The BASELINE GROUP

Collaborative Rural Art Expo - May 25 - June 6, 2011

2011-05-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Baseline Group Welcomes Lucy Lippard

2011-01-11T15:14:00.001-08:00

Lucy Lippard: People and Place: Why Ecology Matters

Thursday, January 20, 2011

7:30 PM

University of Colorado Visual Arts Complex,

Auditorium 1B20 (lower level).

Free and open to the public.

Please join us in welcoming internationally known author, arts curator, culture critic and activist Lucy Lippard to the Visual Arts Complex on January 20^th at 7:30 PM. Ms. Lippard will speak on “People and Place: Why Ecology Matters.” Her presentation is sponsored by CU’s Art and Art History Department, The Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center’s Rocky Flats Nuclear Guardianship project, and The Baseline Group, an initiative within the Department of Art and Art History that focuses on community and site-based art practices. The lecture will take place at the University of Colorado’s Visual Arts Complex, Room 1B20 (lower level). There is no charge for admission; the public is invited.

Lucy R. Lippard is a writer/curator/editor/lecturer/activist, author of 21 books on contemporary art and cultural criticism, most recently Down Country: The Tano of the Galisteo Basin, 1250-1782 (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2010), The Lure of the Local: Senses of Place in a Multicentered Society, and On the Beaten Track: Tourism, Art, and Place (The New Press, 1997, 1999). She is a recipient of seven honorary degrees, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Lannan Grant among other awards. Her most recent curatorial venture was Weather Report: Art and Climate Change (Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 2007). She lives in rural Galisteo, New Mexico where she is on the County Traditional Community Planning Committee and for 14 years has edited the monthly community newsletter: El Puente de Galisteo.

This lecture is part of a larger series being organized by The Rocky Flats Nuclear Guardianship project which is co-sponsored by Naropa University's
Environmental Studies program and the Alandi Ashram of Boulder. This community-based initiative consists of a six-month series of sixteen presentations and workshops. For more detail about the entire project, including a calendar of events and bios of presenters, visit www.rockyflatsnuclearguardianship.org/

Onward to Yuma!

2010-09-02T10:11:00.001-07:00

BASELINE GROUP at BMoCA

2009-09-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

Dates: September 25-January 17

The BASELINE GROUP is a special topics course at CU-Boulder that engages fine art students-both graduate and undergraduate-in the processes of designing and implementing tangible large-scale projects. This class encourages students to develop work that is community-based, site-specific, and to incorporate non-traditional media and ideas. This first installation, titled the "Chicken Shack Village" explores rural aesthetics, farming, and "intuitive building." The project was created through 2-semesters of experiential activities and hands-on workshops that involved visiting artists Haiko Meijer from the Dutch design team Onix, and Marjetica Potrc, an award-winning artist from Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Words on Collaboration

2009-09-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

I came across this article by Claire Bishop discussing collaborative art practices. Here is an excerpt....

"Artists are increasingly judged by their working process — the degree to which they supply good or bad models of collaboration," she writes. "Accusations of mastery and egocentrism are leveled at artists who work with participants to realize a project instead of allowing it to emerge through consensual collaboration."

“There can be no failed, unsuccessful, unresolved, or boring works of collaborative art because all are equally essential to the task of strengthening the social bond," she continues. "While I am broadly sympathetic to that ambition, I would argue that it is also crucial to discuss, analyze, and compare such work critically as art.”

LINK

The BASELINE GROUP welcomes Marjetica Potrč Sept. 17 - 27, 2009!

2009-09-10T22:52:00.000-07:00

Marjetica Potrč is an artist and architect based in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her interdisciplinary practice includes on-site projects, research, architectural case studies, and series of drawings. Her work documents and interprets contemporary architectural practices (in particular, with regard to energy infrastructure and water use) and the ways people live together.

http://www.potrc.org/

http://www.maxprotetch.com

summer summer summer time

2009-08-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone

Hope your summers went well. These are some images of CVS over the summer. Stay tuned for updates coming soon.

Summer at BASELINE

2009-05-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to everyone on a successful first semester of The BASELINE GROUP! As we prepare for our first exhibition at The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in the Fall, I wanted to post a few important concepts and words of wisdom as you all continue your projects over the summer.

