Compost Is Referred To As "Black Gold"

Composting makes "cents" and plants will tell you by the way they grow with ample amounts of organic matter, how happy they are because they will have nice green leaves, good healthy growth and plenty of flowers.

All of us who enjoy gardening like to see our plants thrive without having to babysit them too much. One way that this can happen is by providing the best soil conditions for our plants by regularly adding compost to our heavy clay garden soils. The improvement to the growing environment is very rewarding. You can either purchase organic matter in the form of peat moss, manure or pine bark fines from your local independent garden center or create it from items right around your home. All of the trimmings from your plants, grass clippings, newspaper and kitchen waste can be used to produce this "black gold". Just follow a few basic guidelines and you will be on your way to FREE compost made right at home. It can take less than 4 months to make a "batch", two or three batches a year is a reasonable expectation.

Here are the basics: There are 2 basic forms of organic matter(OM)- brown and green. Brown types of OM are the fall leaves, strips of newspaper, egg shells, straw, twigs and small branches. Green OM would be grass clippings, kitchen scraps like peelings and fruit rinds, weeds before they set seed. Avoid using any bones, meat waste, cooking oils as they will create unwanted odors and attract rodents and other pesky animals. Use a layering system starting with a few inches of chopped brush on the ground, then an 8" layer of brown and green OM with the third layer consisting of about an inch of garden soil to provide the microbes that will go to work and convert the pile to compost. Be sure moisture is added as you go. Sprinkle a small handful of urea fertilizer to feed the microbes. Repeat this layering technique making the pile 3' X 3' and 3' high. Heat will begin to develop in a week or so when you build your compost pile in this manner. This self-generated heat is a result of the microbes in action and will determine how rapidly the OM is converted into compost for your garden. When you keep the compost pile moist, but not soggy, this will accelerate the process. Turning the pile once a month and put the edges of the pile to the center will also do a more thorough job of composting. If you Google 'composting at home' you will find many more sources of information with much more detail. Hopefully this limited amount of info is enough to get you interested in making your own compost which will benefit our environment by recycling your our yard waste instead of sending it to landfills. Just think how much you can improve your soils when you add ample amounts of your own yard waste in the form of organic matter back to you planting areas.

Here is a website that may give you some ideas: https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/5-easy-steps-fast-compost.

Tell us how you are making out with your own composting, send your story or questions to info@meadowview.com .


30 years of Growing
Meadow View Growers
New Carlisle, OH
www.meadowview.com

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Landscaping/Gardening Information:

