MINNIE ROSE'S CHICKENS AND LIFE

Minnie Rose Enefer was born in 1888 “down in the fen” in Norfolk County, England, where she and her 18 siblings helped work the 200 acres her father farmed. At age 11, Minnie Rose hired herself out as a live-​​in maid to an elderly couple in Ely, Cambridgeshire. She never lived at home again, but continued working and through experience learned to read, write, cook, sew, and to nurture children, plants and animals.

In 1912, she and her brother decided they could “go ahead better” in Canada. They booked passage on the Titanic, but when that sailing time was delayed, fortunately decided to take another ship instead and arrived safely in Montréal.

In Vancouver, B.C., Minnie Rose worked as a cook and nursemaid. In 1920 she moved to Bainbridge Island, WA, and found positions as children’s nursemaid and cook. There she married dairyman Danish-​​born Leo Lovgreen. Together, they worked and saved to build their own dairy, beginning with 6 cows on a rented 9-​​acre farm. The Lovgreens’ Bainbridge Dairy prospered for 30 years and grew to 75 cows on 170 acres. Leo, Minnie and their 2 sons delivered milk all over Bainbridge Island “for 10 cents a quart with half a pint of cream on top.“

In 1975 Minnie Rose, now a widow, still lived on part of the old property where she gardened and raised chickens. That year she tape-​​recorded her advice on raising chickens, then published in a book, Minnie Rose Lovgreen’s Recipe for Raising Chickens. Her book, long out of print, is again available, and remains as useful as ever.

Custom header design: Writer’s Rainbow.

Public domain image, “Rhode Island Chicken,” from “The Artful Chicken” antique print collection.