Backyard Farm Day 1

Pasadena is the Mayberry of Los Angeles. We lucked out and live in a 1901 bungalow on the San Marino border. That's enormous for LA. Part utilitarian, part aesthetics, part ease, and part fun for our kid, this will be a document of our attempt to build a small farm in Pasadena, California. We're putting in a barn and a chicken coop. Let's get started.
First thing's first, we just put in a lawn. That's going to be great for kids, chickens, cats, & dogs. Our barn is going in Tuesday, January 5, 2010. An 8'x15' (120 sq.ft.) that will be the brain of our tiny beast. We're gonna try solar power. Hopefully I'll have juice for charging drills, some lighting, a record player, a small tv, and if it kicks ass the way I want it to, some kind of game system or electric train.
Next to the barn will be an 8'x8' (64sq.ft.) chicken run for three lucky hens. I have no idea what we're going to build, but we're planning to put a raised bed over it. This will give the ladies shade and we'll get some good veggies out of it. Plus, if I do a good job, maybe I can get a dog.