These are the compost bins we made out of pallets. I say we, but I really mean it was my idea, and my son and husband did the actual work! We are filing the bin on the right, and when it’s full, we will transfer the contents to the bin in the middle and begin filling the bin on the right again. It’s been an interesting process, filling the bin. We keep add to it, it looks like it is getting full, then it starts decomposing and shrinks. We are adding kitchen scraps, but not meat products. Weeds, grass clippings, and keeping it covered in bark. The pallets seem to be working well. Some dirt spills out, but not much.
I am using the ‘year plan’ of composting. Meaning ‘the plan that takes the least effort.’ We throw in scraps and bark not worrying about the size of the pieces. Compost rules say: The smaller the size of the stuff added, the sooner it breaks down into awesome dirt. The rules also say: Aerating the pile makes decomposition happen quicker. That means turning the pile with a shovel or pitch fork. It’s heavy stuff, I’d rather dig a hole for a plant. I am, however, following the compost rule of ‘green’ ingredients need to be diluted with brown ingredients. Like wood chips, or brown leaves. But other than that, the easy way will be fine!
These are the potato plants nestled in their hay. The ones we set on a layer of compost instead of planing in the ground. Can’t wait to see how this works! I added some hay a few days ago, mostly to the outside edges. It’s a foot or so deep.
The potatoes are starting to flower.
To the left is the one lone beet that survived the onslaught of hatched grasshoppers. A word on grasshoppers: They are hard to control. They like to lay their eggs in untilled, dry soil. Which was the state of my current garden area in the fall of last year. Grasshopper laying time. And the basic advice was: hope for a good hard frost. Hmmmm. So this year may be a lean garden year. Or maybe just the plants the hoppers do not like will survive.