Recycled Organic Garden and Birds

[Bonnie Zimmermann]

Hi,

I care for almost twenty unwanted, unplaceable parrots. From small to very large - disabled, dysfunctional or elderly. I've cared for some of them for almost twenty years. Last year we built a 20'x20'x15' chainlink garden area (with a roof) as we have so many deer and animals out here in the country that devour anything you grow.

In good weather I now place many of the birds inside the protected garden so they can have sunlight, interaction with the other birds and animals, and a place to fly.

Sometimes they go down to the garden and dig in the soil, occasionally eat the plants and/or veggies, and play.

These are raised beds -- my question is about the soil -- Besides the soil where I live, (which is very heavy clay) what soil is best for organic gardening and that won't hurt my feathered friends.

I also would like to know alternative and green ways to protect my harvest from bugs, etc.

It gives me great joy to work in the garden and share it with my feathered friends.

The photo is of a 40+ year old macaw in one of our local Napa vineyards. Enjoy

[Marinspin]

What a beautiful photo. I love their blue feathers.

[Marinspin]

For some reason the pelican video will not play so I posted a parrot one on my page instead - the trailer for the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill at truly magical documentary.