I put some compost on the rhubarb this morning. Also sprinkled some on the lawn. Last week I put in the rest of the garden: I spread about 2 inches of composted material on the garden and put my plants or seeds in that. I used to mix it in with the existing soil, but that's a lot more work, and frankly, I don't see any difference with the way I do it now. Usually I only need to apply one top dressing of organic fertilizer mid-season and the compost takes care of the rest of the nutrients the plants need.
Black gold - compost. It's one of the good things about having your own yard. Now there are those who would tell you that making compost is a precise process: just the right mixture of materials. Yes, and no. For optimum speed and pest-killing ability, you can follow the recipes. As for me, I figure the process of turning organic matter to soil (humus actually) has been going on since before humans figured out how to grow their own food. Just throw it in a pile. That's it. A year or two later, you have dirt … excuse me, soil1 Well almost. You do have to be a little careful to maintain the necessary diversity. Organic material is broken down into humus by microscopic organisms, which need air, water and nutrients. Too much of any one thing and the system doesn't work so good. For example: if you have too much soft, green material, like grass, there is plenty of water, but not enough air. So you get a sticky, smell mass of goo. (technical aside: you get anaerobic bacteria, which produce smelly stuff. You want aerobic bacteria - that is air-loving- which don't produce smells) By the way, is there anyone who is still collecting their grass clippings and putting them i a pile? Please, get with mulching. It is better for you lawn and solves the problem of what to do with your grass clippings. Anyway, back top the compost pile. Too much brown crunchy stuff, and there is not enough water (so water you pile if this is all you have).
So, I throw it in a pile. When the pile gets too big - usually about 4 x 4 x 3 feet, I start a new pile. Each year I burrow down into the old pile and get about 3-4 wheelbarrows full of compost. The rest goes into the newer pile, and I start again.
Try it - it's not rocket science. Have fun. grow stuff. Bye for now.
1 - My soils professor in college once circled in red pencil the word "dirt" on an exam. You see, it's "soil"
