Compost

Today was the day to make compost, not any old compost, but the highest quality compost that could be made using the available ingredients, but since we have made compost before I had some of the leftovers from last time to include in the mix. The formula goes like this:
Organic Matter layered with HOT Matter and watered all the way up.

Here is a look at the organic layer. Green stuff, kitchen scraps, yard waste, grass clippings, leaves from last fall and whatever else you have laying around, but NOT - Sticks, chunks of wood, chunks of sod, sawdust or anything else that is not small or easily broken down.


Here is a little experiment to measure just how hot it gets inside the compost heap. HOT layer is made like this:
5 gallons chicken maunure, 3 shovels soil, 5 gallons grass clippings, 3 gallons coffee grounds, 4 shovels last batch of compost.


Here is the finished compost pile. This will sit for at least two weeks, maybe three, and this time the temperature will be monitored. Currently at about 64 degrees in the heap. 58 Degrees outside. 9:30 pm. Should also be interesting to see how the heap decreases in size as it "cooks"
An indoor outdoor thermometer with the outdoor side halfway in the heap. The conduit is to protect the lead from getting broken when the heap is built and taken down.

Garlic & Squash &..

The garlic is going into the home stretch, a few more weeks, maybe a month before it is time to harvest. Put on another side dress of compost last night which should push it just a little bit more.




All of the squashes are up and starting on their first real leaves, but at this rate they promise to be huge. Some of the peas which were planted and turned in as a cover crop are popping out to, so those are being pulled for mulch. These were planted on 22 May, 17 days ago


And then there is the lettuce, spinach bed. Cutting big bowls off these plants twice a day and it just keeps coming. Hiding in the back are sunflowers spaced about 5 inches apart the length of the shop. Wait till those babies get big.

More Lilac Flowers

This is what happens when you build your compost piles underneath the lilac bush in your backyard using fresh chicken manure ( 30 gallons ) and coffee grounds & kitchen scraps, plus the usual organic matter ( leaves and grass clippings ) .

Dahlia Beds

Made new Dahlia beds from cedar fencing using the usual method with braced corners. Put three in the backyard between the other raised beds, and the rest by the fence. Have 5 in place will add some more tomorrow.

Started out by covering the grass with cardboard, then covering the cardboard with a combination of new compost, sand and peat moss.

This compost has been "working " for about 6 weeks. It was made as part of the original batch, then turned once and added to with the unfinished stuff from the first batch. It sat then for about 4 weeks so it is really completely done now.

This is layered up a few times and then some garden soil, sand and peat moss added. To finish it off, Ill add some more topsoil tomorrow. Then it will be time to plant the dahlias. Since this soil is going to have great compost, ( nutrients ) drain well, ( sand ) and yet hold moisture ( peat moss ) it should be just the thing to produce some amazing dahlias this year.