Victory Chicken

There’s been a huge boom in many cities in urban farming and eating local, and one of the next steps here in BK is backyard/rooftop chicken coops. As absurd as it may sound, many folks are doing it right; including a company called Victory Chicken, that has set up a system where you can RENT hens, a coop, and feed on a month to month basis, in case you fail… So for all you fledgling urban farmers out there, it’s springtime, so get on it! How can you resist a name like Victory Chicken?

Grazin’

A new diner has opened in Hudson NY called Grazin’, and its the first animal welfare-approved diner in the U.S. Everything served in the restaurant comes from family farms that raise livestock humanely outdoors and pasture feed the animals, and nearly everything comes from farms within an 11-mile radius. Seems amazing, I’m heading there next time I’m upstate!

Know your coffee

One of my favorite websites did a recent roundup of the best independent coffee roasters in North America. Here’s who made the list:

Gorilla Coffee, Brooklyn’s finest, my own poison of choice, best espresso I’ve ever had 

Four Barrel from San Francisco; a favorite among the CA cycling community

PT’s Coffee Roasting from Kansas, independent since ‘93, with an emphasis on philanthropy

NYC’s Roasting Plant, started by a former Starbucks exec!

Irving Farm, located just outside of the city, which boasts a “farm fresh” quality

Heart Coffee Roasters, representing Portland and the Northwest coffee geeks

along with Espresso Vivace from Seattle

Check out these roaster’s locations if you’re in the area, or visit their websites to grab some caffeinated goodness, this is a RedEyed-approved list of some DAMN good coffee