Tag: compost

My own Compost

Since I have started my organic gardening craze and the blog as well, I have been purposeful in keeping it all natural and organic. I raise chickens for their great personalities – oh, yes as well as beautiful eggs and the natural manure to feed my pesticide-free garden. I have learnt so much but if I do not put it into practice, then I am just a big wind bag of hot air! I need to pursue what I believe is good for the earth and it starts with ME!

So – I am so excited when I can take my heaps and heaps of garden and kitchen and chicken refuse and turn it into gold! The great smell of sweet earth makes me smile! It’s not a glamorous job but it is very rewarding!!

The first and very active composting heap is in the Chicken Run. Every week I rake up the straw and poop and add it to the heap. I sprinkle with compost activator and leave until broken down – about 4 – 6 weeks. The ration of carbon (straw) to nitrogen (chicken manure) should be balanced 50/50. Oxygen is also important to produce heat. Keep the heap damp and water when dry. This makes for a great compost!

[one_half]Well broken down compost[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Collecting for the garden[/one_half_last]

I hope you can turn your garden waste to something useful! AND it’s for free!

Happy Gardening xxxx

Tags compost, composting, home compost

Christine's garden Fertiliser Gardening Home page features

Progress in the compost mixer

Post author By Christine
Post date September 10, 2011
14 Comments on Progress in the compost mixer

You might remember I invested in a compost mixer in June and set it up with its first “load” of material to compost on 2nd June. It’s been three months so I thought it might be time to get my first load of compost. Not quite … but I don’t think its due to the compost mixer. I had bags of leaf materials and “garden debris” which a garden helper collected for me. I should have told him leaves only, no branches and sticks! The compost is looking good but for all the large sticks in it.

[one_half]The compost mixer[/one_half]

[one_half_last]First load of almost compost[/one_half_last]

[one_half]A closer look[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lots of black stuff[/one_half_last]

So I guess I’ll be sifting twigs and sticks out of my first home-made compost.

I’m amazed actually at how well everything has broken down. About 70% of the material was garden debris, the rest was what we collect from the kitchen (scraps, egg shells, fruit skins, veggie scraps etc.). I haven’t been very good about turning the compost mixer regularly. I do it when I remember, but I’m wondering how long it should take to be usable?

Happy gardening
xxx

Tags compost, compost mixer, composting, home-made compost

Barbie's garden Design Do it yourself Gardening Home page features

Design beginnings for the back

Post author By Barbara
Post date July 28, 2011
17 Comments on Design beginnings for the back

Hi Chris, I was busy again this weekend – I don’t know where this energy comes from!! The bags of compost arrived from Nonke – all 30 of them!! They are super heavy and I had to scheme how I was going to bring each one to the back garden. I worked out a 3-phase plan to get each bag into the wheel barrow, whew! I managed to get 15 bags (one at a time!) to the back. I filled the raised beds.

[one_half]30 bags of compost![/one_half]

[one_half_last]4 bags per raised bed[/one_half_last]

I also created a work of art with the plants I bought at the Nonke Plants Open Day. Here are the lavender – yes, more lavender – and the ground-cover grasses.

[one_half]Lavendula stoechas-Lavender Lace[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Lavendula-Raspberry Ruffles and Festuca glauca[/one_half_last]

Now the fun starts!! I am glad the weather played along. I have to say, that this was really hard work and my body was full of aches and pains the next morning.

[one_half]Now let’s begin[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Let’s start small[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Nod of approval[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Starting with a pathway[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Keep it straight![/one_half]

[one_half_last]First landscape design complete![/one_half_last]

[one_half]Looks fabulous![/one_half]

[one_half_last]I’m super happy with results![/one_half_last]

I hope you enjoyed and approve of my first designed pathway. I like doing small projects now so I can see my garden develop. Next will be the lawn patch. I’ll keep you posted! I can’t wait for next weekend!

I must keep the chickens off the pathway – I have a feather duster stuck in the ground next to it! So amazing how great this works!

Have a great week!

