Steven Hoefer
boosted
… And we’re cookin’!
#compost #gardening #permaculture
I’ve mixed the sunflower mulch with sawdust from a local wood shop that uses untreated wood. We also add Starbucks used coffee grinds in there (they’ll save them for you to pick up in the evening), our kitchen scraps plus bone & wood ash (I save our bones and burn them in our fireplace.)
All of this does not produce enough in terms of amount or nutrition to feed our garden. IMO, this makes my attempts at #permaculture feel more like a hobby than an actual environmental solution. #gardening
… And we’re cookin’!
#compost #gardening #permaculture
Tofu Musubi
and 1 other
boosted
Natives are beautiful. We are growing as many varieties as we can. The idea is to have a diverse ecosystem with a seed bank. The positive thinking is that hundreds of varieties will add resilience for nature. These lovely seeds were collected from a two year old swamp rose mallow. We are doing cold moist stratification in damp sand for many native plant seeds. It is an activity that helps the soil and the pollinators. We need them. #nativeplants, #minnesota, #Zone4b, #compost, #pollinators
Natives are beautiful. We are growing as many varieties as we can. The idea is to have a diverse ecosystem with a seed bank. The positive thinking is that hundreds of varieties will add resilience for nature. These lovely seeds were collected from a two year old swamp rose mallow. We are doing cold moist stratification in damp sand for many native plant seeds. It is an activity that helps the soil and the pollinators. We need them. #nativeplants, #minnesota, #Zone4b, #compost, #pollinators
Jules she/her
boosted
Vermicomposting through winter.
Our worm bin is a 15 gallon tote with small holes drilled in the bottom for drainage and sides and top for air flow. The worms and their bedding are then covered with a thick mat of old straw from the quail pen and a blanket of burlap on top of that. We add food scraps as they need them. The bin has been tucked into the edge of our primary compost pile which has remained around 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit throughout winter. We have had evening lows at or below 5 degrees Fahrenheit and the worms are still active, eating, and hatching. More details are included in the image alt tags.
I hope this helps someone who is wondering how vermicomposting can be done in the colder months without having to move the bin into a conditioned space.
#gardening #garden #compost #vermicompost #vermicomposting #offgrid
Beneath the straw layer is a rich dark humus with worms woven throughout. Some food waste lays on top that the worms are currently working on eating. The worms are different sizes, some very tiny, as they are still reproducing even through the colder months.
A hand moves the next layer in the bin which is old straw mixed with aged quail or chicken manure. This also acts as an insulation layer.
The inside view of the worm bin tote with burlap at the top layer. The burlap helps to hold moisture in the bin and material to keep the worms comfortable. We use this method year round. When more moisture is needed the burlap can be soaked and rung out which then releases moisture slowly and steadily.
A gray 15 gallon tote partially buried in a compost pile
When my husband was deep in his #permaculture gardening phase he asked for one of these SunJoe mulching machines for his birthday. Since then, he’s largely abandoned #gardening—and who can blame him? It’s been tough! So now, I use it to break down the Mexican sunflower so that it’s easier to #compost. It’s a very sweet-smelling plant.
To me, buying a new machine didn’t seem very #permacultutre-y but now that we have it, may as well use it.
I’m going to continue posting about what I’ve learned about the limitations of practicing permaculture in an urban setting. First of all, look how much all of that plant material condenses when mulched. And as you know, the resulting amount of #compost will be even smaller…
I’ve been posting about my #permaculture challenges lately and this is a good example. Hearing experienced gardeners refer to this plant as a manure equivalent led me to believe that it is a more potent soil amendment than it actually is. So, my attempts at growing veggies in this soil often left me with small, stunted plants.
Now, I understand that I need a hybrid approach. My veggie #compost can be a good moisture-retaining substrate but it needs additional help from organic fertilizers.
When my husband was deep in his #permaculture gardening phase he asked for one of these SunJoe mulching machines for his birthday. Since then, he’s largely abandoned #gardening—and who can blame him? It’s been tough! So now, I use it to break down the Mexican sunflower so that it’s easier to #compost. It’s a very sweet-smelling plant.
I just cut back the Mexican sunflower next to my pottery studio. It was getting wild and leggy, but also this plant is what some #Florida gardeners call green manure because of its high nutrient & mineral content so, I’ll be mulching it down and adding it to my compost. #Permaculture gardeners in this region consider it a staple in the landscape because it’s so prolific and useful.
I’ve been posting about my #permaculture challenges lately and this is a good example. Hearing experienced gardeners refer to this plant as a manure equivalent led me to believe that it is a more potent soil amendment than it actually is. So, my attempts at growing veggies in this soil often left me with small, stunted plants.
Now, I understand that I need a hybrid approach. My veggie #compost can be a good moisture-retaining substrate but it needs additional help from organic fertilizers.
Vermicomposting through winter.
Our worm bin is a 15 gallon tote with small holes drilled in the bottom for drainage and sides and top for air flow. The worms and their bedding are then covered with a thick mat of old straw from the quail pen and a blanket of burlap on top of that. We add food scraps as they need them. The bin has been tucked into the edge of our primary compost pile which has remained around 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit throughout winter. We have had evening lows at or below 5 degrees Fahrenheit and the worms are still active, eating, and hatching. More details are included in the image alt tags.
I hope this helps someone who is wondering how vermicomposting can be done in the colder months without having to move the bin into a conditioned space.
#gardening #garden #compost #vermicompost #vermicomposting #offgrid
Beneath the straw layer is a rich dark humus with worms woven throughout. Some food waste lays on top that the worms are currently working on eating. The worms are different sizes, some very tiny, as they are still reproducing even through the colder months.
A hand moves the next layer in the bin which is old straw mixed with aged quail or chicken manure. This also acts as an insulation layer.
The inside view of the worm bin tote with burlap at the top layer. The burlap helps to hold moisture in the bin and material to keep the worms comfortable. We use this method year round. When more moisture is needed the burlap can be soaked and rung out which then releases moisture slowly and steadily.
A gray 15 gallon tote partially buried in a compost pile
Business Channel
boosted
Self Paced #Sustainability #book focuses on the mantra #AVOID #REUSE #REPURPOSE #COMPOST #RECYCLE and landfill last. Making an impact one step at a time at your pace. I spent over 20 years researching and experimenting, all my experiences are included in this book! Written in a conversational style, I share my successes and failures and provide a handy resource list of products I have tried that really work. #sustainabilityeducation #living #green #bookstadon
Self Paced #Sustainability #book focuses on the mantra #AVOID #REUSE #REPURPOSE #COMPOST #RECYCLE and landfill last. Making an impact one step at a time at your pace. I spent over 20 years researching and experimenting, all my experiences are included in this book! Written in a conversational style, I share my successes and failures and provide a handy resource list of products I have tried that really work. #sustainabilityeducation #living #green #bookstadon
Jules she/her
boosted
Me out here giving a pep talk to my compost bin like, "Okay worms, you've got a big job ahead of you over the next few months. I've given you the tools, but it's up to you to get it done.
#gardening #compost
Me out here giving a pep talk to my compost bin like, "Okay worms, you've got a big job ahead of you over the next few months. I've given you the tools, but it's up to you to get it done.
#gardening #compost