Compost

everyone has their method...and here is mine. i try to get everything i can into that compost bin...which is just a 2 sided, open to the ground structure made from wood hanging around. so, what makes it into the bin?
1. i have a paper shredder in the pantry to shred any bit of paper that might think it wants to go in the trash (i am better and worse at this at times...i have gone through phases lately where i just throw everything away and forget to shred!)
2. all non-meat food scraps
3. tea bags, coffee filters and grounds
4. dryer lint
5. anything organic...like an old wool blanket that harry the dog ripped up
6. egg shells
7. wood ash

all this i put in one side (the right) and each time i put something in it, i cover it with "duff"...which can be grass clippings, wood shavings...i use a bale of hay...for ease. keeping it covered seems to knock out the smell, flies in summer and it keeps it moist and warm so it breaks down faster.

today, we planted 2 types of cowpeas and 3 types of beans...watered and mulched with compost and pine straw. it probably sounds like i have done all this before this is the first time FOR SURE that i have tried to grow so much....i read things everyday i didn't know (ex....who knew greens and broccoli and peas were cold weather veggies? everyone but me =)) i love learning all about gardening and seasons and even fertilizers! in the book animal vegetable miracle (you are going to think that is the only book i have ever read!) it talks about how we are so accustomed to getting any fruit or veggie when we want it that we have stopped learning where they originate and what time of year so much is grown.

well, i was tickled when i started shoveling out the compost, it was so wet and rich...so it really worked!