Tags compost, Design, design pathway, do it yourself, Raised beds

Christine's garden Do it yourself Fertiliser Gardening Home page features Products

Composting confessions and a solution

Post author By Christine
Post date June 2, 2011
35 Comments on Composting confessions and a solution

Composting … I know it’s the “right thing to do”. I know it saves money. I know it would be great for my plants … bla bla bla.

So I ordered a compost bin. When it arrived it was one of those that needs to be ‘planted’ in the garden and couldn’t just be put in the space I’d specifically allocated for it, being in a concrete alley way down the side of the house where the trash bin lives (and a few other things). I didn’t want to ‘plant’ a plastic green container in my garden. Sorry, but it doesn’t fit in with my gardening plan. I don’t consider an upside down plastic green thingy-amy-bin an appropriate garden feature. And I have no hidden places in the garden – with my penchant for impulse buying of plants, every nook and cranny in my garden is reserved for something pretty … so out with the unused green plastic monstrosity!

But I am still “into” the idea of composting. We have been collecting the leaves and debris from gutters etc (branches and twigs from the trees are used as kindling for our indoor fireplaces so there is never any surplus of those) but we now have 8 11 large green bags in the alley way full of leaves in various stages of ‘mulchiness’. But still no real compost solution here at Number 13! Egg shells and greens from the kitchen are still going to waste here. Not good …

What I wanted is an easy solution for adding and mixing compost. I did lots of research and came to the conclusion that a free standing bin or box is not a good idea for me – I honestly don’t have the time, inclination or strength to mix compost myself on a regular basis and the result would be a neglected compost heap and resultant mess! I like working with dirt in the garden – my hands can take it, but climbing into a pile of it and turning it with a fork on a regular basis … well I just know thats not going to happen. Compost mixers (with handles that you crank) looked like a solution but I’ve never found one here. Until I discovered the Compost Mixer by Keter online.

So I bought one on Saturday! It was darn pricey, a whole lot more than I ever intended to pay for such a thing but it looks great and ticks all my requirements. It is well constructed, very sturdy and offers a number of other benefits and I believe that given the quality of this compost mixer it will last a very long time. I can stand it in the alley way – in fact, it is a requirement that it stands on a sturdy, level surface in the sun – and I have the perfect full sun position for it right in the alley. I really think this is the right composting solution for me.

[one_half]The mounting bags of leaves[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Vacant spot perfect for my new compost mixer[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Its a VERY large box![/one_half]

[one_half_last]Complete with instuctions etc.[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Compost Mixer by Keter (photo © Keter)[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Compost Mixer by Keter (photo © Keter)[/one_half_last]

Some of the features & benefits of it are:

Innovative gear allows effortless tumbling even with a full load
Extra large mixing fins for faster decomposition (increases compost cycles per season)
Controlled ventilation improves composting
Positive locking latch secures door closed
You can collect compost tea via the drippy thingy
You get a load of compost about every 8 – 12 weeks (depending on the season and what you put in there of course).
It holds 230 litres or 60 gallons at a time

Right now I’m sitting with the instruction book and it looks rather intimidating to me – I think I need some help with it. There are scary warnings that say “incorrect use can lead to death …” Yikes! Hows that for a warning? I will take photographs of the whole process and do a post on the set up of my new composter and show it in action over the next few months. Hopefully it does exactly what it promises. Then I will finally be able to do a post entiled “Admissions of an ardent composter”, or something similar 🙂 🙂

Please note that this is not a product endorsement or some sort of paid review. In fact, when I enquired via their website about where to purchase one of these in South Africa, I received such a curt response that I almost didn’t want to purchase it. In this instance the actual product sold me, certainly not their PR! #Just so you know!

Next on my “wish list”:

Can you believe I don’t have a wheel barrow? Seriously … I lug everything around by hand. And its very tedious. So this is a little hint for my family that may or may not read this! For my next birthday I would LOVE one of these – its also by Keter, its call an Easy Go gardening cart and it looks perfect for me! I would be so, so happy to get one of these!

