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Angels in My Garden Week #12 March 22, 2010
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"Who
can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating
in nature's rebirth? "
Edward Giobbi It's officially spring now and didn't we get a nice taste of it this past weekend. As the days get longer and warmer and sunnier our seedlings will be growing and looking stronger, getting ready to be planted in the lovely soil that we've been preparing. I was turning the soil in my garden last weekend and added the compost that I started last spring. It was so black and rich and well - beautiful. So I want to say a few words about composting this week. Although this is not the most popular time of year to start a compost pile, you can really start one at any time. The only difference is in the materials available. Since dry leaves are an ideal base for a compost pile and we often have an over-abundance of them, fall is the favorite time to start composting. However shredded paper is a very effective substitute. If you have access to a paper shredder (or even if you don't; kids make great paper shredders) it's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and nourish your garden at the same time. You can use untreated newspaper, paper towels, napkins, unsolicited “junk” mail, paper plates and all that used paper that piles up next to the printer. Compost is one of the most important elements of this gardening process and we will re-visit the subject later in the year, but here are some basics: Composting Compost is a natural way of building soil, the same way that soil is made in the forest. Trees drop their leaves, plants grow and die and it all goes back into the soil. It’s much better than commercial fertilizer. If you make it right it will have everything the plants need and It doesn’t cost a cent. What
Does it Do? Hastening
the Compost Process Making the compost faster creates heat which will destroy plant diseases and weed seeds in the pile. Big leaves should be torn up so they will break down faster. Egg shells are a wonderful addition, but decompose slowly, so should be crushed. All additions to the compost pile will decompose more quickly if they are chopped up before adding. Almost any organic material is suitable for a compost pile. What does organic mean? Natural. The pile needs a good mixture of carbon-rich materials, or "browns," and nitrogen-rich materials, or "greens." Among the brown materials are dried leaves, straw, shredded paper and wood chips. Nitrogen materials are fresh or green, such as grass clippings and kitchen scraps. Brown = dry, high in carbon Green = moist, high in nitrogen Mixing certain types of materials or changing the proportions can make a difference in the rate of decomposition. Achieving the best mix is more an art gained through experience than an exact science. The ideal ratio of brown to green is anywhere from 5:1 to 30:1, depending on which expert gardener you consult. At any rate, you should have a much greater volume of brown material than green. To collect your kitchen waste keep a small compost pail with a lid on it in the cooking/eating area. When you add kitchen scraps to the compost pile, cover it with several inches of brown material. Dead plants and flowers can go in the pile but avoid weeds that have gone to seed or have big roots. You can use wood ashes but not too much. You can use manure from ducks, sheep, pigs, goats, horses and cows (animals that eat only plant food) but you should let it sit a while before adding it to the pile as “fresh” manure can overheat the compost pile. Hay or straw is a good addition, especially if there are not a lot of leaves around. Other
good materials: What
you should not use: We've been doing a lot of juicing at my house lately which results in a huge amount of fruit and vegetable pulp. Since my compost pile is a bit of a hike from the kitchen where I do the juicing, I'm currently experimenting with indoor composting. I understand that, if done correctly, there are no problems with odor or bugs. I'll let you know how it works out. Reflection:
It's been a long and, in many ways, challenging winter. As this quote
from the Essene Gospel of Peace suggests, now it is time for us to
celebrate along with the earth. As the earth bringeth forth her bud, And as the garden causeth its seeds to spring forth, So the Heavenly Father will cause the Holy Law To spring forth with gladness and joy Before all the Children of Light. In the Garden of the Brotherhood, All the earth shines with holiness and abundant joy, For there are the seeds of the Holy Law sown. The Law is the best of all good For the Children of Light: It giveth unto them brightness and glory, Health and strength of the body, Long life in communion with the Angels,
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