_________________________________________________

One of the most important things we learned from our collaboration with Haiko Meijer was to continually ask ourselves What can we do with the materials that are at hand? Continue to ask yourself this question as you evolve your projects over the summer.

___________________________________________________

"The project has taught me that the collective is more important than the individual, and without consideration for other group members no collaboration succeeds." Anonymous Statement from our Class Reflections

_________________________________________________________

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision; the ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”

“Strength is derived from unity. The range of our collective vision is far greater when individual insights become one.”

– Andrew Carnegie

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone is a leader.

Growth happens. Whenever it does, allow it to emerge. Learn to follow when it makes sense. Let anyone lead.

Collaborate.The space between people working together is filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative potential.
Listen carefully.Every collaborator who enters our orbit brings with him or her a world more strange and complex than any we could ever hope to imagine. By listening to the details and the subtlety of their needs, desires, or ambitions, we fold their world onto our own. Neither party will ever be the same.From Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto

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Twelve Guidelines to remember as you update the ChickenShack Village:

1. Easy to clean.

2. Good drainage.

3. Protects the flock from wind and sun.

4. Keeps out rodents, wild birds, and other predatory animals.

5. Provides adequate space.

6. Ventilated.

7. Free of drafts.

8. Maintains a uniform temperature.

9. Place for roosting.

10. Place for hens to lay indoors.

11. Offers plenty of light.

12. Sanitary feed and water stations.

From Building Chicken Coops by Gail Damerow

Coop Work on Saturday

2009-04-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

As Ryan said, anyone who wants to build on Saturday is welcome. The work starts at 10. Who wants to go get breakfast before then?

Tour de Coop in Ft. Collins

2009-04-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.sustainablelivingassociation.org/tour-de-coop.php

Tour Postponed due to weather.

It will be rescheduled for another Saturday in the next 4 weeks.

Re-design list of tasks

2009-04-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

Pallet Shack
• Chicken-wire the bottom
• Secure the doors
• Nesting box door entrance, creation of nesting boxes
• Lateral Support (against wind, make secure to ground)
• Staining/Sealing of wood
• Enclosed run/Fenced-in Run

Mining Shack
• Re-size to fit into BMoCA
• Change/remove gray box on top?
• Integration of run—underneath possibly?
• Secure against predators
• Making it more accessible for the owners to clean and remove boxes

False Front
• Create Nesting Boxes
• Create roosting area
• Integration of Run?
• Window installation
• Screen door behind main door
• Pitch the roof and secure it
• Add top to the front
• Make sure it is secure
• Make a new false front, the original broke in the take down process

recent Denver Post story

2009-04-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_11921746

Thoughts from last week

2009-04-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Thoughts for BMoCA space

Do shacks all need to be connected to one major run? Can there be multiple small runs? Seems a bit overwhelming when all is tied into one space
Should there be a specific “children’s area” spot in the sculpture area? Or is this taking the project out of the realm of sculpture and making it into something other than what we want?
Can eggs be sold from our chickens at the farmer’s market? Perhaps with a particular stamp on them? Perhaps a display outside encourages people to walk inside.
Architecture kit—maybe sold at Design within Reach and the Farmer’s Market
Omelette bar???? Don’t know. Sounds messy
Two brochures—or perhaps double sided brochure—one that tells about the artistic context, one that talks about getting hens into back yards
Chickens there every Saturday, but only accessible by viewing. No human/chicken interaction. (Disease, harm to the chickens…)
Live feed from interior of chicken shacks—“chicken cam” so you can check what is going on inside.
Floor protection for BMoCA?? Straw maybe not enough.
Video from Marcy maybe not in same space as chickens—instead out in entryway so that people can hear it and become curious.

2009-04-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

What do all these building have in common? It would seem at first that there is not much. Two of them are vast public works that cost millions and millions of dollars to make and two of them are simple buildings that will never be viewed outside of a small community. One commonality that can be seen even from the pictures though is that they are functional pieces of architecture that also have a sculptural aesthetic. What does sculptural architecture offer to a community that goes beyond the functionality of the structure? Perhaps it is simply the sense of wonder and excitement. Perhaps it is a pride in who we are what we can dream up and accomplish. In some cases it connects us to the world around us that we may or may not know about. The Chicken Shack Village works in the spirit of sculptural architecture to give a more rich, textured, and audible voice to the concept and culture of raising hens in an urban environment.

