In this week’s episode of The Beet, Jacques chats with backyard chicken expert Lisa Steele about why chickens might just be the hardest-working members of the garden team. From weed patrol to soil-scratching benefits, they discuss how chickens can boost your growing space while earning their keep. Plus, Lisa shares practical tips for getting started with a backyard coop without getting in over your head.

Connect with Lisa Steele:

Lisa Steele is the O.G. of backyard chicken keeping, sharing expert flock advice since 2009. From her farm in Maine, she’s built a trusted resource with hundreds of practical articles on raising chickens, ducks, and geese, as well as gardening and DIY coop projects. She’s also the author of The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook, a Publishers Weekly starred pick and Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Cookbooks, Food & Wine.