Features include that it is a lightweight, heavy-duty work wagon that allows you to load and move heavy loads “with the greatest of ease”, its multipurpose use is ideal for garage, basement, recycling, and yard maintenance and it won’t rust, dent, stain, or peel which is great, so I can leave it outside overnight – which I often do with gardening tools and things when I don’t feel like packing up after gardening! I’d also love one of these … its called a “Planteo“, it’s like a little green house! Maybe one day … Right now I first have to get the composter out the box and set up before I start thinking about more things!

Happy Gardening
xxxx

Tags compost, composter, composting, mulch

Christine's garden Fertiliser Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous Products

Thank you very Mulch

Hi Barbie – I wanted to thank you again for the ten bags of apricot kernel / pip shell mulch you brought for me and thought you might like to see the results. I decided to tackle the two front beds first as I am waiting for the tree fellers to come on 6 June before I create the walkway at the back (which is what the apricot pip shells were actually intended for).

But you know me … I couldn’t wait to experiment so the two front beds got “mulched”. I used up two bags doing the Rose Bed and one in the Gardenia Bed so I might need to get hold of your contact to get a few more as I would like to do this everywhere … if you think it looks nice?

Here are a few photographs I took of the new “Rose Bed” which I did this morning. I took a few “before” and “after” photos so you can see the results.

[one_half]Close up of before[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Close up of after[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Large view before[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Large view after[/one_half_last]

[one_half]Another close up view[/one_half]

[one_half_last]And another closer look[/one_half_last]

So what do you think? I really like it …

Happy Gardening
xxx

Tags apricot kernels, apricot pips, compost, mulch

Christine's garden Fertiliser Gardening Home page features

Christine’s Soil Experiment Result

Post author By Christine
Post date April 4, 2011
2 Comments on Christine’s Soil Experiment Result

So I’ve learnt two things doing this “Great Soil Expirement”. The first thing is that I think I have good soil but have no idea how to actually read the result and the second is that I have a lot to learn about photographing glass containers that reflect light. Lots of reading up on the internet and the best I can do is a photograph of a jar of dirt and water reflecting me in my pyjamas taking a photograph of it!

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

The result of my Soil Test: Hanni from Sweet Bean Gardening says that the sand will sink to the bottom, the silt stays in the middle and the clay rises to the top. Looks like I have a fair amount of sand and silt and not too much clay.

According to Wikipedia: Loam is soil composed of sand, silt, and clay in relatively even concentration (about 40-40-20% concentration respectively).Loam soils generally contain more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, have better infiltration and drainage than silty soils, and are easier to till than clay soils. Loams are gritty, moist, and retain water easily.

Am I correct in assuming I have pretty good soil?

Visit Sweet Bean Gardening to see other results “Dirt Cheap: Free Soil Composition Test“ at The Great Soil Experiment Meme.

Tags compost, good soil, great soil experiment, soil

Barbie's garden Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

My Great Soil Experiment

[one_half][/one_half]

[one_half_last][/one_half_last]

I have completed my free Soil Composition Test. I took a sample from the clay soil of my front garden today, where the roses and the lavender grow and also from the veggie patch which I have been rejuvenating with compost, etc., every season. They both look so very similar. Let’s see what happens once they settle. This should be interesting! I am looking forward to all the results!!

The soil in Philadelphia – up the West Coast of Cape Town, seems to be one of clay. It is where wheat, oats and canola is grown, and a new crop that the farmers grow for a summer harvest is grapes. Our village is surrounded by these fields.

Tags clay soil, compost, free soil test, great soil experiment, soil

Christine's garden Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Join the Great Soil Experiment

Post author By Christine
Post date March 30, 2011
3 Comments on Join the Great Soil Experiment

Last week Hanni at Sweet Bean Gardening posted an article entitled “Dirt Cheap: Free Soil Composition Test“, which is a super-easy and free way to find out the secrets of your soil. We suggested she start a meme – i.e. anyone who is interested can take part by doing the soil composition test and then posting the results on their blog. Then in a couple of days, Hanni will do a post where we can all add the links to our Soil Composition Test Results. This could be very interesting to see the different types of soil we all garden in and to see photographs of what the different soil types look like. Anyone is welcome to join – and it should prove very interesting to see all the different types of soil.