Context (Santiago Pass)

2009-04-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

Chicken Shack Village is a collaborative project that fuses functional sculpture, architecture and community art. It engages people through a community art practice that reflects the ideas of the new genre public art movement. Suzanne Lacy, who is prominent in the new genre public art movement explains, "Unlike much of what has heretofore been called public art, new genre public art- visual art that uses both traditional and non-traditional media to communicate and interact with a broad and diversified audience about issues directly relevant to their lives- is based on engagement."

The local Boulder vernacular and historical reference provided a foundation for our investigation of the architectural forms included in the Chicken Shack Village. While the Chicken Shack village is situated in Boulder, Colorado, it provides a model for other communities globally. Consideration to current environmental issues is also a motivating factor. The opportunity to engage in a Chicken Shack Village encompasses a closed loop system and allows members of a community to be active participants concerning the environmental dialogue of sustainable living.

Context (Yolanda)

2009-04-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

In regards to the Baseline Group's "Chicken Shack Village," we are working within the realm of art practice that acknowledges and incorporates the surrounding landscape. Thus far in the project, our main aesthetic and conceptual interests lay in these realms of site, history, and architecture. We observe the societal reactions and treatments towards the landscape. We study the history of Boulder's beginnings, and are sensitive to the vernacular architecture specific to Boulder. We observe that architecture in and around Boulder speaks to a larger regional identity, encompassing social constructs such as the strip malls, the mining structures, the "wild west", and a raising interest in environmental consciousness.
In the interdisciplinary spirit of Baseline Group, we have the inevitable need to create collaborations and to move towards creating community-based art. We are interested in involving community members within the building process, as well as reach out to the community through educational components provided throughout our exhibit. The mission of Chicken Shack Village to heighten awareness about raising hens in an urban setting is a vehicle in which Baseline Group can create a seamless and active connection between art and community.

Context (Cobb)

2009-04-07T19:32:00.001-07:00

In 1917 Duchamp questioned the world’s established notion of art with his infamous ‘Fountain’. Since then art has grown into countless forms and lives in almost any context. Today some of these forms can be found in the works of Mark Dion, Mierle Laderman Ukeles, Agnes Denes, Tim Rollins and K.O.S., Judith Baca, Joseph Beuys, Harrell Flecther, Ann Hamilton, Dan Peterman, and Adriana Piper. These artists merge art together with social practices and environmental concerns by integrating art into modern day society and community. The mission behind the Baseline Group’s Chicken Shack Village aims to do the same.
The CSV incorporates architecture, environmental concerns, and social practice within the world of art. The chosen aesthetics of our shacks evolved after researching Boulder’s history, investigating its vernacular architecture, and it’s relationship to Colorado’s regional identity. Through the context of art we hope to start a conversation regarding the integration of chickens in urban environments and by proposing alternatives to city dwellers.

Context (Bockelman)

2009-04-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

When considering the artistic context that informs the Chicken Shack Village, we must look at the impact of the architectural firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates. Both Robert Venturi and his wife Denise Scott Brown have been influential within the architectural world as well as to the Baseline Group because they reject architecture that follows a spare Modernist aesthetic which only includes functional elements. Instead, Venturi and Scott Brown look to the preexistent vernacular architecture of an area for inspiration as well as to symbolic forms that act as visual signposts of communication.

In light of this, the Baseline Group researched the vernacular architecture of Colorado in preparation for creating designs for the chicken shacks. What we chose included references to the historical architecture of Colorado such as that of the mining shack and false fronted building. However, we also chose to emphasize the current architectural trend to use reclaimed materials in chicken shacks that feature a specific material like a shipping pallet or a door.

By becoming immersed in local culture and architectural aesthetic, the Baseline Group hopes to understand and strengthen its connection to the community in which it works.

Context (Schnirel)

2009-04-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

Chicken Shack Village inter-mingles art, design, architecture, and the social/political to create functional sculptures that serve the community. The project generates dialogue surrounding the introduction of chickens in a backyard environment. Our group’s comprehensive investigation into Boulder’s vernacular and regional aesthetic influences many of our design decisions. However, we remain aware of the urban chickens’ concept functioning outside Boulder, Colorado and in other communities.

Questions surrounding the taxonomy of the work need not be ignored. We position ourselves in the genre of sculpture; however we derive strength from other fields like service art (a medium that provides for the community), new genre, and public art. Our multifaceted approaches to the artistic process and our diverse backgrounds allow for a constructive conversation for the direction of Chicken Shack Village.

