stubbed toes and mud pies

digitS'

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Here, and for a number of years, compostables found homes in what were 3 bins, plus the activities of prepping for crops. The bins were divided into as many as 4 sections but only by shoveling and piling in different directions. Nothing was moved from bin to bin. We are now down to 2 bins and I am struggling with grass sod but that's unusual.

One bin was located in the smaller distant garden of about 2,500 square feet. Crop rotation and that bin accommodated Summertime activities which included harvesting and marketing from the big distant garden of 6,000 sqft +. No composting took place in that garden but all debris was underground at the end of season in both those gardens.

Winter finds the collection of kitchen scraps in covered 5 gallon buckets in the backyard. Fortunately, the raccoons that sometimes visit have never caused a problem. Freezing and then thawing helps with allowing a refilling and I often had 7 buckets full by the time gardening season arrived and I could move out enough of the previous season's compost to move those compostables out of those buckets.

Steve
 

flowerbug

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corn is not a crop we do much with here, but composting and using bottom mucks from low areas is known and used by me for other crops.

also noted the comment about the area likely not being forested for many of those years. around here any area not managed will revert to forest within 20 years even if not planted by the landowner. poplars are quite happy to start up anyplace they can and grow quickly. after that it is a long and slow gradual return of the climax species (white pines, oaks and maples).


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Winter finds the collection of kitchen scraps in covered 5 gallon buckets in the backyard. Fortunately, the raccoons that sometimes visit have never caused a problem. Freezing and then thawing helps with allowing a refilling and I often had 7 buckets full by the time gardening season arrived and I could move out enough of the previous season's compost to move those compostables out of those buckets.

i won't be doing any buckets outside like that, there's no place convenient or likely to happen without Mom objecting and i understand her objections. at the current rate of production i'll be able to keep up by my usual methods and if i can't we'll cross that bridge when we come to it... :)
 

flowerbug

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i finished a garden by planting three rows of beans - in the process of doing that i also made sure to bury all my existing compostable materials that i had in trays and flats around my room waiting for me to do something with them. i hardly recognize my room - it is very strange to see it in such a state.
 

flowerbug

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a killdeer momma came and is reusing the nest that was recently vacated (a week or two ago) so either it is the same birdie who lost her babies (i'm not sure yet) or a new one. alas i will need to weed the pathway near that nest sometime soon and she's not going to like it.

oh and i saw the big snake again. very pretty snake.
 

Anniekay

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the snake and nest were about 40 feet apart. the snake didn't bother the previous nest/eggs.
They eat baby birds too. I had a coppermouth climb a tree in my yard to get to baby birds. An Oak snake tunnelled into my chicken house and ate 3 baby guineas in one setting. How he really got in is a mystery because we burried chicken wire all along the outside of the coop a foot under ground. I killed him with a shovel and the three bulges on him were my three baby guineas. He was 68" long !! His head was as big as my fist.
 

flowerbug

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groundhog 2 made the mistake of making a noise when i dumped a bucket of weeds on the weed pile and then it ran along the fence trying to find a way out, but i didn't have my air rifle with me so i had to come back to the house and then go back out and it did not get away. they are not very smart and can't see that well. RIP poor critter. :(
 

flowerbug

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got going on the next garden for bean planting and made progress but it will likely be tomorrow to finish getting it turned under again and then plant on Monday.
 

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