One man's garbage...
..... is another man's compost.
Gardener's Supply fall catalog is out, and it is all about composting.
It is the perfect time to start this project .... fall leaves are a gardener's gold. And if you begin composting now, you are likely to have some good stuff to work into the soil next spring when you begin planting again.
Gardener's Supply has variety of compost bins, plus lots of extras. Everything from the $399, 14-cubic-foot, self-aerating composter that does not require turning to the $40 "Big Bin" composter that is pretty much just for leaves.
There is also a compost pile additive for $18.95 that gives the heating process a jump start; an attractive counter top canister for your kitchen scraps (remember: no meat and no dairy); as well as biodegradable liners for the canister and biodegradable bags for your fall leaves, should you choose not to compost.
There is an electric composter that you keep in your kitchen for quick action on kitchen scraps and a worm composter that produces rich worm casings for the garden. Even a thermometer to check the heat of your compost pile.
I started composting years ago with a free bin made of recycled plastic. It was just slats, and plenty of assembly was required. It was open to the elements on top, and it became a hangout for critters from the woods nearby. The sides eventually pulled apart from the weight of the material.
I have since graduated to an enclosed bin that has a screen on the top and bottom to keep the creatures out and ventilation for air and rain. It produces about three wheelbarrows full of compost each spring.
I am not religious about turning it. It is a hard and smelly task. But every now and then, I pull the wheelbarrow over and use my pitch fork to unload some of the junk on top -- down to the fully decomposed compost -- and then I fork it back in. Seems to work.
Compost bins are like rain barrels. They are a good thing for the environment, the garden and your peace of mind. Even if you just toss in leaves and grass clippings and don't bother collecting all those kitchen scraps, you will have rich material to add to your soil.
Photo courtesy of Gardener's Supply
Comments
Susan, I love compost. I am a very lazy composter, but even so, we get several wheelbarrows full of wonderful dark brown (almost black) compost every year. Much of my soil is heavy clay, but constantly working in compost has created some wonderful lush pockets of fertility.
Just FYI--in some areas you are required by law to have compost worms if you include kitchen scraps. I doubt that there are any worm police out there, but don't say you weren't warned if they show up!
I am not exactly a libertarian, but it seems to me there are some places government does not belong, the bedroom and the compost pile being two! -- Susan
Posted by: Dahlink | August 10, 2009 7:36 PM
I've been worried over City Rodents in a compost pile. This spring, I managed to get to Ikea on the day that compost bins were being sold in the parking lot - met some nice people while waiting in line & learned some interesting things about solar panels - and now I have what looks like R2D2 hanging out next to the shed.
Unfortunately, my bin seems to be full already. I have an auxilliary pile of yard waste and everytime I trot out with kitchen scraps, I check to see if it hasn't cooked down just a little so that I can tuck a little of the pile into a corner.
(There are a number of blogs posting alerts about rats living in compost piles, burrowing into the warmth of the greenery as well as dining on the scraps. On the one hand, I think that negative remarks are an opportunity to speak without having knowledge. On the other hand, I've seen rats down in the alley...)
Posted by: Eve | August 12, 2009 9:37 AM