An ongoing awareness to pertinent sustainable solutions also influences the Villages design. In an environment full of Greenwashing and proposed alternatives, we find ourselves utilizing practical ideas that leave less impact, promote stronger local economies, and demote carbon-based fuel demands. Although we merely implement backyard egg production, the resounding affects are an amazing environmental improvement to both the backyard aesthetic and the Boulder identity.

CSV Announcement

2009-03-31T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hay!!!

2009-03-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

I found 100 hay bales just north of town a few miles. I set up a meeting for Tuesday to go up and pick them up. Please let me know if you are interested in helping. The bales are very inexpensive at $3.oo a piece, and it's a craigslist deal, so I'm sure we can negotiate the price.

The wide variety of public art

2009-02-28T14:29:00.000-08:00

I came across this article and thought some of you would think it was interesting. I know its outside the chicken shack info we have been posting however it does comment on the direction some public art is going. A sculptor Antony Gormley is on a mission to fill part of the Trafalgar Square for 100 days, he has invited people to fill the space for one hour however they please. Its too bad we are not located in the UK, it would be great to fill the space with chickens and a shack.

Here's the link

Materials

2009-02-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

Blue Stain
Palettes (Sutherland's giving more away this weekend. If someone with a car want to help get them this would help us)
Straw/Hay (Still looking for the lowest cost or free)
Aluminum Siding (ReSource)
Fencing Materials (Resource)

5 Basic Building Materials

2009-02-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

What are your ideas?

Marshall Visit

2009-02-25T22:44:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, sorry about missing today, my bad. I did go out and do some field work in Marshall. Check out my trip to Marshall. I found some interesting structures and history. http://www.flickr.com/photos/baselinegroup/sets/72157614375075533/

T.C. Woods

2009-02-23T11:27:00.000-08:00

I called T.C. Woods to find out some information about the wood they mill. Everything they mill and sell is local to Boulder and surrounding area. (I asked about the pine beetle wood and they have some but not a lot.) I asked about a possible field trip and he said he would be happy to give us a tour of the mill and store. Maybe Wed. ?

link

weekend site research

2009-02-22T20:47:00.000-08:00

Here's the inside of Tom's Tavern on Pearl- I liked this site a lot! Very visible, and dirty enough that chickens wouldn't seem overly out of place. Much more up on Flickr (Atmosphere, BMOCA etc- it was hard to look into the BMOCA windows, though). I skipped photographing Design Within Reach, as it just didn't seem like a good fit.

12 Tips for a Successful Coop Design

2009-02-22T17:47:00.000-08:00

Building Chicken Coops by Gail Damerow

A Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin

I will bring this to class on Monday but I thought this might start a good conversation on the blog and perhaps in class. Below is a list of 12 tips for a successful coop. With those in mind, maybe we can try to come up with our own 12 tips to make a successful Baseline Group chicken coop.

1. Easy to clean.

2. Good drainage.

3. Protects the flock from wind and sun.

4. Keeps out rodents, wild birds, and other predatory animals.

5. Provides adequate space.

6. Ventilated.

7. Free of drafts.

8. Maintains a uniform temperature.

9. Place for roosting.

10. Place for hens to lay indoors.

11. Offers plenty of light.

12. Sanitary feed and water stations.

24 Hour Fitness

2009-02-22T17:01:00.000-08:00

Today I stopped by the 24 Hour Fitness and the space seems great when relating to our discussion on Wed. about the indoor installation. Its quite large and industrial. If you go to our flicker you can see some pics under "potential sites", check out the weird structure on top the building.

I would also like to say thank you to the whole class : ) our breakfast meeting went great! The week prior to the breakfast the Chicken Shack Village seemed so distant and abstract, however after wed. I felt like our decision to try to do a temporary installation indoors really helped me visualize the potential village and made the whole project more concrete. I'm excited to hear from everyone on monday and looking forward to bringing all our research together and see how far we can take this.

