Ann Stob, 30

Project Manager

Dixon Crafted Homes / Duvall, Wash.

 Hatching an Urban Microfarm: 

My husband and I have a small-scale microfarm on our suburban property in Duvall, about thirty minutes from Seattle and the closest you can get to country living while still being close to the city.

We’ve been really enjoying our one-story rambler, and the goal is to transform it with more of a Craftsman feel. My dream one day is to actually have a real farm, so last year, I asked my husband, “Wouldn’t it be awesome to have chickens?” And to my surprise, he agreed! As soon as he said that, I ordered some.

We’ve been really enjoying our one-story rambler, and the goal is to transform it with more of a Craftsman feel.

They have old lady names: Olive, Beatrice, Winifred, and, uh—Eleanor! Oh, it’s sad I almost forgot that because she’s probably my favorite. She’s the sweetest of the bunch. The chickens recently started laying eggs, so they’re earning their keep. My husband is a project manager for a commercial contractor and is very organized when it comes to planning, so he designed the chicken coop. He does really good work. I’m jealous of where the chickens are living. Maybe someday my house will be on that level. My mom jokes, “Thank goodness I’ll have a place to stay if something were to ever happen to your father.”

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