Seeds.
Tiny organisms moving under debris.
One afternoon, he moved a rotten board.
The birds rushed beneath it like shoppers at a sale.
That was the moment the two systems connected in his mind.
Orchard.
Chickens.
Separate expenses.
Separate chores.
Why?
He asked Daniel during pruning season.
They were standing beside a Gala row.
Toby said:
“What if we ran hens under here before bloom?”
Daniel clipped a branch.
“No.”
Toby stared.
“I haven't explained.”
“You said hens.”
“Yes.”
“And orchard.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Daniel lowered the shears.
“Because I know you.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you watched some guy on the internet move chickens around an orchard and now you're planning to reinvent agriculture before dinner.”
“I didn't watch one guy.”
“How many?”
Toby paused.
“That is not relevant.”
Daniel almost smiled.
Then became serious.
“These trees pay our bills.”
“I know.”
“We don't experiment with forty acres because something looks smart online.”
“I’m not asking for forty.”
Daniel looked at him.
“How many?”
“Six.”
“No.”
“Three.”
“No.”
“One.”
Daniel started walking.
Toby followed.
“Dad.”
“No.”
“I’ve been studying this.”
“I know.”
“How?”
“You leave chicken articles open on the office computer.”
Toby frowned.
Daniel continued.
“I also know animals are work.”
“Fencing.”
“Water.”
“Predators.”
“Disease.”
“Manure.”
“You put them in the wrong section at the wrong time and we create problems.”
“That’s why I want a trial.”
Daniel stopped.
Toby opened his notebook.
Pages full of observations.
Daniel took it.
Read.
His expression changed slightly.
“You did all this?”
“Three weeks.”
“You should spend more time on algebra.”
“I have an A.”
“Unfortunately.”
Toby pointed.
“See N4?”
“Worst damage last fall.”
Daniel looked.
“Correct.”
“N5 wasn't as bad.”
“Correct.”
“I want chickens in part of N4.”
“Leave part untreated.”
“Same with N5.”
“Compare.”
Daniel flipped more pages.
“You’re not trying to replace everything?”
“No.”
“That’s what you told your mother.”
“No.”
“I said maybe they help enough that we don't need the full program.”
Daniel closed the notebook.
“That is different.”
“I know.”
“Still risky.”
“I know.”
“Who handles them?”
“Me.”
“Before school?”
“Yes.”
“After school?”
“Yes.”
“Rain?”
“Yes.”
“Track feed?”
“Yes.”
“Eggs?”