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shooting

Compost Heap - made from tomatoes, wood chips (leaf and branch), comfrey, horse manure, some existing compost material - more info at MyFolia journal

our composting toilet

Now with stuff, ie weeds from the allotment.

Another construction shot. One side completed.

Dave is adding grass cuttings to the compost

Products' line branding & identity creation

Good quality compost that I made in a recycled five gallon bucket in my 540 square ft. apartment. I'm a little amazed that it worked out so well!

I followed the directions in Vic Sussman's Easy Composting. It was pretty much scentless while underway (though it now has a nice, earthy smell) and didn't make much of a mess (unless I got careless scooping the fresh dirt in).

Next time, I think it would be helpful to add a bit more dry material in the mix, as this did end up being a bit on the damp side (but still very usable).

March 2013 update: After a number of years of doing this, I've moved on to a 2 bucket bokashi composting set up. It sits under the sink, produces usable compost much more quickly, and doesn't require bringing soil home from the garden.

50D

Here is a look at the foam on top of a 24 hour compost tea brew.

See: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/24/five-ways-re...

I'm flattered and they do acknowledge this source; but not sure this is quite in the spirit of my Creative Commons licence " You may not use the material for commercial purposes."

June

20190303_9445_G12-6 Sieving Compost #1

I spent several hours over the weekend sieving compost from my oldest aged compost bin and spreading it out over the recently cleared sections of the vegetable garden, in preparation for sowing some winter greens and/or leaving fallow over winter.

If I need a finer mix I have two smaller sieves, one a small one for potting mix.

#10524

Great way to reduce waste and increase soil fertility

The working part of the garden. As we have sandy soil we need to build up the organic matter.

I do this in a variety of ways...

Compost heaps made using hay bales as walls of the compost heaps. I then use the rotted bales as mulch.

Worm farms (have 2 farms with 3 layers each)

Guinea pigs & ducks add fertiliser to the system

I use black bins to rot down nasty spreading weeds... once safe these are added to the compost heaps

Culture after 5 days. Its the most aggressive bacteria by the looks of it, but aesthetically its not so interesting at the moment...

Home Composting Exhibit

Angles

Top light, focus on small area with flower

We started composting and have two bins going, one for kitchen scraps and one for leaf mold. In our tropical climate, the compost is decomposing fast, and after three weeks, a rich black soil has developed in our big blue bin.

Quelle heureuse surprise en brassant mon compost ce matin: Il est déjà tout chaud et fumant! Après un hiver d'accumulation de déchets de cuisine, il commençait à déborder vu que le printemps a tardé un peu. Mais sa dormance est terminée et il est déjà pleinement réactivé. Menoum menoum!

Compost bins lined with a rat proof mesh bottom.

Using compost bags for blocking dog exits from the garden.... Once all the work is done on our house....

iPhone camera app shot post processed in Snapseed,

A view of the moist bedding (shredded newspaper, shredded paper from the office, cardboard, egg cartons...)

After feeding, cover the food over with bedding again. A good idea is to rotate the feeding in quadrants, first one all the way to the last, so as not to overload one area. That way you can also check later to see if they've gotten to it and through it or if that was too much food--for now.

These rat-proof compost bins are designed to maximize (1) composting efficiency (2) scalability, and (3) deployability, while still being extremely long lasting. Modular design principles allow for construction of a single 4’x4’x4’ “bin” for use by a homeowner or small urban farm with the option of adding additional bins to create the 3-bin system (pictured) for use in community gardens, school gardens, or larger urban farms. See: www.urbanfarmplans.com/portfolio/compost-knox/

Purchased six gas struts from: www.gasspringsshop.com/. Their gas spring calculator recommends two 8-19-220 gas struts per lid.

Originally a Swedish development, the compost toilet features a seat with sealing o-rings to avoid odour. No flushing as there is no water involved, instead you shovel some composting enhancing mix (in the basket) into the toilet after use.

At Hankham Organics

Flowers, food, ash added to our compost pile in Strawberry. We were inspired by our trip to Canada in 2004 to start home composting. It takes longer down here to get the black gold they get in Ucluelet.

Compost making exercise

Permaculture Design Certificate

With Nick Ritar + special guests

Alexandria, Sydney Australia

May-August 2010

www.MilkwoodPermaculture.com.au

Shows the center divider which creates 2 compartments. I cut aluminum into strips, bent it, then pop riveted it to hold the plastic together. Thats' a lifetime-size box of rivets.

Incomplete bin in place

Compost making exercise

Permaculture Design Certificate

With Nick Ritar + special guests

Alexandria, Sydney Australia

May-August 2010

www.MilkwoodPermaculture.com.au

At Wowo campsite, which has got to be one of the loveliest campsites anywhere.

For more info and bookings see www.wowo.co.uk

I found this compost toupee incredibly funny when I saw it on the bench this morning (from cutting my partner's hair last night)

compost pot, helps break down waste faster.

Tenuous Link: Rottweiler/ Rotten food to make a garden "weller"

This came up volunteer in the compost pile at the back of the garden on the edge of the field I walk in.

Drying Gourds

There are a number of different methods to dry gourds and the particular method anyone uses will be up to them. If you want to pick your gourds early and place them on pallets, then fine, they will dry. However; there is more chance of your gourds rotting when you do this. If the gourds are picked before maturing, then they are much more susceptible to rot. If you want to leave your gourds right in the field attached to the vines, then fine, they will dry, And no, you don't have to go out and put anything under them to protect them from the damp ground. Gourds have been drying by themselves for eons and have been doing just fine. In fact, I believe gourds will cure faster if left right on the vine until dry.

However, here are a few points to remember.

Gourds need air to properly dry. Lots of air. So if you pick your gourds early, DON'T put them some place where they will not get good air flow, like in a cellar or a small room.

Gourds will dry out in the weather just fine. No, it won't hurt them to get wet from rain, nor will it hurt them to freeze. Yes, a hard freeze will kill the vines and leaves, but mature gourds will do just fine. Commercial growers don't pick their gourds from the fields until they are fully dry. Gourds are dry when they are very light in weight and the seeds rattle when they are shaken. Gourds that are left on the vine to dry, harden off much better and seem to be of much higher quality than gourds that have been picked while still green.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANYONE TELLS YOU, DO NOT SCRAPE OR CUT INTO A GREEN GOURD IN ANY WAY TO FACILITATE DRYING.

We're trying to cut down on plastic.

...From the back you can see more, however its quite an even spread of bacteria + not much variation in types.

I made Pam a compost bin for her allotment.

The design was driven by the materials available: a pallet, portions of the neighbours demolished garage, and tongue-and-grove pine panelling.