First Compost Use

I set up my outdoor composter to use today.

To start: I dug out a square about an inch deep that was the size of the composter itself.  I put the composter itself into place and covered the edge with a bit of the leftover soil (no nothing could climb in the bottom).

To compost: My roommates and I keep our compostables in a container in the freezer. When the container was full, instead of putting the waste into the city compost, I put it in the new composter, covered it with some dried grass clippings and some dead leaves as well as a bit of compost accelerator (just to start).

This was the email I sent all my housemates:
Hello housemates!
I've set up the black composter outside for use. Save up any fruit or veg clippings (no meat, dairy, or dog or cat poo) and put them in a bunch at a time into the composter. Make sure you cover it with some of the dead grass, leaves, or sod (on the side of the tree nearest the composter) to keep the smell from attracting unwanted friends.
Here is a great simple resource: http://www.composting101.com/what-to-use.html
I'll deal with everything else.  Free beautiful compost for next year?  Yes please!

Composter, Rhubarb, and Chives Delivery!

I got a fantastic delivery from my mum today:
A composter that my parent's neighbours don't use

 A rhubarb plant from my grandma

 Chives from my mum's garden

DON'T BUY THINGS UNTIL YOU ASK AROUND IF ANYONE HAS ANY TO SPARE! SAVE YOUR MONEY!

Compost Bin for my Studio

I was chatting with some studio mates today and there is a bunch of us who are excited to do some guerilla gardening out in the train tracks behind the old loft-ish space that houses our shared studio.  I'v been wanting to build a composter since there is no green bin (OR RECYCLING) pickup in industrial areas (ridiculous!)

I found this site and am excited to make a giant compost for us!  There is a bunch of pallets in front of our building just waiting to be used:

http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/2013/02/diy-how-to-build-a-compost-bin-out-of-wood-pallets/

Spring Equinox excitement!

Evergreen Brickworks

I went to Evergreen Brickworks today for Seedy Saturday and the farmers market.

(ebw.evergreen.ca)

With the excitement of spring-like weather I decided to bike the 10km over there from my house, forgetting that trails along the Don wouldn't be clear yet...  At least the 1.5 hour bikeride where I got fully lost was full of lovely people helping give me directions, lots of sunshine, and reminders of how much I like cycling.

But HOLY MANICOTTI, the brickworks is absolutely wondrous. I just got the most brief look at the place but it was so inspiring.  A few things that stuck out:

-Waste baskets labelled "Compost", "Recycling", and "Landfill" (WHY DON'T ALL GARBAGE CANS SAY THAT??)

-the amazing children's area with wood fire, instructional compost piles, a crazy tree branch hut and more super fun things

-a pathway paves with bricks donated from various places–mismatched beauty!

-the benches made from large branches laid on their side with bum grooves in them :)

In any case, not even close to the tip of the iceberg but, needless to say, I'll be back there soon to investigate more!

One of the fun things I decide to do, though, was grab a piece of sage out of their massive bushes they had by their bike locks.  Sage goes berzerk crazy so one small branch will definitely not be missed. I found one with roots on it and asked the plant if I could take him home with me.  As crazy as you might feel, think about how much you would like it if someone just ripped off a piece of you and trekked you across the city...  

The way sage spreads is pretty cool. Other ground covers like thyme do this too. As the stems grow and get heavy, they sort of drag along the ground and grow new roots along what is near the soil. This is where I got the piece I took from. Here he is:

I'm going to plant him tomorrow when I get a chance and let him start making a most beautifully fragrant bush so, so soon! I can feel spring coming!