Green Roofs

2009-02-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Some handy diagrams about green roofing and a short, but informative video

http://www.buildinggreentv.com/bgtv/videos/1648

Tired Chickens

2009-02-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hey check out how a chicken can be rocked to sleep. I bet parents wish they could put their kids to bed this easily.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/523487/how_to_put_a_chicken_to_sleep/

Reasons to love chicken poop

2009-02-21T19:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.ilovechickenpoop.com

Info from "Chickens in Your Backyard"

2009-02-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

I ordered this book "Chickens in Your Backyard" by Rick and Gail Luttmann, I'll bring in on Monday to the Baseline Headquarters. Here is some info we should be thinking about.

Something to consider when designing the Roost (where they sleep) is that they like to sleep with their toes wrapped around the perch. Also if you are concerned about the chickens being bored because of a lack of space some have hung the perch like a swing which in the end provides a roost as well as some stimulation. Beneath the perch should be a dropping catcher, which can be made of wire mesh that is removable for easy cleaning.

The coop roof should be made of a material that will not collect and hold heat, if we choose a metal or wood roof we should add a few small openings to allow moisture to escape and allow in fresh air. We should also think about a way to have some insulation for the winter.

shipping palette give away today!

2009-02-20T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

Today at Sullivan's lumber they are giving away free Palettes. I am going to try and grab a bunch, but if anyone else is interested go pick them up at Sullivan's. Free Resources are always a good thing!!!

Materiality...

2009-02-19T20:58:00.000-08:00

What local materials might be fancy enough for our hens? How can our material choices effect the overall design?

Beetle kill gives industry new life...

2009-02-19T20:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7464882

Colorado beetle kill pine forest

2009-02-19T20:41:00.000-08:00

Coop made from old pallets

2009-02-19T20:32:00.000-08:00

Singing for the Beasts

2009-02-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

The Ditty Bops, a musical group from California, often tour the country performing at organic farms, even performing for the animals sometimes. Perhaps in the future it would be nice for the site specific class to try to get them to come here. Here is a link to a video of them performing for goats.

palette shack follow up

2009-02-18T23:48:00.001-08:00

I really enjoy the palette barn, and think using palettes is a great way to utilize existing resources. I could also see these structures incorporating straw insulation. I know of a massive field of palettes for sale next to the ReSource2000 in Fort Collins. Could be a great way to produce an aesthetically pleasing Village, in a sustainable way.

Check out what Brad Pitt is doing with Palettes
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://venicepaper.net/images/P_S_Back.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.venicepaper.net/pmt_more.php%3Fid%3D388_0_1_15_M&usg=__ySnVLHzzH9ZtJgvCY68rkI2Aknw=&h=346&w=400&sz=42&hl=en&start=8&tbnid=4zrTEWd9e6kt_M:&tbnh=107&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshipping%2Bpallet%2Bstructures%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG

The Renegade Lunch Lady

2009-02-18T15:41:00.000-08:00

Click here to access the CPR article about how Boulder is trying to "healthify" public school lunches. Scroll down the the article about the Renegade Lunch Lady.

Answers to the questions

2009-02-18T15:11:00.001-08:00

What’s on a chicken’s mind? They have a lot on their minds. They have hairdos to consider, plans to hatch, ground to scritch up (treasures), and that whole pecking order thing to worry about...

Does chicken love other animals? No. Other animals are not on their radar because other animals do not have fine feathers and nice legs.

When does a chicken want to be alone, when do they like to be with other ch.? This is a hard question. It's like asking the people in a clique whether they like to be in the clique. Chickens need other chickens to reaffirm themselves, and if you asked them, they would say they like being with other chickens all the time, but secretly each wouldn't mind being the only chicken.

Could there be a space, or architecture where a chicken is proud at? Yes. There should be an outdoor standing and posing space where nice photographs recording the dignity of the chicken could be taken, preferably with a majestic background and strong lighting.

Do chickens see colour? Yes.

When chickens don’t think can you make a story what a chicken should think in your case? I don't understand this question and how it's different from number one.

Are there upper-chickens and downunder-chickens? Could that be an inspiration for making space and chacks? Yes. There are hierarchies too complex for us to understand that have to do with chicken markings, egg color, egg size, and ability to dance. Chickens should be segregated according to class, just like Boulder.

How could the backyardplot be integrated with the chickenchackvill? The backyard could function as landscape decoration to complement the shacks, it could be part of a backyard closed cycle that mimics a larger factory cycle--meaning that the manure is a bi-product just as eggs are a bi-product, it could function as a staging area, or it could be part of a large environmental lesson about sustainability of which the chickens are a part as well.

