It just occurred to me that this summer is the 30th anniversary of my composting system. I bought my first house in the fall of 1994, and spent that entire winter reading about gardening. When the tomatoes were planted the next spring, I started collecting household food scraps, grass clippings, pine needles and leaves from the forest, and a good helping of cow patties from my mother's farm. Over the years, as new piles were formed, I incorporated finished and working compost as a starter, so the piles I have now may contain the descendants of insects, worms, and microbes from 1995.
When other people hear that I compost, they want to show me their system, which they are rather enthusiastic about. I can understand that. I remember my grandfather being proud of his compost heap, which didn't impress me as a kid. Gardeners are almost giddy about their tumblers that produce a bucket or two of compost in a couple of weeks. I tell them I do it the "slow and lazy way," which I have to explain, and always amazes newer composters.
I made three bins. At the old place, they were made of pallets because they were free. At first, I turned the compost over into the next bin, but after a couple of years I abandoned that- too much work. I got my current house years before I sold the first house, and brought compost over with me in several stages. Now I have round bins made of wire mesh. I fill one bin every year, starting in November or December when I need a place to put leaves. Every spring, I remove the mesh from the oldest bin, remove the plants and unfinished material from the top (adding it to another bin), and start using the 2.5 to 3.5-year-old compost. After all my potting, transplanting, and gardening, I gradually transfer the rest of the finished compost to a covered barrel near the house for winter use. By the time I use all that, it's four years old! And in the fall I have an empty spot to put the mesh back up and dump leaves into.
When other people hear that I compost, they want to show me their system, which they are rather enthusiastic about. I can understand that. I remember my grandfather being proud of his compost heap, which didn't impress me as a kid. Gardeners are almost giddy about their tumblers that produce a bucket or two of compost in a couple of weeks. I tell them I do it the "slow and lazy way," which I have to explain, and always amazes newer composters.
I made three bins. At the old place, they were made of pallets because they were free. At first, I turned the compost over into the next bin, but after a couple of years I abandoned that- too much work. I got my current house years before I sold the first house, and brought compost over with me in several stages. Now I have round bins made of wire mesh. I fill one bin every year, starting in November or December when I need a place to put leaves. Every spring, I remove the mesh from the oldest bin, remove the plants and unfinished material from the top (adding it to another bin), and start using the 2.5 to 3.5-year-old compost. After all my potting, transplanting, and gardening, I gradually transfer the rest of the finished compost to a covered barrel near the house for winter use. By the time I use all that, it's four years old! And in the fall I have an empty spot to put the mesh back up and dump leaves into.
Right now, I have a small pile of finished compost I am using up, then a big one with tomato plants and morning glories growing on top like crazy plus a couple of dragon tree trimmings I put in there to root, and the newest pile that I'm adding grass clippings to rather quickly. Shown above is the middle bin to prove I am not exaggerating. All this means I haven't bought potting soil or topsoil in many years, even though I give most of my plants away every year.
Since I was out taking pictures, this is my flower border this morning.
7 comments:
How green and lovely leafy! 💚💚💚
Compost. Almost a cult, eh? We've a pile at the back of the yard where we put yard clippings etc. We used to put kitchen scraps as well but this year I bought and modified a garbage can and use it for household material. We have to be sure not to add anything meat or tasty smelling as the local bear will come knocking. 7 years and she has not bothered the pile even though she walks right past it to go through the yard. When I was a kid we had a huge manure pile where an old barn had been. It had been sitting for at least 20 years. Wish I had some of that now. You just had to toss seeds at that soil and jump back :)
Your lilies are gorgeous -- must be all that beautiful compost! Your composting system sounds good to me -- I'm all for doing as little work as possible, lol.
I have a mullet yard- nice and trim in the front, long and shaggy in the back.
The lilies won't even peak for another couple of weeks!
What a beautiful yard, Miss C!
I've got a spiked-hairdo yard: a lot of tall trees and sparse ground cover.
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