#compost stew

[lorimstarling]

Just in Time for the Holidays: 22 Kids Books to Inspire Kindness

Looking for a gift this holiday season to inspire the children in your life to live kind?

Looking for some amazing reads to add to your child’s library that will inspire him or her to be kind to all sentient beings, but are great family reads as well? Look no further than this list! The following books will not only inspire kindness toward animals and the environment, but to other humans as well. There’s nothing better than an excellent story with a kind message! Don’t forget to click…

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[jaynemoraski]

TV-free kids Day 164: Sweet smell of recycling

Do you compost at home? I have to admit we are hit or miss.  But creating a compost pile with your kids is an easy and earth-friendly activity.

From Texas A&M, and by Robert “Skip” Richter, County Extension Director - Travis County Texas AgriLife Extension Service, here’s instructions on making composting a family affair. Nature recycles leaves and plants. In a forest, leaves fall forming mulch that protects the soil. Over time they decompose into nutrients that feed forest plants.

You can recycle leaves and other plant materials at home by setting up a compost bin.

1. First select a spot to set up your bin. It should be out of the way but convenient to reach with plenty of room to work around. Some good places would be near your garden or in a back corner of the yard. It is also a good idea to choose a location close to a source of water.

Use chicken wire or similar materials to contain the compost pile. Composting bins are often availalbe from county extension offices.

2. Now for the recipe for compost. The micro-organisms that recycle leaves and other plant parts need an even mix of brown stuff and green stuff to munch on. They also need air and water to live and work. Put all this together and in time you will have compost!

Air

Water

Brown stuff such as leaves

Green stuff such as plant materials from your food inside the house (banana or potato peels, even egg shells but no meat).

After a few weeks, you can use a rake or shovel to gently turn over the pile, it should help things decompose more quickly. We've also found that starting with a little dirt mixed in, or even adding worms after a few months will speed the process along nicely.

Jayne's book recommendations for this project: Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals and illustrated by Ashley Wolff (Tricycle Press 2010) is, "Well written in rhyming text, the descriptive phrases are as engaging as a list of, well, garbage might be: "Dirt clods, crumbled/Eggshells crushed/Fruit pulp left behind, all mushed/Grass clippings/Hair snippings/and an Insect or two/Just add to the pot/and let it all rot/into Compost Stew.""

Composting: Nature's Recycling by Robin Koontz and illustrated by Matthew Harrad (Picture Window Books 2002) delves a little more into the science behind composting, but is still for beginners age 5 and up. It talks about how you can re-use the end product in your yard as well.

[happilyevercreating]

Garden/compost update

I spent 6 hours gardening yesterday!!

It had been a couple weeks since I'd been out there, so I had some making up to do. Plus, the conditions were perfect!

It was Sunday, so Jerm was available to entertain and look after Marbs, she was totally agreeable, it was cool and cloudy out, a light drizzle even, and Jerm set me up with green smoothie power!

If there has ever been a moment where I've felt a significant difference in my energy and health...yesterday was it! 

I kept telling Jerm, "I hope this is a result of our diet truly kicking in!"

I felt on top of my game, so powerful and accomplished while gardening, and even after, although I was sore and completely spent, my mind was still focused and driven.

Anyway, to clarify, my 6 hours of "gardening" included...manually tilling a 15X20' section of yard (although 1/2 already had no grass), removing roots, rocks, and sticks, raking and leveling the dirt, placing stepping stones, planting 4 plants, and mulching. 

I also had a waste bucket stewing (waiting to compost), so I started to dig a hole to bury that, but decided to dig a a big ol' trench instead and buried my compost cake flop too!

I wanted to start fresh by collecting my ingredients first..and shredding/chopping well. I got a nice bucket with a lid for my kitchen waste (so far way less disgusting), but I still need a good spot for my composter. 

Once I can walk normal again :), I'll transplant my herbs to the new area. It's big enough, a nice shaded part too, so I moved Marley's sand and water table out there. May bring some chairs out too. I want to start utilizing our yard more...plus, that will clear some things off our patio.

And because the area is so big and it connects two sections, it feels much more expansive and grander when you walk out there.

..I love the view coming around the corner of the fence.

Ahhhh...just wait until there's a hammock :)

Pictures coming soon!

[happilyevercreating]

How in the..?

I did some newspaper shredding yesterday (my brown), then dumped it in and tumbled it up. And I was amazed at what I found!

Did I say my compost was alive with flies? Now it's alive with worms!

Woo-hoo!

It's gotta be cooking now!