Could any material be part of the Vill? I think chickens want something a little bit fancy, something that shows we understand their dignity. As long as the materials aren't used in such a way that demeans them, anything is fine.

Do chicken like to be downstairs or upstairs, do they want to chance? They prefer to be upstairs. Do they want to change?? Is that the question? Yes, they want options. They need places for scouting, for posing, for making plans, for eating, and for sleeping in a commune.

Palette Barn

2009-02-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

The design sketch that I have hanging in the Baseline Group headquarters includes recycling palettes like this barn.....

Straw Bale Chicken Coops

2009-02-17T20:19:00.001-08:00

Some of the first straw bale structures were said to be animal shelters. The natural insulation provided by straw bale construction creates a protected home for your lock and can be built on budget.

Onix, Community Roots & Resource Presentation

2009-02-17T19:17:00.001-08:00

CLICK HERE

Onix Website

2009-02-17T18:32:00.000-08:00

I have included some info on Onix in my powerpoint which I will post shortly, but there is much more fascinating info to be found here, plus all of their projects with descriptions.

www.onix.nl

defining our sense of "place"

2009-02-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

As the Baseline Group has been branching out and expanding our knowledge of Boulder's land and communities, I recall some thoughts that Gary Snyder presents in his essay,

"The Place, The Region, and The Commons" from his book The Practice of the Wild:

"One's sense of the scale of a place expands as one learns the region. The young hear further stories and go for explorations which are also subsistence forays- firewood gathering, fishing, to fairs or to market. The outlines of the larger region become part of their awareness. (Thoreau says in "Walking" that an area twenty miles in diameter will be enough to occupy a lifetime of close exploration on foot- you will never exhaust its details.)"

"The presence of this tree signifies a rainfall and a temperature range and will indicate what your agriculture might be, how steep the pitch of your roof, what raincoats you'd need. You don't have to know such details to get by in the modern cities of Portland or Bellingham. But if you do know what is taught by plants and weather, you are in on the gossip and can truly feel more at home. The sum of a field's forces becomes what we call very loosely the "spirit of the place." To know the spirit of a place is to realize that you are a part of a part and that the whole is made of parts, each of which is whole. You start with the part you are whole in."

"There are tens of millions of people in North America who were physically born here but who are not actually living here intellectually, imaginatively, or morally."

Virtual Tour

2009-02-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys check out the virtual construction of an A-Frame. My roommates have this program so it might come in handy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTcugDBEvPk&feature=related

One way to move a coop

2009-02-17T09:21:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FrMW2HGnUw&feature=related

Washington State's Living With Wildlife Tips

2009-02-17T09:09:00.000-08:00

Prevent access to fruit and compost. Keep fruit trees fenced, or pick up fruit that falls to the ground. Keep compost piles within a fenced area or securely covered. Cover new compost material with soil or lime to prevent it from smelling. Never include animal matter in your compost; it attracts coyotes. If burying food scraps, cover them with at least 12 inches of soil, and don’t leave any garbage above ground in the area—including the stinky shovel.
Fence extensions are required to keep coyotes from jumping over a 5-foot fence. Angle the top of a woven-wire fence out about 15 inches and completely around the fence. An effective fence extends below the surface, or has a wire apron in front of it to prevent digging.

Build a coyote-proof fence. Coyotes don’t leap fences in a single bound but, like domestic dogs, they grip the top with their front paws and kick themselves upward and over with the back legs. Their tendency to climb will depend on the individual animal and its motivation. A 5-foot woven-wire fence with extenders facing outward at the top of each post should prevent coyotes from climbing over (Fig. 6).

However, all coyotes are excellent diggers, and an effective fence needs to extend at least 8 inches below the surface, or have a galvanized-wire apron that extends out from the fence at least 15 inches (Fig. 6).

Electric fences can also keep coyotes out of an enclosed area (Figs. 7 and 8). Such a fence doesn’t need to be as high as a woven-wire fence because a coyote’s first instinct will be to pass through the wires instead of jumping over them. Digging under electric fences usually doesn’t occur if the bottom wire is electrified.

Figure 6
A six-wire electric fence can keep coyotes out of an enclosed area.

Figure 7
Two electrified wires, 8 and 15 inches above ground and offset from an existing wood fence by 12 inches will prevent coyotes from accessing the fence. A single strand may be sufficient, but two electrified wires will provide added insurance.

