At one New Hampshire farm, the need for a mobile chicken coop led to a unique and innovative solution.
On the 300 pristine acres of Brookvale Pines Farm now sits an old yellow school bus. And believe it or not, it's become an essential part of the landscape.
Necessity is the mother of invention, so when Brenda Barthelemy needed an easier way to move her chicken coop every morning, she came up with a better idea.
"This was a bus that wasn't going to pass inspection," she said.
Barthelemy and her husband, Scott, yanked out the seats and had some help installing dozens of nesting boxes.
"And we're in business," she said laughing.
Now it's as easy as the turn of a key to move the chickens to their next location to help fertilize the pastures.
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"They're an important piece of the puzzle," Barthelemy said.
Passersby admit the bright yellow bus is an eyesore at first.
"I first thought it was an abandoned truck," said Dorothy Nash-Webber, an Arlington, Massachusetts, resident who was up in New Hampshire for a horseback ride.
But that first impression changes when they learn it's an essential part of an otherwise natural environment.
"I think it's really cool, awesome, raising free range chickens organically," she said. "We need more of that."
The four-generation family farm is finding new ways to keep an old tradition alive.
"I love, love, love this place," Barthelemy said. "My goal is to make it enjoyable and profitable next generation wants to do it."
Brookvale Pines Farm relies on visitors, so the family is hoping the bus will encourage people to take a trip, visit the chickens, and then stop by the farm store for fresh eggs and grass fed beef.
The farm is located at 154 Martin Road in Fremont.
