I am getting ready for the gardening season a couple of ways and i would like to show them to you. One of the ways i am getting ready is by building up a compost pile. Many people do not know what a compost pile is while others think gross I dont want to do that. While others are looking for new ways to do something they have tried before.
I am building up a compost pile in one of my future square foot garden spots that I have already built. At the moment it is the best place for my compost pile i started out growing my 5 gallon bucket pretty fast. I am reading Mel Bartholmews book on square foot gardening and I am finding a lot of good things in there to help me with this endeavor.
So what is first?
The first thing on my list is a place to put it but since I just told you where I was putting it that is already done for me. But if it is not done for you than lets brainstorm together. You can just make a pile somewhere in your yard, start in a 5 gallon bucket or build somthing just for this purpose. Or you could buy something for it. i personally do not have the money to buy something just for my compost so I am using what I have.
Next?
Start putting in stuff. Ok that is a no brainer, what kind of stuff? Well it is not as complicated as it seems. Fruit peels, rotting lettuce from the fridge, leaves, grass, the half a carrot you didnt eat, potato peels, coffee grounds, egg shells, news paper, ect.
DO NOT PUT IN
Dairy, Meat products, plastic things that do not decompose, shiney paper that has a coating on it, stuff that would be harmful to you.
Composting is done by nature and it generally takes a long time. But if you are like me you dont have a couple of years to wait for it. So pile up the stuff make sure it is moist and turn it often the more often the faster it will b ready.
I try to turn mine every day. Not that I always do but as a general rule that is my goal. Here in colorado it is very dry. So i moisten my compost too.
These are the basics of composting. there are some other rules, like not using more than 10% of the coffee grounds and egg shells, and not more than 20% of each of the other things I noted above. that will help it keep balance but it does not have to be a science, it will happen eventually you are just trying to help the process go faster. It is said the bigger the pile the better, I am not sure of that yet since my pile just moved from a 5 gallon bucket. I will keep posting on ehere with the progress.
Right now there are still leaves in my back yard from last fall so I am gathering and crushing these to use in my compost. This does not have to cost you any money, and you are saving the land fills some extra trash too. How many of you put leaves in Big bags and sent them off with the trash? IF you did they are still sitting there and if you had composted them instead they would be composted by now or well on their way if you didnt mess with it.
I higly recommend composting give it a try do a google search and a you tube search and learn all that you can. We can make a dent in the land fill if we try and have GREAT stuff for our gardens at the same time.
