Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Use it up: Compost

We live on a pretty low income (compared to US standards) so my goal is to stretch whatever we buy and get as much use out of it as possible.  I will be the first to admit that I'm not always successful in this area. But, I'm determined. (Does that count?). I'm always looking at what I have on hand and thinking about what I can do to stretch it, reinvent it or re-use it.

I really wanted to put in a winter vegetable garden but my husband (still worn out from our move) asked that I wait until spring so we would have a chance to prepare over the winter. So, I've begun collecting toilet paper rolls and saving cardboard egg cartons for seed starters along with newspaper to lay on the vegetable rows to keep the weeds down. Pinterest had some great pictures and my daughter in love has been using this method of seed starting with great success.

We also decided to start composting. This will enrich our soil and save the cost of buying bagged compost.

I did some research online and read that you need equal amounts of leaves, kitchen scraps and  lawn clippings.

I've been saving all my vegetable and fruit scraps and meal leftovers and frankly anything that will break down. I've read not to use grease or meat products. My kitchen compost container is not very pretty but it will work for now. (I try to hide it on the side of the counter). Best of all..it was free. The lid is tight so there is no chance of drawing insects. 

Kitchen top container to hold scraps for compost



2 Container for compost. Large can for extra lawn clippings and tub for composting.



 We're adding water and turning the 'ingredients' regularly. Hopefully, within a few months we will have some wonderful compost to add to our soil to enrich it this coming spring. 

All from items that we would have thrown away.


4 comments:

  1. Your garden will 'LOVE' you for this :)

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  2. Don't forget you can also use shreaded paper and hair clippings in your compost.

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  3. Even though you can't add meat, bones, or dairy, you can add eggshells.
    It's been our experience that oak leaves don't break down easily, so we don't add those to our pile.

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  4. I love composting! We have a friend who was the master composter and called himself a "dirt farmer" meaning he loved making his own "dirt". Call your county extension program. When we lived in town, I went to a class they offered on composting. At the end of the class, we were each given a nice mesh composting bin.

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