May. 8, 2007
This Coop is for You!

Posted in Homestead Garden and Farm

 

…..and for You, and You and anyone else who might need a magnificent piece of garden art that functions for some precious poultry or a family of bunnies, too!

This unique and decorative coop design is the creative carpentry work of Dennis Harrison-Noonan of Madison, Wisconsin, who was also featured in February of 2006 in the very first issue of Backyard Poultry Magazine.

A native of Missouri, Mr. Noonan graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and went on to spend 2 years in Central America’s Costa Rica serving in the Peace Corps.  Later he and his family served as missionaries in rural Chile, South America for three years and managed chickens and bees in addition to their missionary work.  Soon after returning to the U.S. and settling in Madison, Wisconsin to be near family, Mr. Noonan has become an established full-time carpenter.

As our nation’s shift in trends continues, so does the rethinking of backyard poultry possibilities.  It was this new and reviving trend that brings Mr. Noonan’s coop design to the forefront for poultry fanciers, hobbyists and even those of us who have full blown farms.  As a member and supporter of Mad City Chickens, Mr. Noonan has been able to design, build and sell his coop’s design for urban, suburban and rural poultry housing needs.  He insists on crediting his neighbor for the original focus and priority of its aesthetic emphasis and appeal.  Who wouldn’t want something so cute in their backyard?  And that very appeal seems to be the driving force behind the sales of his coop design.

When I asked him how many plans he has sold to date, he modestly responded, “I’d have to say maybe a few more than 250 and I’ve sold to folks in at least seven to eight different countries.”

Among those countries: New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Switzerland and the Falkland Islands.  Just recently, he had to have his design plans interpreted into German for EBay’s German EBay auction site.

I personally believe his mission field has expanded worldwide.

In addition to his full time carpentry business (Isthmus Handyman LLC) as well as marketing and selling his Portable Playhouse Coop, Mr. Noonan is also a Boy Scout leader.  He and his troop support and work at a local community garden and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) where one of his Playhouse coops finds home providing ample housing for the community garden to have chickens on site.

While talking to Mr. Noonan, we discussed that while many of us would ideally want to live in the country on rolling acreage and gentle pastures with the farming lifestyle as a back drop, today’s modern life and general populace’s reality is not that.  As populations continue to grow, urban and suburban regions of the U.S. and worldwide will look to ways of growing and raising their own foods within their reach and this coop's design falls well within reach of those seeking just that.

Currently, Mr. Noonan is selling his coop design through EBay and The Playhouse Coop design set is available for purchase.  Your purchase includes: a materials list, architectural layout with specific building instructions, photographs and more.  Go to EBay.com and enter the search terms “chicken coop plans” and you’ll easily find the Playhouse Coop design package.  There is also a video tour of his coop on his EBay auction page as well.  When asked about modification of the design for specific needs, Mr. Noonan agreed that one of the major elements about this simple design is that it can easily be modified for individual creativity as well as practical needs for function.  He is currently working on an option for adding wheels that would cater to the true “chicken tractor” set up.  A dedicated web site is under construction for future release and you can also find additional information through Mad City Chickens.

The Playhouse Coop is created and designed by Dennis Harrison-Noonan, Isthmus Handyman LLC, Madison, Wisconsin.  If you have questions or need to inquire directly about the plans for this coop design, Mr. Noonan is readily accessible through email at im-handy@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes your questions.

I sincerely appreciate the time that Mr. Noonan has given me both through emails and on the phone for this interview and article.  He is truly a kindred spirit.

For more information on Community Gardens, check out some of these sites:

Community Gardens/Gardening

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kinder/commun.html

 http://www.communitygarden.org/ (American Community Gardening Association)

 http://www.mindspring.com/~communitygardens/

 For more information on CSA’s, check out some of these sites:

 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)

http://www.biodynamics.com/csa.html#Works

 http://www.newfarm.org/features/0204/csa2/part2.shtml

 http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csadef.shtml

 http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

 http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/csa.html

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community-supported_agriculture

Blessings to All!

Harriette

Harriette Jacobs is a freelance writer living in East Central Georgia along with a houseful of menfolk, a boatload of cats & dogs, their small flock of heritage breed chickens and an order of 60+ chicks on the way............she'll be up to her elbows in building materials shortly!  You can keep up with all the latest happenings of Jacobs Farm over at her spot -  South of the Gnat Line.  Be sure and stop by and say, "Hey there!"

 


Comments

May. 9, 2007 - Thanks Harriette!

Posted by UnlikelyHomesteader

This is wonderful. I really enjoyed hearing more about Mr. Noonan and his coop plans. That is just about the cutest thing I've ever seen!

I really do think more people would enjoy a few laying hens with a beautiful coop like this. I'm not sure how much it would cost to build, but people spend a small fortune on toys & landscaping these days so this would be well worth it. Providing fresh eggs, free fertilizer, and entertainment, chickens are a wonderful asset to any backyard!

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