INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Local family farms are usually organic and have better produce. Sourcing your food locally also supports the farmers near you, which benefits your community. Farms that let their animals roam are more humane, and have a smaller number of animals, which lowers carbon emissions. When there are fewer animals, the farms also tend to raise the animals antibiotic-free. Antibiotic-free meat is better for everyone, since it keeps bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics, which can be a health risk. Composting cuts down on the amount of garbage that's sent to landfills, and can provide a natural fertilizer for home gardens. Have your guests help clear up meals to speed through clean-up. Compost is a mix of brown, dry materials, greens (usually food scraps and yard clippings), and water, that break down together in a pile or bin. If you have a home garden, composting provides a chemical-free way of fertilizing your plants.

SUMMARY: Buy produce from local farmers. Buy meat that was raised free-range and antibiotic-free. Compost your food scraps.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Use covered feeders and water drinkers to prevent feces from dropping into the food. These may look like a container that pours out into a dish. Water drinkers may even come with nipples for chickens to drink from. Hang the food and water dishes about 23 inches (5.17.6cm) off the ground. The chickens should be able to easily reach the food and water, but they shouldn't be able to climb on top of it. If you have a brooding hen or a hen with chicks, place a separate feeder and drinker close to it. Use a "no-drown" drinker so that the chicks can drink without falling in. Chicken feed includes a mix of grains, seeds, corn, and mineral supplements. Aim to give at least 23 ounces (5785g) of feed for every bird. Look for prepared chicken feeds at feed mills, pet stores, and online. Add just enough water to the grain so that it sticks together when pressed. This is called mash, and it prevents the food from sticking to the chickens' beaks. If the chickens are less than 20 weeks old, use a starter or developer blend of chicken feed. If the chickens are older than 20 weeks, give them a layer blend of feed. These usually contain oyster shells to supplement their calcium intake. A finisher blend is for meat chickens. Give it to them 6 weeks before slaughter. Refill the hen's water drinker up to the top with fresh water. If the drinker runs out of water during the day, fill it back up again. Don't leave a drinker empty during the day, especially in hot weather. In the winter time, bring in the drinker at night to prevent freezing. Refill it in the morning and put it back into the coop. Since silkies, like other chickens, don't have teeth, they need small rocks called grit to help break their food down. Put a small bowl of grit in their coop near the food. You can buy grit from pet stores, feed mills, or online. The chickens will self-moderate how much grit they have in their diet. Refill the bowl of grit whenever it starts to get low. If your silkies eat layer pellets, they may get enough calcium already. If they don't, try adding crushed oyster shells to their feed. This will help them lay strong eggs. You can buy crushed oyster shells at pet stores or feed mills. During the warmer seasons, as long as your silkies have access to grass, they will get enough greens. In the winter, however, they may not get enough. Put some cabbage, swede, kale, or Brussels sprouts into their feeding dishes.

SUMMARY: Add a feeder and water drinker to the coop. Feed the chickens once a day. Provide fresh water every day. Give your silkies a bowl of grit to help them break down food. Provide oyster shells for healthy eggs. Supplement the silkies' diet with green vegetables in the winter.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In the U.S. at least, if you want your group home to succeed, you need the supervisory local and state (and perhaps federal) agencies to be "on your side." Without active government support, you will struggle to find residents, keep abreast of licensing rules and regulations, and get the proper financial reimbursements for your work. In California, for example, a group home for children must have the written support of the host county (among other requirements) to be eligible for essential reimbursement funding via the AFDC-FC program. Connecticut, as another representative example, has regulations for group homes covering areas ranging from telephone service to clean bathrooms. You are likely to need all the help you can get in navigating through the red tape necessary to start a group home. It is difficult to be anything but general here, because every U.S. state (and possibly even county) has its own licensing procedures for starting and operating a group home. You will need to be proactive in ensuring that you complete all the necessary steps. Just to name a few of the multitude of examples: In California, group homes for children are licensed by the state Department of Social Services (CDSS). In Florida, the Department of Health provides information but not licensing for group homes; that responsibility lies (depending on the nature of the facility) with either the Agency for Health Care Administration or the Department of Children and Families (DCF). In Connecticut, the Department of Developmental Services (formerly the Department of Mental Retardation) handles licensing for group homes for the mentally disabled. State licensing for your facility is likely only the start of the process. You may need to be personally licensed as a Certified Administrator of Group Homes, for instance. Do you know the requirements for health and food inspections in Florida? Or fire marshal's certification in Connecticut? Or first aid / CPR training requirements for your employees, regardless of where you are located? And what kind of business permits do you need? It can seem like an endless maze of bureaucracy. Start by contacting your local (such as county) department of health, or human services, or social services, or whatever other unit seems most likely to deal with the operation of group homes in your area. Step up to the state and federal levels as warranted. Ask lots of questions, and be very patient. Remember why you want to render this valuable service to your community. It can never hurt to solicit guidance from existing group home operators as well. Depending upon your location, one or both of these may not be legally necessary, but they are essential steps nonetheless. Take every opportunity to protect the time, effort, and money you are investing in your group home. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, establishing non-profit status in the U.S. is not a quick and easy process. You need to create a corporate entity by filing Articles of Incorporation with your state, then begin work on the lengthy Form 1023 provided by the IRS, then, if approved, circle back to the state level to ensure your exemption from state taxation. You may find it beneficial to hire an attorney well-versed in this process. Check to determine whether your state requires insurance coverage for your group home, but make sure you obtain sufficient insurance covering liability, fire, and theft, among other areas. No matter the size of your planned group home, you're going to need to hire some help. Before actually engaging in the hiring process, though, it is advisable to "put your ducks in a row" regarding the various forms and requirements. This SBA article and this IRS publication are good starting points regarding the paperwork and recordkeeping required to hire an employee in the U.S. The many requirements include: Completing Form I-9, which verifies an employee's eligibility to work in the U.S. Providing Form W-4, which determines federal tax withholding for each employee. Determining your individual state's requirements regarding new hire reporting, tax reporting, and worker's compensation insurance. Establishing a functional record-keeping operation so you can keep track of your many responsibilities as an employer.

SUMMARY:
Build a relationship with the relevant government agencies. Research the licensing process in your location. Identify relevant federal, state, and local regulations. Apply for non-profit status and obtain insurance. Prepare to become an employer.