Composting - It's so Down To Earth

Composting in progress.  Not done yet!

I have to admit that until I attended Earth Day last year, composting really wasn't on the top of my to do list. After visiting the St. Louis Composting Booth, I was intrigued with the idea.  I'm a staunch believer in reusing or recycling and this booth introduced the idea of taking my beliefs a bit further.

I attended a composting clinic, bought a compost bin and jumped right in.  I soon discovered that composting takes time and this wasn't going to be a project that I would see results for several months.  A few weeks in, I wondered why I was actually composting.  It seemed that my efforts would probably not yield me a lot of rich soil.  Sure, I would have some but not anything significant like I envisioned.

Instead of walking away from my project, I kept evaluating what I was doing and if it could be improved.  The answer of course was yes.  Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am always looking for ways to live simply, enjoy what I have and save money.  My way of improving my compost was to cancel yard waste pickup for 3 months.  (Confession - I put it off a month so I could clear out a ton of weeds and yard waste while I was preparing my first ever serious attempt at gardening.)  It helped me get my garden beds prepared with a little more urgency and gave me some extra time to absorb the decision to go cold turkey on the yard waste.

After borrowing compost books and reading up on the subject I began to get hooked and see the definite benefits of my new lifestyle.  No more throwing food into the garbage disposal so the wear and tear on the disposal would disappear.  No longer would I receive a yard waste bill.  After five months, the price of my compost bin would be paid for.  Food waste from slicing and dicing or cleaning out my refrigerators fruit and veggie drawers would now be looked at from a whole new angle.  You see......these items are what make compost soil "gold" and full of nutrients for any future garden.  Soon I realized I would be able to supply a good portion of my future garden soil by simply composting my grass, leaves, food and newspapers.  Need I say more?  Being focused helped me understand and "buy into composting one hundred percent.

Tomato vines after the mulching mower did its job.

I am now 8 months into my new hobby and realize that I am producing quite a bit of compost and will be buying very little garden soil for the upcoming spring and summer.  This whole process is very spiritual and rewarding.  When I pulled up my tomato plants, I mowed them and put them back into the compost! I did the same thing when I was cleaning up any garden bed that was healthy.

My compost bin from the store has a lid but composting can be easily accomplished without any pricey bins. I use a pitch fork to turn my compost which takes a bit more effort than the tumbler barrel composter but it works just the same.  I look at it as an upper body workout when turning the compost.  Generally having the compost pile not too far away from your back door promotes the best success rate for sticking with composting for newbies.  Mine is in the back corner of our yard and although it works for me it is understandable that some would ditch adding table scraps to the bin when it isn't close by or in the case of cold or rainy weather.

I look at everything so differently now and with amazement as the composting process takes place.  The true test to my efforts will be my garden results in 2013 I'm pretty confident that my efforts will pay off.  In fact, I'm already psyched about incorporating additional nutrient rich soil to my front yard in 2014!

Here is a list of all the items my compost contains to date.  I'm sure the list will grow even larger in the future.  Keep in mind a lot of this list represents the excess produced when slicing and dicing fruits and vegetables for a meal. List of Compostable Items Used

How a Plumber made me realize Just How Lucky I Am

Ever ask for a plumber when in need?  Well I recently did and believe me, plumbers come with a lower reputation than lawyers.  Every response included how expensive they were.  I had several people tell me they knew plumbers but they didn’t like them.  I narrowed down my search to two possibilities.  The first one I called had just received stitches in his hand the day before so he was out.  Onto plumber number two which came highly recommended, was very detailed, loved to talk, pricey but good.  Never having to hire a plumber, I had no idea what I was getting into but took the leap. At least I knew the situation going into this one.

We had a cracked pipe behind our dishwasher and had no kitchen sink for over a week so I was anxious to get this taken care of.  It’s crazy how a lack of a kitchen sink can change your life but it does.  You cook differently, you eat off of paper plates and you hope not to accumulate too many dishes that need to be washed via tubs in the bathtub where the hot water is plentiful.

 

The plumber arrived and like promised he was detailed and personable.  While he was there I had him work on a toilet I have not been able to get right for over 6 months but had been working properly for a few years prior.  I grew up in a home where my father fixed or thought he knew how to fix anything.  Some of those genes passed on to me.  I have done my share of home repairs over the years having some of that “I can fix anything” blood in me.  As promised, the plumber made some kind of remark about my prior plumbing fixes, talked my ear off, was very likeable and very expensive.  I bit my cheek, wrote out the check and thanked him for helping me.  Later on that night, I realized just how grateful I was to have a kitchen sink that was fully functioning without dumping water into the walls and out our foundation.  In addition, I had a toilet that flushed the first time instead of deciding if it was going to work properly or not.  It was the kind of toilet that a family could live with but we would cringe at the thought of company having issues when they visited.  Those worries are now over.
 