Related Articles

How to Decorate your Outdoor Space without Breaking the Bank
Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying, "Economy in the estimation of common minds means the absence of all taste and comfort." But finding thrifty ways to decorate your outdoor living space doesn't mean you have to sacrifice either of those things.
Teak Patio Table - Why You Need One
Do you love to cook outdoors but end up having to dine on makeshift outdoor furniture or maybe even inside because you simply do not have the furniture to properly entertain in your yard, deck or patio? Would you love to find the perfect patio table or set to transform your empty space to an elegant outdoor dining room? If so, maybe you should think about enhancing your outdoor space with a teak patio table.Teak patio tables are crafted using the finest Javanese teak and come in a wide range of styles that can be easily matched with your personality, décor and budget.
About Hummingbirds and How to Attract Them to Your Garden
Visualize watching a bright green hummingbird in your garden moving from flower to flower in search of the tasty nectar within. These beautiful and tiny birds weigh about 2 to 20 grams and are found in a wide variety of environments from the high Andes to lowlands, and from dry desert areas to rainforests.
Plant Hardiness Zones
When selecting plants for the landscape, is important to select plants that will grow in your climate. The United States has 10 of growing or climate zones.
Guide to Basic Lawn Mower Maintenance
Trying to start your lawn mower after a long winter can be very frustrating. Performing a few routine maintenance tasks before you store your lawn mower for the winter can save you time in the spring, prolong the life of your lawn mower, and save you money over the long run.
The Basics of Growing Roses
So you want to grow roses? They are a beautiful choice for your garden and not nearly as difficult to grow as you might think.Choose a rose that is easy to grow.
Gardeners: Contain Yourselves!
Whether you live in a tiny city apartment or on a large country estate, gardening in containers is a way to add colour and the beauty of nature to your surroundings. The three main elements of creating successful containers gardens are:Choosing the potsGetting the right planting mediumSelecting the plantsIn all of these elements, the key is to create a healthy growing environment for the plant roots.
Park Benches
One of the best ways to create a warm and inviting outdoor space is to incorporate the use of park benches into your outdoor decor. Whether they are simple or grand, park benches send a subtle message to your neighbors and guests that you want your outdoor space to be appreciated and enjoyed by all.
Flowers That Beautify Your Home and Garden
To help gardeners choose flowers, various systems for rating hardiness have been developed. A plant is considered hardy in a region if it can grow and thrive there without requiring special protective measures such as insulating with straw mulch.
Plastic & Resin Patio Furniture - What You Don't Know
What is the first thought that comes through your mind when you hear "resin patio furniture" or "plastic patio furniture"? Is the word cheap or flimsy? You are not alone. But what you may not know is it is the latest trend and spreading fast.
Suet Facts and Tips
If you are like many people, backyard birding is a hobby for you whether you actively encourage visits from birds or not. One way to attract birds is to put out suet -- beef fat -- and watch the crowds stop by and devour the treat.
Porch Swing Places: Where to Put a Porch Swing
So you've purchased a Porch Swing (or are about to) and you plan to hang it on the Porch? Not so fast!Where you install your Porch Swing is as much a function of the need you are trying to satisfy as tradition and practicality. If nostalgia is your motivator, then the porch may well be the best place for your Patio Swing.
Introducting KOI-Cam!
This is a project I've had on the back burner for many monthsnow, but now it's finally ready!We rigged up a wireless camera and aimed it at the KOI pond here,directly where my KOI get their daily feedings. To check it outright now, visit www.
Laying Out Your New Landscape
When planning your new landscape, the first place to start is by driving around your neighborhood and seeing what other people have done with their landscapes. Bring a sketch pad or digital camera to record things you like.
Add Value to Your Home - Landscaping
Just recently my friend had his house appraised between $800,000 and $815,000 by two different independent house valuators. He spent two days hard work in the garden placing new grass on mats, bringing in new plants, putting creepers on the wall, and adding a water feature.
Feed the Birds
Elaborate and decorative or simple and functional, birdhouses and birdfeeders are lovingly coveted by many people (and birds)!The collector seeking a new piece for the den or study need only consider personal taste and aesthetics- many who enjoy the careful art and craftsmanship of a beautiful birdhouse or feeder would never think of placing their precious gift outside in the rain and other elements.The serious or novice birder, on the other hand, has just a bit more to consider.
Storm Damage and Mature Tree Pruning
One winter evening I was working on the computer when the power went out. The freezing rain that had been forecast must have been the culprit.
You Say Tomato I Say Mosquito
Gathering tomatoes or other fruits of the garden might not sound like a dangerous occupation, but with terrorism running rampant these days, even a walk thru the garden can require pre-emptive measures. In fact if you left the screen door open for a minute or so and heard a whiny frequency accompanied by a slight tickle it may already be too late, if that slight tickle was the allergic reaction of your skin cells to the Culex, Aedes or Anopheles mosquito, one of the several species that prefer humans, and are capable of transmitting microbial organisms to living cells.
Make The Most From Your Vegetable Garden
All your hard work has paid off, and now you are presented with a dilemma, too many vegetables! After sharing your wealth with friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and anyone that happens to come to visit, there are alternative options of what you can do with your extensive supply of tomatoes, zucchini and other bountiful crops that will bring great joy to the community around you.There are many different ways to approach this, the easiest would be to look up in your local phone book for organizations that you could donate your vegetables to.
Buying Teak Wood Furniture Responsibly
Teak has many qualities that make the indoor and outdoor furniture made out of this a coveted high value asset. They last for generations.