So here are the easy instructions:
1. Mix two parts of water to one part soil in a jar. (I used an empty Gundelsheim gherkin glass jar and added 2 measure-fulls of water to 1 measure of freshly dug dirt)
2. Add a little salt (I added 1/2 teaspoon)
3. Shake it up
4. Let it rest for a few days
5. Take a photograph and add it as a post on your blog

Then on Friday or Saturday head over to Hanni’s blog at http://sweetbeangardening.blogspot.com/ (or you can check back here on Friday or Saturday and I will provide a link to the Results Posts on Hanni’s blog where you can add your link).

The actual “soil test” prep is really quick and easy to do. It took me all of about three minutes. (The photo is of my freshly prepared “Soil Test”!

Happy Gardening and lets compare soil in a couple of days!

xxx

Tags compost, soil

Barbie's garden Fertiliser Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous Products

What is Organic Gardening?

Post author By Barbara
Post date March 15, 2011
8 Comments on What is Organic Gardening?

Through my research I found out that for hundreds of years we have grown plants without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides. Today there is a growing concern for the environment and how important it is to us and the dangers of the pollution to air, water and animal life and food crops and its degradation, by the world-wide use of chemical products. We have not paid attention to the harm this has done.

I want to make a difference. So I want to highlight Organic Gardening – a method of gardening and growing plants and vegetables using only organic products such as manures, composts and organic fertilizers to improve and retain soil fertility, natural substances to control pests and diseases and growing insect repellent plants and companion plants which are beneficial to each other. It takes a lot of research and it is easy to find out what plants help each other to grow and flourish. Let’s leave out the Crude Oil Waste Products, like chemical fertilizers and pesticides. I use seaweed!!

[one_half]Start with a good organic compost[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Kelpak liquid fertilizer[/one_half_last]

KELPAK

Kelpak, derived from the seaweed species Ecklonia Maxima (Kelp), is a natural and unique source of Auxins and Cytokinins, a group of plant growth bioregulators that have been proven to have a number of beneficial physiological effects on plants.

Ongoing research and trial data from around the globe have proven Kelpak’s ability to significantly increase the health, quality and yield in a wide variety of crops, benefiting farmers around the world for over 30 years.

In 1975 The brown seaweed, Ecklonia maxima, is identified as having beneficial effects on plant growth and the quest begins to develop a cellular level extraction technology.

Auxins are natural plant hormones produced in a plant’s shoot tips and translocate downwards. One of its effects is to signal a plant to increase its root growth.

Cytokinins are natural plant hormones produced in the root tips and translocate upwards. One of its effects is to signal a plant to produce more and larger foliage.

While most plant growth stimulants make use of high Cytokinin levels to temporarily promote top growth, this does little to improve the roots of the crop, often resulting in an unbalanced plant.

Kelpak, through its unique extraction process, contains a very high Auxin to Cytokinin ratio. This auxin domination stimulates vigorous primary and secondary root development in the plant, thus enhancing the plant’s hormone production with a resultant improved crop output.

Research information from – http://www.kelpak.com/

Tags compost, Kelpak, organic fertilizer, seaweed fertilizer

Barbie's garden Fertiliser Gardening Home page features Miscellaneous

Fertilizers or Compost?

A mistake which people often make is to assume that if they use artificial fertilizers, they do not need to use compost or any other organic matter. IF you have to use artificial fertilizers they must always be used in conjuction with compost otherwise the soil will deteriorate in its organic content with a resulting poor structure. Bulky manures and organic products will steadily improve the quality of the soil so that fewer artificial fertilizers need to be used. Good quality food crops can be successfully produced without any artificial fertilizers and this is the basis for organic gardening.

Tags compost, Fertiliser, organic fertilizer, organic gardening