happy brooding!!
Your videos are a work of art! I am thinking of getting runner ducks and this video was just what I was looking for. Your care for the land shines through in everything you do! Blessings from Ontario! 💙
