Closing up bay 1 on our compost set up and adding some nourishing goodness to the pile before winter- nitrogen rich stinging nettles that activate/accelerate the decomposition process, some fresh chicken manure from a friend’s farm (full of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus) and other nourishing goodness. Chicken manure increases the soil’s water holding capacity, provides a food source for soil microbes increasing soil biodiversity and slowly releases micro and macro nutrients. If a compost pile is correctly balanced and at least four feet high, it can produce enough heat even during the cold winter months to decompose. This will sit undisturbed for about 6-12 months and then the rich nourishing fresh soil should be ready to be added to our garden soil while we start working on Bay 2.

#gardenprep #compost #growyourownfood #kitchengarden #organicfood #decomposition #stingingnettle #urticadioica #chickenmanure #gardening #dowhatmakesyouhappy #veggiegarden

[ Recipe on: anemone's corner ]

After a heavy snow, we were not able to get to our home-made compost box in the backyard for awhile. This is what we saw when we looked inside. We found it quite beautiful.

A two-story solar-powered composting toilet. And there's a line to use it.

Later, she found out that the biodegradable containers were not as biodegradable as she had hoped so she had to clean it up conventionally.

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This shows how healthy our bin is: lots of eggs! :)

DwellSmart generously donated the compost container and Biobag you see here...it's been great to have a dedicated space for our food scraps. It holds quite a bit of food too! Love it.

Blogged here: www.livelightlytour.com/2008/06/23/dwellsmart-to-the-rescue/

A few rinds but mainly just peels and seeds. Most of the rinds are soaking for watermelon rind preserves. The watermelon, of course, was devoured with gusto! What's left will go in the compost.

it's about 4' x 4' x 3', made with salvaged lumber, nails, and chicken wire. This was my first project of the summer, and it has been very useful. We compost about 50% of the waste in our house now, which is a very good thing

Master Composters Liz and Christine pose next to their newly constructed composting masterpiece.

San Miguel, Toledo, Belize. March 2011.

Posted via email from Jessica Mullen's Health Lifestream

New Composte bin

Out of sight, along the rail road tracks, compost bins made from used wooden pallets.

I am currently in residence at the Andes Sprouts Society artist's program in Stamford, New York. the goal of my residency is to combine science, art, and sustainable farming. I am working with compost worms to learn the movement, interactions, and ecology of this amazing animals. As an artist in residence I am creating paintings in collaboration with the worms. This detail, from a picture that is 11x14 inches, is an example of the work. I hope you enjoy it.

Catherine getting butch with the compost.

5-24 Compost: using the woody bits on the bottom of the bins to speed their deompostion and increase airflow throught the base of the pile(s). The grassy bits to th right will go on top.

We brew our first batch of Compost Tea for the park

Compostable plant label sticker for the Orange County Great Park

We learned about the composting process with Jacob.

filling the raised beds with home grown compost

bucket, tank holds composting material

Get Up!, Fall 2011

Leslie flips the compost with the Kubota

we took pictures so that we could get our free T-shirts from the compost bin company

We used to have a compost pile in this spot. Lots of things are growing!

Made in collaboration with composting worms during my residency at the Andes Sprouts Society artist-in-residence in Stamford, New York. Combining art, science, and sustainable agriculture in a project that crosses boundaries and makes interdisciplinary connections.

Please join me in my blog “Scientist/Artist: Experimenting, Reflecting, Creating.”

scientistartist.blogspot.com/