Pricey yes.  Did it put a dent in our pocketbook?  Yes, but after thinking about it a long time, I realized how resourceful I can be and all the money I have been able to save over the 21 years of home ownership.  In a way, that was what made the bill a bit harder to swallow.  Looking back, I realized that I am worth my weight in gold for all the times I chose to figure out how to fix something instead of calling an electrician, a plumber or a carpenter.

This job was one that needed to be done and done right.  After all, the pipe is inside the wall and it’s not pleasant to have to open up and close walls to fix things.  In a few days, the wall will be dried completely, I will have weather proofed the wall and replenished the wet collapsed insulation.  The wall will be restored and the dishwasher back (with the help of a family member). 

I choose to look at this experience as one that gives me an appreciation for people who know their expertise and fix things right for years and years to come.  I have total confidence that I will not have a cracked pipe again anytime soon.  I realize I am price sensitive to the plumber charges because I am out of touch with having to use someone outside of myself and a few close relatives to get various home repairs done.  What I do know is that I am very proud to say that even though it may take me a bit longer than an expert to get something fixed, I am more appreciative of my upbringing and the skills I learned as a child growing up and not having to be so quick to be dependent on others.  So instead of looking back on this time when my check balance is less than I would like, I will look at it as a reminder of how valuable I am to our family and the pride that comes along with it.

  

Can Type A people really Grow a Garden?

Now that I am into my gardening project, I can see perhaps why I have never been successful in the past.  I want results and I want them now!  I planted in March only to discover that my plants are so tiny and not exactly the size I thought they would be by the middle of May.   I let my doubts get the best of me and I bought a tomato plant, some broccoli, a cucumber and a cantaloupe plant for insurance in the event my garden fails. 

I’ve built my raised bed, made several trips to the composting place to obtain some great garden soil and put up a critter screen that has worked thus far.  I have planted my tiny plants along with the store bought ones and have been more than frustrated to find out that I most likely do not have enough room for them all.  It takes a lot of room to garden.   I still need to plant the cucumbers and cantaloupe in the ground with some more of my broccoli.  I think my radishes perished somewhere along the line. 

Who wouldn't be motivated with a crop like this?

My lettuce that I planted in a barrel is stellar.  In fact, I am more than proud that I accomplished such a task.  I will however tell you that I am learning so much from my experience.  In an effort not to eat all of it in 4 days, I held off harvesting it.  Now I am finding that the large size leaves are getting bitter.  I am waiting to see if any of the cut lettuce grows back.  I am also planting some new lettuce in various spots (space is limited).  Upon reading up on lettuce, I discovered that if you eat a lot of lettuce you should plant 3 sq. ft. of lettuce for every person in your house.  Wow, do I have a lot to learn!  I have decided to build another bed this summer to devote to lettuce, spinach, chard and kale that I will hopefully plant in the fall.  Stay tuned for another post next year!  I think I’ll plant in rows and alternate planting dates.  I think that is the only way to go.  As with anything, I will have to learn by doing.

The plants you see are store bought. 

If you look extra hard you may be able to see my home grown tomato plants.   I wonder how long it will take for them to look a respectable size.  

Too many leek seeds planted.  

Thinning out leek plants doesn't give me the feeling that they will survive.

 When thinking about the slow growth in my garden, my gut reaction is that I just need Miracle Grow and a strict feeding schedule.  After reflecting on it and being told that my soil is top notch and doesn’t need any additives, I was forced to evaluate what is actually holding my garden back.  The answer…….ME!  Being a little over zealous and planting several seeds in one pod was insurance that something would eventually grow.  Well it did but when I transferred the germinated seeds to the box garden, I failed to thin out the seedlings and transfer them to the new soil.  I just put the pods with 4 – 8 sprouts into the ground and started watering them.  This week, I began to soak the ground, dig up the seedlings, separate them and replant them in my nutrient rich garden soil.  It’s only May and with time and attention, these plants will surely grow.  I may have too many tomato plants but I do have a plan to transfer some to another bed as they get bigger.  Being Type A, I of course have overplanted but I at least have a plan! I’m sure I’ll be donating these plants to a worthy home within the next month.  For now, I think they are ok.  I’ll just keep the more stellar plants. 

On left is the broccoli from seed.  On the right, from the store.

My neighbor has just finished planting his garden for the summer.  All his plants are super hardy, several months old and his has the look of a serious gardener.  In reality, his garden is so much more in line with my expectations of my own garden at this time.  Mine looks more like a mud box. My Type A personality is trying to squash my efforts but I have vowed to put on my blinders and enjoy the process that I started. Common sense tells me I will get results if I am patient.  What I have discovered is that I really do like working outdoors planning, planting and creating. I love envisioning the end result and I am willing to take the time this year discover and embrace the process no matter what the outcome.  I plan to grow my knowledge of gardening instead of just trying to get fast results.  If all goes well, I will be the envy of all vegetable gardeners in a few years.  For now, I need to keep it small and doable.  The thrill of the bumper lettuce crop is all I need to reflect on when in need of validation that I can truly succeed if I put my mind to it.  I believe that a Type A person can be successful in gardening and learn so much about life at the same time.  The frustration I have experienced from wanting everything right and picture perfect has really been a blessing in disguise.  My garden, although very young is humbling and teaching me to cultivate, grow and harvest in ways beyond words.  

