...that spring cannot be far off.

 

Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth?
                                                                                                              Edward Giobbi

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

In just a few days it will officially be spring.. As the days get longer and warmer and sunnier our seedlings will be growing and looking stronger, getting ready to be planted in the soil.

I was turning the soil in some of my garden lbeds ast weekend and added the compost that I started last spring. It was so black and rich and well - beautiful. So I want to say a few words about composting this week. Although this is not the most popular time of year to start a compost pile, you can really start one at any time. The only difference is in the materials available. Since dry leaves are an ideal base for a compost pile and we often have an over-abundance of them, fall is the favorite time to start composting. But shredded paper can be substituted for dry leaves and is just as effective. If you have access to a paper shredder (or even if you don't; kids make great paper shredders) it's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and nourish your garden at the same time. You can use untreated newspaper, paper towels, napkins, unsolicited “junk” mail, paper plates and all that used paper that piles up next to the printer. The smaller the pieces the faster it will decompose. Compost is one of the most important elements of this gardening process and we will re-visit the subject later in the year, but here are some basics.

Compost is a natural way of building soil, the same way that soil is made in the forest. Trees drop their leaves, plants grow and die and it all goes back into the soil.

It’s much better than commercial fertilizer. If you make it right it will have everything the plants need and It doesn’t cost a cent.

What Does it Do?
Compost improves the soil texture.
It lets more air into the soil.
It increases the soil’s water holding capacity.
It puts nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus into the soil, three ingredients that the plants need to grow well.

Hastening the Compost Process

Making the compost rapidly creates heat which will destroy plant diseases and weed seeds in the pile. Big leaves should be torn up so they will break down faster.

Egg shells are a wonderful addition, but decompose slowly, so they should be crushed. All additions to the compost pile will decompose more quickly if they are chopped up before adding.

Almost any organic material is suitable for a compost pile. What does organic mean? Natural. The pile needs a good mixture of carbon-rich materials, or "browns," and nitrogen-rich materials, or "greens." Among the brown materials are dried leaves, straw, shredded paper and wood chips. Nitrogen materials are fresh or green, such as grass clippings and kitchen scraps.

Brown = dry, high in carbon
 Green = moist, high in nitrogen

Mixing certain types of materials or changing the proportions can make a difference in the rate of decomposition. Achieving the best mix is more an art gained through experience than an exact science. The ideal ratio of brown to green is anywhere from 5:1 to 30:1, depending on which expert gardener you consult. At any rate, you should have a much greater volume of brown material than green.

To collect your kitchen waste keep a small compost pail with a lid on it in the cooking area. When you add kitchen scraps to the compost pile, cover it with several inches of brown material. Dead plants and flowers can go in the pile but avoid weeds that have gone to seed or have big roots. You can use wood ashes but not too much. You can use manure from ducks, sheep, pigs, goats, horses and cows (animals that eat only plant food) but you should let it sit a while before adding it to the pile as “fresh” manure can overheat the compost pile. Hay or straw is a good addition, especially if there are not a lot of leaves around.

Other good materials:
Newspaper, but not colored
Wood shavings from untreated wood
Coffee grounds and filters
tea bags
Hair
Feathers

What you should not use:
Manure from dogs or cats
Ashes from coal or charcoal 
Meat or fish including bones, grease, skins, etc.
Milk or milk products

 

Reflection: It's been a long and, in many ways, challenging winter. As this quote from the Essene Gospel of Peace suggests, now it is time to celebrate along with the earth.

As the earth bringeth forth her bud,

And as the garden causeth its seeds to spring forth,

So the Heavenly Father will cause the Holy Law

To spring forth with gladness and joy

Before all the Children of Light.

In the Garden of the Brotherhood,

All the earth shines with holiness and abundant joy,

For there are the seeds of the Holy Law sown.

The Law is the best of all good

For the Children of Light:

It giveth unto them brightness and glory,

Health and strength of the body,

Long life in communion with the Angels,

And eternal and unending joy.