What To Do Wednesday - Compost Compost Compost

With the summer heat lingering on and on and on (yep, about 2 more weeks so suck it up), planting isn't the best thing to be doing in the garden right now.  So what, then?

(sifted compost - from chunky to fine)

Compost!  If you haven't started composting already, summer time is the best to try it.  Composting is an organic chemical process where nitrogen and carbon react and generate heat. This is bazillions of tiny micro-organisms at work.

(compost pile - lawn clippings, kitchen scraps, shredded papers)

Composting is a great way to go green and manage waste around the house.  Lawn clippings, shrub trimmings, and tree leaves are the basis of a great compost pile.  But did you know there are loads of other things you put into your compost instead of into the garbage can?  Kitchen scraps, paper towels, shredded documents, dryer lint, pet hair, old flower bouquets, even old cotton clothing.
(click here to see the super-duper list of things you can compost)

 (compost storage - ready to use)

When my compost is 'good enough', I store it in old nursery cans.  This way I always have it at the ready to go into the garden.

(compost used in edible garden beds)

Whether I need to add more mulch around plants or amend planting beds, compost is the perfect blend of soil nutrients without having to measure or worry about over-fertilizing.  With my finely sifted compost, I can even use it as a potting soil.  

(fine compost used as potting soil for starting new tomato seedlings)

So do something nice for your garden, your plants, and your earth, and compost.