I'm saving paper feed bags that my starter grower comes in to use as mulch around my tomatoes and squash. Maybe a few paprika peppers too. They should hold moisture in and stop weeds from sprouting. I hope so. I also have a roll of biodegradable plastic mulch to use for the first time this coming season. I will cover a ridge with it for sweet potatoes.
Not at all. These were given to us or we'd not be composting at all. We border a forest and already dealt with skunks who would be the first "customers."
Wow! Those look brand new. At one time I was looking at some DIY tumbling compost bins, but then I got chickens, and everything now gets tossed into the chicken run. Do you use your tumbling compost bins for hot composting? Would love to hear about your results.
Yeah, I've got 5 full-sized pallet compost bins sitting inside a group of trees in the backyard. I put almost all of my compostable material into the chicken run composting system, so it takes me a year, or longer, to even fill one pallet compost bin. By the time I fill that #5 compost bin, the compost in bin #1 is more than finished - even with cold composting, no turning, totally hands off approach.
I get more compost from the chicken run composting system than I can use, so the pallet wood compost bins are only for stuff that I don't want the chickens to eat. Like extremely moldy food or maybe some plants that they should not eat.
Because I have so much chicken run compost available, I have doubled my raised bed gardens in the past 2 years.
For 2024, I plan to add another 3 or 4 hügelkultur pallet wood raised garden beds. Last year, I filled 2 new raised beds and topped off 6 old raised beds, and yet I don't think I used but maybe 10% of the finished compost in the chicken run composting system. So, I could add a lot more raised beds this coming year if I want.
I use compost as potting soil, either as is, or with some of my garden soil mixed in. That made a big difference in my garden starts. I also start them in bigger pots, since I don't have to buy the potting soil. Which has gotten more expensive and ... lower quality. Bits of plastic in the purchased "organic" potting soil? Really?
I use compost as potting soil, either as is, or with some of my garden soil mixed in. That made a big difference in my garden starts. I also start them in bigger pots, since I don't have to buy the potting soil. Which has gotten more expensive and ... lower quality. Bits of plastic in the purchased "organic" potting soil? Really?
First warm day in the 70's I've got to pull the tiller out and charge the battery and get it started. I'll be chipping away at the ground all winter long. My friend that had the tractor and big rotovator died unexpectedly a few days ago. He will be missed by a lot of folks.
We haven't done the post doggie dinner walk, so I haven't gotten the mail yet. But I got an email from Sow True Seed saying my order was "out for delivery."
For 2024, I plan to add another 3 or 4 hügelkultur pallet wood raised garden beds. Last year, I filled 2 new raised beds and topped off 6 old raised beds, and yet I don't think I used but maybe 10% of the finished compost in the chicken run composting system. So, I could add a lot more raised beds this coming year if I want.
