Raising Backyard Chickens, or Getting Back to Basics
A recent Associated Press story was almost silly enough to qualify as a headline from The Onion: “Chicken farming growing trend in suburbia.”
What do chickens and software support have in common?
The article wasn’t a spoof; it was a legitimate news story that appeared in the Dallas Morning News. The piece detailed the how suburbanites have taken to rearing chickens to make it through the recession. It sounds like a lot of work for one egg per day for each hen. There’s a coop to build, feed to buy, local livestock laws to obey. And then there’s the smell.
Chicken-rearers say it’s a way of “getting back to basics.” My gut says it’s just too much work considering the return.
But upon further inspection (namely, the mere existence of “Raising Chickens for Dummies” – yes, it’s a real book – and the popularity of a the site BackyardChickens.com), it seems it’s not such a crazy notion after all. Yes, there is an upfront investment, but the ROI is supposedly stellar.
Chickens are working pets that guarantee a steady supply of fresh eggs (and, perhaps, an eventual main course). Raising your own chickens is also “green.” They help control bugs and weeds without the use of chemicals, and they create excellent fertilizer.
All this talk of getting back to basics got me thinking about dwindling IT budgets and the move on corporate America’s part to get back to basics. In particular, it brought to mind the misconception that services like software support and training for employees are excessive and unnecessary in an economic downturn. Read more…
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