Figure 8
Various ways to install a barrier to prevent coyotes from digging under chicken coops and similar places. To add to the life of the barrier, spray on two coats of rustproof paint before installation. Always check for utility lines before digging in an area.

Enclose poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) in a secure outdoor pen and house. Coyotes will eat poultry and their eggs if they can get to them. Note: Other killers of poultry include foxes, skunks, raccoons, feral cats, dogs, bobcats, opossums, weasels, hawks, and owls.

To prevent coyotes from accessing birds in their night roosts, equip poultry houses with well-fitted doors and secure locking mechanisms. To prevent them from trying to go under the fence, stake the bottom of the fence flush to the ground, or line the bottom of the fence with bricks, fence posts, or similar items. Prevent coyotes from digging under a fence or structure see figures below..

To prevent coyotes and other animals from accessing poultry during the day, completely enclose outdoor pens with 1-inch chicken wire placed over a sturdy wooden framework.

Lay large flat stones, concrete patio pavers, or 1/4-inch hardware cloth (held in place with stakes) on the surface of the soil next to a wall. The barrier forces coyotes to begin digging farther out and they will most likely give up in the
process.

Bend hardware cloth into an “L” shape and lay it in a trench so that the wire goes at least 1 foot below ground and 1 foot out from the wall.

Excavate a 3 x 3 inch trench along the side of a wall, and hammer 2-foot lengths of 1/2-inch rebar, spaced a few inches apart, into the ground. Cover the tops with concrete or dirt.

Keep livestock and small animals that live outdoors confined in secure pens during periods of vulnerability. All animals should be confined from dusk to dawn. (Temporary or portable fencing keeps livestock together so that they can be guarded more effectively.) During birthing season, keep young and vulnerable animals confined at all times. Do not use remote pastures or holding areas, especially when there has been a recent coyote attack. Remove any sick and injured animals immediately. Ensure that young animals have a healthy diet so that they are strong and less vulnerable to predators.

Livestock producers have discovered that scare devices, such as motion detectors, radios, and other noice makers, will deter coyotes—until they realize that they aren’t dangerous.

To learn more.....

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm#problems

Sod Chicken Houses?

2009-02-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

As long as we're looking at historical pictures, I thought I'd add some pictures of sod homes.

Boulder Historical images

2009-02-16T14:32:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be inspiring to look at historic structures.

More can be found at:

http://www.boulder.lib.co.us/carnegie/collections/photographs.html

Straw Bales

2009-02-16T12:38:00.000-08:00

This goes with the comment I left below on Richard's post about local materials and what not.

There are a few companies in colorado and around boulder that use straw bales for construction.

Here is link to company

Here is a link to an article in the Denver Post

Working Collectively

2009-02-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure about everyone in the class but this is the 1st time I have tried to work collectively. I don't know to much about how to work collectively and I feel like this is an experiment, I came across this book about working within a group, it has some theories that I guess can be seen as guidelines. We all kind of have this going already within the class room but I kind of feel like we are all different pages and honestly I am confused. So heres the Link to the book, and chapter 3 seems to deal with the different theories. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. I just feel like this could be a starting point because right now I feel like we are all quite scattered and maybe some of the points that the book makes can be incorporated. Chapter 3 starts on page 30.

Link

more coops

2009-02-15T17:35:00.001-08:00

This coop page has step-by-step pix of coop construction for many of the designs. Helpful!

Fixed the link to the indoor coop

2009-02-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

indoor coop

Links

2009-02-10T18:22:00.001-08:00

Here are a few links that refer to urban chicken life

link 1 backyard chicken

link 6 chicken trailers

link 7 mad city

New Take On City Coop

2009-02-10T18:03:00.000-08:00

I came across this great article in the NY Times

Linky

Materials, Forms, and Regional Identity

2009-02-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

Lets start to think about those issues this week. I am looking forward to seeing your presentations on Wednesday.

Land Use Issue

2009-02-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

Hey Yall,

I found a great article about land usage and property rights. The article is a bit dated, so the George Bush he refers to is Bush senior, but it still talks about many relevant issues. Check it out
http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/full_text_search/AllCRCDocs/93-11.htm

Phone Conference with Onix

2009-02-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

We will be joined by Haiko Meijer from Onix via Skype during our class on Monday, Feb. 14th at 10AM. Be prepared to introduce yourself, the work you have done thus far, and have a few questions handy.

