One of my blog followers left this comment on my last post:
"I encourage you to see if some of the tree droppings can be kept on some of the beds and perhaps some of the lawn".
This post is in response to that comment an to explain how we recycle in our garden.
Tom was conveniently doing just that this morning so I got him in action. He has been clipping off perennials around the garden.
The clippings that are not woody get dumped into one of the compost bins in the back corner of the garden.This bin has been sitting for a year. Tom is indicating the level it was when freshly filled. The rough, moldy plant material will be dug into the raised beds in late winter, early spring. The raised beds that are not being used as plant holding areas will be raked out and covered with permeable ground cloth to prevent weed growth and keep the soil from compacting by winter rain. More finished compost, pure decomposed plant material, is strained and stored to be used as part of Tom's homemade potting soil mix or used to dress some beds. After our wind storms this week the lawn is again littered with fir cones and cedar debris. This will be "vacuum" mowed up again and all of this goes into the compost bin. The small stuff helps to decompose the bigger clippings.We don't rake the beds, but we do clean up the lawn so the grass isn't smothered. We have stopped fighting the moss and it is taking over some parts of the lawn. The leaves that fall in the beds are left. The leaves raked or mowed off the lawn will be used to mulch this bed.The cedar debris that was cleaned off the patio went onto this path, along with what the tree already deposited there. We have two yard waste bins that are picked up and go to a commercial composter. They hold food waste and woody plant material, since we no longer had a chipper. In the front yard, where the Full Moon Maple is still shining, it's leaves will be left where they fall except for the sidewalk. Those leaves will be just blown into the beds as mulch. And there you have it, the reason Tom will be working in the garden well into November. I used to help with all of it, but I am pretty much grounded now. I just walk around at take pictures. :-)
Great job! We also recycle everything. When we were out of power for 5 1/2 days between my neighbor and us, I added 4 five gallon buckets of household food and scraps to what I call my Afganistan compost program. (My neighbor was stationed there and said the compost tea in the 30 gallon trash can smells like Afganistan.)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful system for a wonderful garden. Hurray!
ReplyDeleteI covet your compost bins.
ReplyDeleteNothing gets wasted in your yard and gardens. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteLove how nothing is thrown out and gets reused. His homemade potting soil is just beautiful
ReplyDeletethere are many good things that can be done in a yard. Looking at natural areas can tell us good things to do.
ReplyDeleteYour Full Moon Maple is so beautiful! Your plan for composting and using the compost sounds very well thought out. Both you and Tom are very organized and efficient in keeping on top of all the many things that need seeing to.
ReplyDeleteAll that compost and mulch is quite impressive. Kudos to Tom.
ReplyDeleteNice job recycling your woody and green plant waste! We used to compost all the green plants around here and it made for great soil amendment! All of our Oak leaves if used will kill everything in the lawn if we leave them, mulching works the best for us that way the grass gets nourishment but isn't smothered by the leaves. We used to pile them on the wildflower gardens but have found out it doesn't make much difference.
ReplyDeleteIt just makes my heart soar to see your beautiful area and the way it's taken care of. You Are essential to Tom's world, for so many reasons.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a gigantic, gorgeous garden! It's wonderful how you recycle and reuse your garden waste.
ReplyDelete