STARTER CUPS
Looking closely, you can see some of the "cups" I made out of newspaper to use for my starter plants. I put this in my "green" section because it is recycling my old newspapers. I am also recycling the "trays" from water purchases.
I mixed two parts peat moss, with one part vermiculite, and one part pearlite. Then, I added enough water to make it just a little soupy. Where I can squeeze the excess water out and it will still be moist. When the soil heats up today, I will be planting my heirloom beefsteak tomatoes and my peppers (about 9 different types).
You can't see it here, but there are three trays filled with the cups. I have enough dirt to make ate least another tray. I have 2 trays with 32 cups and one with 24, that is 88 cups. One more tray could mean 120 cups. That is about half the cups I have made. I am going to be so busy....
I mixed two parts peat moss, with one part vermiculite, and one part pearlite. Then, I added enough water to make it just a little soupy. Where I can squeeze the excess water out and it will still be moist. When the soil heats up today, I will be planting my heirloom beefsteak tomatoes and my peppers (about 9 different types).
You can't see it here, but there are three trays filled with the cups. I have enough dirt to make ate least another tray. I have 2 trays with 32 cups and one with 24, that is 88 cups. One more tray could mean 120 cups. That is about half the cups I have made. I am going to be so busy....
QUEEN OF THE COMPOST
10/29/09
Here you see Bad Dog playing 'Queen of Compost' with 'Treasure' in the back ground in awe of B.D.'s bravery! See how the picture looks cloudy? That is the dust flying from her skidding to a halt on top of the pile. She is a legend in her own mind.
The pile here is grass clippings on this side and 'chipped' branches on the other side. The grass clippings used to be where my garden is now. I moved them to here by taking a piece of fence, raking the grass onto the fence and dragging it over and dumping it on this side till I got it all moved.
When I moved back in this house, there were 120 dead trees that had to be cut down. Bro came and cut them down and chopped what he could into firewood. I piled up the firewood and got some help chipping the branches.
So now I use these piles to help with our drought problem in So. Cal. The grass goes on top of my planted rows. It keeps the moisture from being 'blown' away by the wind and dried up with the sun.
The branch chips I put in areas where I walk...especially where I water. It keeps me from walking in mud and helps as an amendment to my soil.
Both the chips and the grass are good to put in my other compost pile to help make "good dirt".
See, I need these piles to make my "Dream" come true. I have enough wood to make 7-8 more garden beds. Two will be 4'X16' and five will be 4'X8' in size. I will be building them this winter for spring planting.
I also want to build boxes around the tree trunks. I have a big pile of rocks I want to use for the trees and around my flowerbed. That way, when I water the trees the water will stay where I put it AND I can plant other things in the box. The trees will get more water because the pumpkins and squash I plan on planting in there will keep the wind from drying the dirt out. Where I plan on putting them ... it will also cover the fence for privacy. That is if the plants cooperate. They didn't this year.
What is it they say...'if you want to see God laugh, tell Him your plans'. I think He is constantly cracking up about me.
Here you see Bad Dog playing 'Queen of Compost' with 'Treasure' in the back ground in awe of B.D.'s bravery! See how the picture looks cloudy? That is the dust flying from her skidding to a halt on top of the pile. She is a legend in her own mind.
The pile here is grass clippings on this side and 'chipped' branches on the other side. The grass clippings used to be where my garden is now. I moved them to here by taking a piece of fence, raking the grass onto the fence and dragging it over and dumping it on this side till I got it all moved.
When I moved back in this house, there were 120 dead trees that had to be cut down. Bro came and cut them down and chopped what he could into firewood. I piled up the firewood and got some help chipping the branches.
So now I use these piles to help with our drought problem in So. Cal. The grass goes on top of my planted rows. It keeps the moisture from being 'blown' away by the wind and dried up with the sun.
The branch chips I put in areas where I walk...especially where I water. It keeps me from walking in mud and helps as an amendment to my soil.
Both the chips and the grass are good to put in my other compost pile to help make "good dirt".
See, I need these piles to make my "Dream" come true. I have enough wood to make 7-8 more garden beds. Two will be 4'X16' and five will be 4'X8' in size. I will be building them this winter for spring planting.
I also want to build boxes around the tree trunks. I have a big pile of rocks I want to use for the trees and around my flowerbed. That way, when I water the trees the water will stay where I put it AND I can plant other things in the box. The trees will get more water because the pumpkins and squash I plan on planting in there will keep the wind from drying the dirt out. Where I plan on putting them ... it will also cover the fence for privacy. That is if the plants cooperate. They didn't this year.
What is it they say...'if you want to see God laugh, tell Him your plans'. I think He is constantly cracking up about me.
My idea of "green"
I believe that everyone needs to make steps towards taking better care of the Earth we live on. Some of us do more than others, but we need to start somewhere. Like recycling our cans and plastic. Maybe set up some trash cans to store them, or maybe those laundry sorters work good for that. I use up the scraps from my kitchen to feed my worms (YES! I raise worms to fertilize my garden.) I use my scraps and the scraps from my local Pizza Parlor to make compost. And yes they deliver!
Start small and take baby steps, but keep after it. In a short time you will find it easier and easier to be "Green". I take my cans and plastic to the local hardware store and they take the profits to pay for our little local paper. That way I am helping our community, too. When it comes to my newspaper, I shred it up and feed it to my worms, use it for covering in my garden, or take it to the local vet, who uses it to line the cages at her office.
Then there are the light bulbs that are green that cost a little more in the beginning but save money in the end. Or, when you have to buy a new appliance, spend a little more to get the Energy Star rating. Then I re-purpose things that might otherwise get thrown out. We can all do a little at a time to help out. We have to live here...let's help keep it nice.
Start small and take baby steps, but keep after it. In a short time you will find it easier and easier to be "Green". I take my cans and plastic to the local hardware store and they take the profits to pay for our little local paper. That way I am helping our community, too. When it comes to my newspaper, I shred it up and feed it to my worms, use it for covering in my garden, or take it to the local vet, who uses it to line the cages at her office.
Then there are the light bulbs that are green that cost a little more in the beginning but save money in the end. Or, when you have to buy a new appliance, spend a little more to get the Energy Star rating. Then I re-purpose things that might otherwise get thrown out. We can all do a little at a time to help out. We have to live here...let's help keep it nice.