Presentation Post

2009-02-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

Space/ Site Powerpoint from Baseline Group on Vimeo.

OK, here's my powerpoint in video form, hopefully it's a helpful reference. For the next presentation, I will change the design and detail of the slides with this afterlife in mind.

Here's the Baseline Group's Vimeo page, I'll send out the log-in info via email.

Grandma Prisbrey's Bottle Village

2009-02-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

Grandma Prisbrey came up in my reading and presentation as a forerunner to contemporary installation and site-based art (which is interesting given that she was working in the 1970s, but nice to see her mentioned beyond a folk/ outsider art context). I really loved the 16mm documentary about her that I saw years ago and was excited to find that you can now watch it online (small, but still). Grandma Prisbrey is quite a character and though it's at best tangentially related to our research I wanted to share the link to the film.

For those dealing with signs

2009-02-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share this with the class and Jen and Yolanda. I came across this photographer Matt Siber, heres the link.

The Baseline Group on Flickr

2009-02-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

Click Here to go to the Baseline Group Flickr Site

The link that goes with the comment on the article below

2009-01-31T22:10:00.001-08:00

This is the Link

Relavant Reading

2009-01-31T16:23:00.000-08:00

Hey Yall,

I found an encouraging article on the Ubran Hen's website, everyone should read it for moral support. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/urban-chicken-keeping.php

Pyatt Studio

2009-01-29T15:31:00.000-08:00

This is one of Rob's new projects. His architecture class will be joining us in the field on Sunday.

Agnes Denes

2009-01-29T11:38:00.000-08:00

I went over a few of the artist on the Research List and came across Agnes Denes. Her work seems relevant to the class right now, you all should check out her urban/city prairie and the sites she chooses to use. Heres the Linky and enjoy : )

Sundays Agenda

2009-01-26T14:08:00.000-08:00

9:30 AM Meet at school

1st stop -Urban Hen Location 900 69th St.

2nd stop-horse pasture Baseline and 76th st. (pasture is right before 76th st.)

(not sure if we wanted to do this on sunday)

3rd stop-Nevin Platt Middle School 6096 Baseline

4th stop-Cherryvale Rd. and Baseline (looks like there are several spots within intersection)

5th stop-4685 Baseline Rd. (Retirement Home)

6th stop-Church Garden 3700 Baseline Rd.

(you can go to their website to check out the garden, FYI they also work with a boy scout troop)

I will print out maps a directions for Wed. class

Backyard Chicken Coops

2009-01-26T10:34:00.000-08:00

This website about backyard chickens has many references as well as educational info.

Here is another link to small scale coops

This one goes with the post below

2009-01-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

Another Link from an article in News Week

City Coops

2009-01-25T18:54:00.000-08:00

I came across this website about city chicken livin'

The City Chicken

Urban Hens

2009-01-23T14:17:00.000-08:00

Above is a research image from the craftmonkey photo archive. Keep it in mind for this semester's project, and please add more design ideas frequently.

One of our community partners for this semester will be Urban Hens in Boulder. Here is a link to their website WWW.URBANHENS.ORG

Next week we will take a field trip to their headquarters and see the hens. Bring your muck boots and some work gloves as I have volunteered us to do a few chores around the farm!

MICHAEL POLLAN on Local Foods

2009-01-23T14:05:00.000-08:00

Farmer in Chief

This is a nice article recommended by Wynn from the Urban Hens Project. Click on "Farmer in Chief" to go to the NYtimes.com article.

Link didn't work try this one

2009-01-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

This is a google search, I suggest the second article.

Farming in the sky

2009-01-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

Clive mentioned sustainable sky farms in his presentation the other day, and I think it is a relevant for our class. This idea is already on the tables for the Masdar City project and should be considered in all major urban areas. The idea is to localize the production of grown foods so that we can cut down on both land usage and transportation costs. It is projected by 2025 that 60% percent of the worlds population will reside in cities, so unless we figure out a more sustainable solution to farming, we are looking at a lot of problems in our immediate future. Check it out http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sky+farming&btnG=Google+Search&aq=0&oq=sky+farm

Denver Backyard Chicken article

2009-01-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

Click  here to listen to the NPR story about chickens.