Hot composting

Hot composting is recommended in large piles (1 – 1.5 meters), but I find it works in much smaller piles and I generally have 2 piles on the go at any one time.

It’s basically a layering effect of carbon, nitrogen, carbon, nitrogen.  Think lasagne.  Ultimately you are looking for a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25-30:1.

Here is a table to use, there is heaps of this kind of thing on the internet also, although they often differ in values!

Carbon	Nitrogen
Fresh leaves, 37:1	Laying poultry manure 6:1	General food waste 15:1
Dry, fallen leaves 47:1	Poultry manure 10:1	Coffee grounds 14:1
Straw/hay 53:1	Diary cow manure 13:1	Weeds 19:1
Newspaper 54:1	Cattle manure 17:1	Seaweed 10:1
Shredded office paper 129:1	Horse manure 27:1	Clover 23:1
Shredded cardboard 378:1	Urine (human) 7:1	Alphalfa 12:1
Sawdust 325:1	Ash 25:1
Old compost 40:1	Fish 7:1
Pine needles 80:1	Grass clippings 15:1
Corn stalks 75:1	Fruit waste 32:1
	Vegetable waste 11:1

 

Here’s an online calculator to help you get your quantities right J

http://www.klickitatcounty.org/solidwaste/fileshtml/organics/compostcalc.htm

Combine in layers, adding water as you go, so it’s moist not soggy.  Cover (plastic sheet or tarp or carpet) – leave for 4 days.  Turn with a garden fork – the outside will be the least hot so pop that in the middle.  You need to aerate.  Add water as it dries out, again keep moist not soggy.  Turn every 2-3 days after that, from 1 patch of ground, to another right next to it.  It should feel warm – especially on the inside.  If it isn’t add more nitrogen and remember to keep it moist.  It breaks down much more quickly if you turn every few days.  I usually select a spot I am going to grow in and when its done the area is full of worms.

 

A few things that can kick start a cold heap are comfrey, nettles, urine, dandelion, stinging nettle, yarrow, old compost, seaweed.  Someone suggested a dead possum but I’m not sure how nice that would be with the regular turning!  Don’t use  woody garden clippings, branches etc, they take too long to break down.  Avoid adding bulbs, and I wouldn’t add oxalis or any other root weed.  Dont add animal droppings (from cats or dogs - farm animals are fine), salt, oil or manures from wormed animals.  I’d also don’t recommend any fungus invaded leaves (black spot from roses) or anything with a herbicide or pesticide or weed killer.

I usually get new soil in about 6 weeks.  Good luck!!

Gifts that keep giving

I've just received the most wonderful gift from a new to gardening person (you know who you are). A packet of purple haze carrots seeds. I haven't planted any carrots this season and I have the most perfect spot - where my rocket has just gone to seed. My kids love eating them and it's something a bit interesting. They are, I understand, incredibly healthy with loads of anti oxidants. So, into the garden I go to pop them in - time in the garden is a gift in itself. So thanks! Happy gardening :).

Btw my daughter received a gardening kit today - her own little trowels and diggers in a bag with a watering can. We've just spent the most delightful afternoon together in the garden. A gift that keeps giving - indeed!

Group Personal Training

What is Group PT - how is it different to Group Exercise?

Good question. One word - YOU – your goals, your needs, your abilities – while group exercise you have no input into what the session might be like, in Group PT you do – because we are working towards a goal. With Group PT you are provided with a home program, so you get a tailor made program to work through at home, with moves I am certain you can do unsupervised, with gear you have at home, or gear I lend to you free of charge. With Group PT there is more emphasis on measuring results – so you know you are heading in the right direction. You might be wanting to do your first fun run, or sort out a niggling injury that is holding you back, or just get strong or lean.

Sessions will be 1 hour long. Maximum of 4 people, minimum 2. Sessions will take place at Lindisfarne Oval – the rear oval. Its a lovely quite spot, and we can hook up the TRX, use weights, run, use the swiss balls.

Could you please let me know if you are interested - email Jo at activesolutions@netspace.net.au

What days? I am totally free through the week until 30 min Booty restarts Feb 5, and Sundays 9.30 or 10.30 are the slots I work. I have clients ready to start early in the new year.

What time? weekdays start 6.15 or 7 am (have another idea? Please share), Sundays 9.30 or 10.30 Happy to start a little earlier on a Sunday – state your preference. Alternatively happy to work Saturdays, but not Sundays as well – girl needs a day of rest – don’t we all

The tricky bit is we all have to agree, and commit.

I already have peoples ready to start on a Sunday and through the week - you just need to commit - do it, or not.

So if you are thinking this is for you, if we can make a commitment before the new year and pre-pay – everyone gets a $5 discount for each and every session!

Pest free garden construction begins

Today we bought the 5 posts that we will need for construction of our fully enclosed garden. We have 1 damaged street sign, 1 clothes lines (fully adjustable but minus the horizontals), 1 post for sports nets minus the nets, 1 metal down pipe, and 1 mystery post with holes every 15 cm. gotta love recycling!!

Dec 7 - construction begins at 9am. By 10.25 we have the central post in

By 1 pm we had all posts in. Then we used clothes line to create the frame

Now I need to splice the netting together. Tomorrow I'll add it to the frame :)

So excited!

Here is the final piece - the netting. I still have to tie it down but it's almost done

I've put this off for years - in the end it took $15 for the posts, $60 cement, $$30 for the clothes lines wire and a day of work from Andrew the "Andyman" ( www.theandyman.com.au, or www.facebook.com/andyman.hobart.)

I couldn't be happier.
Do you like the picture of me in my gay gardening hat? I have pink sparkly boots to match. :)

Cous cous salad for busy lives

Ive just made a really nice salad that will keep for a few days in the fridge and is a quick and healthy 'grab' for on the go lifestyles

Combine chopped tomato, capsicum, coriander, mint leaves, spring onion, cucumber - add as much as you like of each - my total amount equalled about a cup.

3/4 uncooked cous cous - add a chicken stock cube, 1 cup hot water, 1/2 teasp butter - leave to 'fluff' and stir occasionally.

Once the cous cous cools add the chopped vegies, stir through.

Add 1 tabs lemon juice, 1 1/2 tabs olive oil, 1 teas red wine vinegar - shake up and stir through the lot.  Its ready to eat at this point or pop in in the fridge the flavours will infuse and it will be yummy for days to come!

To complete the meal add a hard boilded egg, or a can of tuna or salmon and you've got a well rounded, tasty, healthy meal.

Ok raspberries, you win!!

Ok raspberries you win!! I've tried to keep you restrained but you seem to love it here and nothing else seems to. Can you ever have too many raspberries??

Spring has sprung - nov 2012

6 weeks after our red dirt experience and our garden is almost under control. Spuds are starting to poke through and we hope to have fresh spuds for Xmas ( top left). Top right is last years no dig spud patch - rich soil planted out with spinach and broccoli. Last years onions can be seen and a r random spud or 2. Left bottom side has peas planted, some garlic almost ready and the apricot tree has been pruned by the possums again. Bottom right side has last years leeks and freshly planted zucchini seeds and radish and beetroot. Beetroot leaves are extraordinarily good for you so eat them young. Peach tree somehow is not attached by possums. Anyone who why?