Compost bins, free compost bin plans, barrel composter, compost sifter

Compost bins, free compost bin plans, barrel composter, compost sifter

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Patience, Thy Name is Composting...

I am totally old school when it comes to composting. While I embrace technology with a whole heart; when it comes to composting, I feel very strongly that compost bins should be made of wood and chicken wire. These, to me, underline the very concept of sustainability. You can make them yourself, if a component breaks, you can replace it easily and inexpensively. Your compost pile begins with adding things to one side, then after a while, forking them over to the other side.

The proper pile has a ratio of 'greens' to 'browns'.... the 'greens' are nitrogenous waste, such as grass clippings, fruits and vegetables and the like. The 'browns' are things like newspaper and tree shavings. You will know if your pile is balanced by the way it looks, and smells. There should never be a foul odor coming from your compost pile. It should be moist, not wet- if it looks dry, just take a hose to it, or, if you collect rain water, add a few scoops of water from your rain barrel. In order to keep moisture in, some people opt to put a tarp over their compost bin. Indeed, there is a learning curve when it comes to making one's own compost, but it is well worth it, and if you add a chicken or two to your eco system, it will aid in faster composting. Just take a look at the Vermont Compost Company's website. Chickens are and integral part of their operations. The chickens aerate the pile by scratching, and just love kitchen scraps, as well their droppings are high in nitrogen. For our city friends, I have just stumbled upon a website that sells chicken diapers, in case you would like to keep a chicken indoors! So now, you too can have a pet chicken that can eat out of your compost bin... what will they think of next?

There are many options out there for compost tumblers, which cut the time it takes for composting by about 75%. If you need compost in a jiffy, these are your best bet. Although I prefer a more natural method, I am completely sympathetic to bins, and their place in the urban farmers garden. They are compact, and fast- but, they are usually very industrial looking, or made to look like faux boulders. I guess that which annoys me about tumblers is also what makes them strangely appealing as well. They are ugly and plastic- or you could call it industrial-chic, but they are fast and a bit idiot proof. It is this contradiction that was the very thing that caused me to choose an electronic medium through which to wax on about getting back to the earth and off your computer.... a complete contradiction, I know, but it's fast, and gets to so many people in so little time. I guess I am not so interested in getting people off the computer explicitly, but rather, getting people to understand the rhythms of nature, and to stop being so blasted controlling. There is a bit of magic involved in gardening, a sense of doing everything you can, but in the end, you have to leave alot of it to the gods. When people try to control every aspect of gardening, and get greedy, bad things happen. When crops fail for no apparent reason, it's because we, as farmers are ignoring the natural balance and rhythm of things. I really think that its the way the universe tells us to stop our nonsense. I am not a hippy dippy, but I do recognize, as a trained horticulturist, and someone who holds a license to spray pesticides, as well as holding a certification in biodynamic farming; that we need to respect the cycles of nature, and when we do that, we don't need to take extraordinary measures that in turn damage our bodies and our earth. I would rather use the concept of companion planting than spray a rose bush within an inch of it's life. But, alas, that is for another discussion...

So, in short, this is why I prefer the old school wooden box, it has a rustic, garden-y appeal to it that you just don't get from a round plastic bin. It takes longer, and is a bit temperamental, but isn't almost every aspect of gardening? Being so weather dependent, it teaches us that sometimes we can't have our corn for the big 4th of July bash, or that we just have to go with the flow. I am a firm advocate of eating locally- and of not being such a brat when it comes to demanding certain things at certain times of the year. There are cycles in nature, and sometimes they have to adjust themselves. Go with it, don't try to manipulate those cycles, or get around them. 'Cuz that's cheating, you big cheater.

Add a Fluffy Chicken for Sustainability!

A plastic chicken hutch.... they say it's low maintenance, there's a secure run attached so your chickens are safe from pesky predators like Raccoons. It comes in five high fashion colors, like the red on display. It was designed for urban chicken farmers with limited space..... This is perfect for like 3 chickens. I wanna try! More on chickens and their place in a sustainable farm soon! The more space you allow the chickens, the more happy your hens are. Chickens naturally aerate and fertilize grass, and make your lawn look great! The hen above is said to have a really nice disposition, can take confinement well and lays about 3 eggs per week. Originally from India, this chicken has a dual purpose of being raised for meat as well as laying, and she will pretty up you yard with her fluffy feet and lovely attitude, not to mention her fierce coop!

Tulips

It makes me immeasurably happy to see the Fall Bulb catalogs roll in, bursting with new varieties to try, old friends from the past and some older varieties we have yet to try. This year we are adding a new dimension to our normal fall bulb plantings. We are giving back. Yes, we are donating 20% of our sales this fall to a homeless shelter in Bronx, NY. We hope that it will be a significant sum! Our work is mostly on the North Shore of Long Island, and in the Hamptons. Of course, we would deliver bulbs to NYC.


So, my all time favorite is the parrot tulip. It make a gorgeous cut flower, but it is a bit wonky in the ground.... I find the best show indoors doesn't always translate once you get outdoors... for outdoors, my favorite would be a mix called "French Blend", shown above. Just magnificent in almost any setting. So, it is a bit early right now, but definitely keep those wheels turning with regards to choosing a color scheme. Tulips season is fast approaching- the perfect time of year is from late September, even early October, depending on the weather, all the way through December in alot of cases. For the past two years I have found myself adding last minute bulbs to clients homes as late as January, only to have a beautiful display the following Spring.