By now your spring-summer garden should be well on it’s way to maturity. It’s time to think about your fall garden. The soil needs to be replenished before your fall planting. A great organic method of this is by making compost. There are several different methods of making compost, but if you live in the city a compost pile isn’t always desirable as it is unsightly.
So a different method is a compost pit. To build a compost pit find a corner of your nearby garden that you are not using and dig a pit. A good pit size is 3 feet deep by 3 feet square, or 3’x3’x3′. This will give you a cubic yard of compost. You can use grass clippings, leaves, vegetable trimmings, or coffee grounds. Do not use any meat, vegetable oils or animal excrement.
To fill your compost pit, you will want to use layers. Start by putting a 4″x4″ post in the middle of your pit about 4 foot long. You will want to leave this in until you fill your pit to the top. When your pit is full remove the post as this will allow air to reach into the pit to aid in the breaking down of organic material by aerobic and anaerobic microbes naturally present.
Stat with a 4 inch layer of organic material and then add a thin layer of soil about 1 to 2 inches, then more organic material and continue until your pit is full. Fill your pit with water and allow to empty, then remove your 4×4 post. Your organic matter will generate heat from the decomposing process and you will notice steam coming from your vent hole. This process will take about 45 days to decompose to where you can use it. Your compost will be ready in time for your fall garden. If you want more compost you can always make your hole bigger. Your compost should have a dark earthy smell when it is finally ready for use.
Making your own compost gives a satisfying relationship between you and your garden since you had a hand in making it grow and prosper. Here are some benefits of composting:
*It supplies part of the 16 essential elements needed by plants.
*It helps reduce the adverse effects of excessive alkalinity, acidity, or the excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
*It makes the soil easier to cultivate.
*It keeps the soil cool in summer and warm in winter.
*It aids in preventing soil erosion by keeping the soil covered and absorbing moisture.
*It takes less water for your garden by retaining moisture.
*It helps in controlling the growth of weeds in the garden.
*It allows the soil to retain more plant nutrients over a longer period of time.
So return to Mother Nuture the things that your plants are using and you will continue to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. Til next month, Farmer Darrell signing off!
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