I Feel Like Making Dirt...

Good news! I've totally blown off keeping up on my compost chronicles. Urgh!

But in doing so, its opened up a whole new experience for me.

Instead of using that old popcorn bin, I am now using some old Dell computer boxes from work as compost bins. I have officially made about 11 gallons of organic, stinky, dirt! I just use a dirty bowl or plate in the kitchen to collect my scraps (for a lovely kitchen compost canister click here), and then when it's full, I throw the mess into one of the bins, stir it up, add some water, and wha-laa, DIRT!

Of course it takes longer than that, but there is this wonderful sense of power that comes from making dirt; opening the bins is the most exciting thing to do as a gardener. Its like Christmas morning all over! Its the best when the smells are so overpowering you have to look away. Or when you see a new layer of mold growing...it just makes me want to say "look how cute it's toes are!" I've never been into chemistry, but that's exactly what this is. Adding worms, water, chopping up your scraps so they break down faster, and getting just the right amount of sun and warmth for perfect bacteria-infested soil is a blast!

I've taken some time to mix my new soil in with my old garden soil...and the difference is H-U-G-E. The new soil is so black and rich, I've never see anything like it!

I recently went to the hardware store and purchased some steer manure. I've been adding some steer manure to liven up my flower beds and garden (and compost); my husband doesn't care for the new moat of smell surrounding the house. But as a newly seasoned gardener, it means "Yes! Its working."

He thinks I'm nuts...