Compost

Last year I trimmed my tree in back and put all the trimmings through a chipper. As someone had borrowed it in the past and accidentally run the catch bag through it, essentially destroying it. SO I let all the chips sit in the side of my yard with every intention of using it as mulch. Well the pile sat there, and a few weeks later when I had some more time, I came out to find the pile moldy. Not wanting to breathe in a bunch of spores I let it sit there.

Well I went out there today to try and do something with the pile again and found really nice soil under the top layer of chips. (!) Apparently such nice soil that the tree the wood chips came from started spreading small roots into it. Hm, Doesnt that seem a bit wrong and weirdly canibalistic….? ha.

Anyway, I cant say how pleased I am. I am getting ready to sprout my seeds that came recently and I took a few buckets of the dirt into my vegetable bed and spread it around. I’m hoping it will help my plants out as the soil around my house is really sandy and lacking nutrients.

I wont say this goal is done. I really still want to get a real composter going for kitchen scraps and the like. Regardless this was a really pleasant surprise. :D

I thought that I’d look around for free classes in LA until I had the money to purchase a composter. I was pleased to find that the city subsidises bins for its residents. I think I’m going to go buy one. They offer a free clinic once a month and if you purchase a bin they appareanly offer you a book. Very cool.

For anyone in LA who’s interested here is the link.
http://www.lacity.org/san/solid_resources/recycling/composting/index.htm

But I’ve been putting compostable stuff into my yard waste bin. At least my left over veggie parts arent going to a land fill.

i guess that is my first step.

I was looking at this

http://www2.yardiac.com/long.asp?tgs=1225634:26730164&cart_id=&item_id=1483&extraDetails=1

I want something that is self contained i have a dog that would looove to go eat rotting veggies. And I dont want to deal with any more stink or headaches then need be. Easier is better for me otherwise I never get motivated.

Any one here have any thoughts on this composter?

I try my best to separate all our trash as it is. Our city offers recycle bins and yard trimmings bins. It hard enough to get my husband to not throw recyclable things in the regular trash but at least it is something I can do.

I think it would be great to find a natural way to fertilize my garden/lawn etc. I wonder how much work it really is.