Variety is the Spice of Life

My project this week is to look at my spice cabinet.  What a mess!  Purest say that you should clean out your spice cabinet just like you would a refrigerator.  Check, evaluate, and out with the old.  Spices are said to lose their flavor over time.  I'll be honest.  Some of my spices I have had longer than I would like to admit and I do use them, however, having old spices really is a symptom of a lack of awareness. I don't know about yours but my spice cabinet shouts chaos to the point that something must be done.  I spend more time trying to locate a spice than I would like.   

This spice cabinet just screams for help and recognition.  I vow to do my best to remedy the situation.

Is variety really the spice of my life?  What exactly are my spices saying to me?  Am I missing out in the taste bud lottery?  I decided to line up my spices and take inventory.  How long have I've had it?  Do I use the spice often?  For what?  Was it for a recipe I needed 1/4 tsp and then never used it again?  Why?  Was it a gift?  Did I buy it during an inspirational trip to the spice shop?  If the label is faded, I probably should throw it away.

What on Earth......

As many of you know we recently celebrated Earth Day.  I have no idea why this special day always sneaks up on me but it does.  What's so strange about it is that it's one of my favorite days and yet I would be hard pressed to tell you it is in April.


My mind wants to blend it with Arbor Day but these two days are actually separate.  Arbor Day, as you may recall is all about planting.  In grade school we always received a tree to plant.  Earth Day, however, encompasses so much more.


The greatest thing about Earth Day is it brings out the best in people.  It's a day to recognize how each human being has an imprint and a huge impact on the Earth. (positive or negative)  My city hosted the most comprehensive recycling program and festival for Earth Day that I have ever seen.  In a matter of 24 hours I was able to fill up our car with an amazing amount of recyclables.  In one respect, I was amazed that I could come up with a car load in such a small amount of time.  Our family already recycles weekly on trash pickup days.


The vendors at this event were so much more encompassing than the weekly recycling bin will allow.  I managed to part with all of the following at one location:

Menu Planning and Goals Made Simple

Over the years I have tried various ways to menu plan.  I have scheduled a month, two weeks or a week at a time.  Finally, I came up with a system that is quick and doable.  In addition, I have included main goals on my menu plan to keep them up front and center in my mind. 

Sundays are the days I fill this plan out.  I look at our families activities for the week and enter them on my menu.  This gives me a birds eye view of how much time I’ll have to cook, for who, and if we will have time to dine together.  I love this system.  The menu is posted each week on the fridge and everyone has a clear understanding of what food is available if we have conflicting schedules. 

I work off a list daily, however, adding important goals for the week on my menu plan encourages me not to forget to do items I may put off until last or perhaps not find time for at all.  In my case, exercise goals.  My husband like the idea so much he asked to have his goals added to the weekly plan as well.  (Priceless)

How I move food out of my Freezer with Ease

Recently, I ran into a neighbor who mentioned he must have thrown out $100 worth of meat away that was tucked into his freezer.  Believe it or not, some of it was from 2009!  I’m certain there is a large part of the population that can relate to losing items in the depths of their freezer never to be seen again. 

When we have the storage, it is a natural human tendency to fill it up.  We chase after bargains, stock our freezer for a rainy day and continue this cycle over and over.  Life gets busy and we become out of touch with what we have while we continue chasing the current bargains of the day.  I have found three ways of preventing this from happening.

1.  I inventory my freezers about four times a year.  Yes, I have two of them, although, both are very small.  I make a list of items on hand and menu plan.  I also know what meats I need to refrain from buying unless they are giving it away. 

2.  Most importantly, when I buy meat in bulk, I always put it in the freezer with a purpose.  I cut meat prior to freezing it for stir fry, shish ka bobs, soup or whatever and I label it.  I put together meat loafs and label ground beef for hamburgers, tacos or chili.  It seems daunting at first but it really helps me cycle the food out of the depths of the freezer and onto our table.  I find that I have less of a block of “what to make” when packages are labeled with ideas in mind.  This is especially helpful if I have spotted a new recipe that looks great but I don’t have time to make it.  I keep the recipe in a binder to be made at the appropriate time.  I do have a few packages of meat unlabeled other than the contents and weight.  I also pack various sizes of meat to accommodate when we are cooking for a smaller bunch.  

3.  About twice a year, I move meat out of the freezer by taking a day and smoking the meat on hand.  Long ago, a good friend gifted me with a meat smoker.  I am able to smoke 20 – 40 pounds of meat in a day. It makes a great gift, freezes well and is always a favorite meal.  Smoked meat at home is out of the ordinary for most.  We always feel like we are fine dining when we pull out a smoked chicken to eat a few months after we prepared it. 

The key to having a freezer and filling it is to have a plan.  Hopefully this will inspire you to never experience the unpleasant discovery of “freezer burn” and trashing once valuable meat gone bad.