Animal Corner with Charles: The Nigerian Dwarf Goat

filbertstreetcommunitygarden 6:50 pm June 23, 2023 No comments yet

All 11 of our goats at Filbert Street Garden are Nigerian Dwarf Goats. The breed is a “dairy breed” of domesticated goat that comes from the West African Pygmy Goat. The breed hit American shores during the Great Depression in the mid-1930s as a milk alternative that was less expensive than cows, but did not become widespread. The breed has been popular in American zoos.

Here are some facts about the breed!

1. Nigerian Dwarf Goats and their Pygmy Goat cousins are the two miniature goat breeds.

2. The Nigerian Dwarf Goat has been cross bred with shaggy Angora goats to create “Nigora” goat. They produce a cashmere-type of fabric.

3. All goats typically have twins, but among the Nigerian Dwarf Goat breed triplets and quadruplets are common.

4. Nigerian Dwarf Goats are among the most popular livestock show breeds and are a popular companion animal.

5. Only miniature breeds are allowed in Baltimore City. Goats require a permit.

6. Cheese is currently the oldest goat at 6.5 years old. They can typically live up to 15 years.

Animals
, ,

Animal Corner with Charles: Swaaaaarm!

filbertstreetcommunitygarden 5:18 pm May 26, 2023 No comments yet

In spring each year, the honeybees begin building up their population and foraging for nectar and pollen. The queen can lay more than 3,000 eggs a day during their peak season.

This is as the “nectar flow” begins. Large amounts of nectar appear from clover, tulip popular trees, and black locust trees from April 15th to the last week of June here in Central Maryland.

So… What happens as the hive fills up with eggs (brood) and nectar? The bees “swarm”.

In a honeybee swarm the queen leaves the hive and takes 20%-60% of the hive’s bees with her to start a new colony elsewhere. They initially “bivouac” within 100ft of the hive. The swarm then drifts elsewhere having the appearance of it raining bees. It is intimidating, but this is where honeybees are at their calmest.

The garden gets 20-30 calls a year about swarms resting around the city. We have numerous swarms touch down right in the garden from our own hives and others in the area. If a beekeeper can capture the swarm, it is a free hive of honeybees!

A great book called Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Dyer Seeley discusses how honeybees as a collective choose a new hive.

Should you spot a honeybee swarm in the garden, please call the garden’s phone number on the front gate! We are eager to catch them as only 25% of feral swarms survive the first year.

Animals
, , ,

Public Science at Filbert Street Garden

filbertstreetcommunitygarden 4:38 pm May 26, 2023 No comments yet

Public science and nature learning are keeping us busy at Filbert Street Garden this season. For years we’ve hosted a SEARCH air pollution monitor for Johns Hopkins University, and we are looking into hosting a weather station, pictured here, for a new JHU study. Through our activity in Community of Curtis Bay Association, we’ve been attending meetings of CHARMED, Center for Community Health: Addressing Regional Maryland Environmental Determinants of Diseases, another Hopkins research group which is partnering with Curtis Bay to work on air pollution and environmental justice issues.

Public science initiatives at FSG

In late April/May, we raised awareness for City Nature Challenge, an annual international bioblitz which was coordinated in Baltimore by the National Aquarium. The Baltimore area placed 59th in world cities for number of wildlife observations.

In mid-May we hosted the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and state and community partners for SoilSpot, a free soil screening event. Participants had the opportunity to test their soil for lead and other heavy metals, and discuss how exposure to those metals in your soil could impact their health. We’ve invited the agency to return for another event this year!

Community
, ,

Egg Production Returning–Animal Corner with Charles

filbertstreetcommunitygarden 1:28 pm March 31, 2023 No comments yet

Each spring our fowl and waterfowl return to “full egg production” after taking a hiatus in autumn and winter. During spring and summer, chickens and ducks under 2 years old will typically lay an egg every other day!

Days grow to just under 15 hours of daylight in Baltimore by the Summer Solstice. During days with 12+ hours of daylight the hens and female ducks lay at mass production.

As the days grow shorter, the chickens and ducks begin to “take a break” with their laying slowing down until they eventually take a 30-60 day hiatus. The temperature also affects the laying cycle of chickens and ducks.

You may ask, “Well, what do I do during autumn and winter to get eggs?”

Some folks put a light in the coop during autumn and winter. This can increase egg production. Furthermore, there are breeds of chicken and duck that are better “winter layers” and are more prone to lay during the darker and colder periods of the year.

Fun Fact: Filbert Street Garden produces close to 3800 chicken and duck eggs each year!

Animals
, , ,

Class Series with Enoch Pratt Free Library

filbertstreetcommunitygarden 1:14 pm March 31, 2023 No comments yet

This coming May-July, we’re looking forward to teaching in-person classes at the garden on a variety of gardening, agriculture, and animal topics, sponsored by Enoch Pratt Free Library. All classes are free and open to the public. Registration is open now: grab your spots! The series kicks of on May 6 with Urban Veggie Gardening 101!

Education
, ,