compost harvest

Today was I harvested my first batch of compost. I built a 3x3 foot frame with 2x4's and attached a wire mesh screen with 1/2 inch squares. It was hard work sifting out the useable compost but I got about half a wheelbarrow full. The compost was FULL of insects. Different kinds of beetles and centipede/milipedes. I was pondering how I should kill these pests so I turned to the internet. I found out that they are all quite beneficial and will feast on aphids and other harmful insects. For this first batch I think I will use as a top layer of soil along my fence. I was thinking of mixing it in as an ammendment but I read that the parts that are not fully composted will compete with the plants for nitrogen. Using it as a topsoil will allow it to fully decompose while still providing the organic matter and water holding capabilities. Only downside is that it means double the weeding.

surprises

In the early spring tulips popped up and bloomed. We moved into the house in July so we never knew they were there. We also found a few iris plants here and there. Most recently we found this miniature climbing rose (i think) coming up through the unsightly juniper shrub in front of the house. I bought some rooting solution and I am going to take a crack at cloning.

Here is a little box I built for the strawberries and a little baby strawberry is already turning red. I need to get something to protect the berries from the dirt or they will rot.

trees

Shortly after we moved in we found a pear tree in the back yard. It had been neglected for years. My little brother trimmed it up and removed some of the dead branches and it seems to be recovering nicely. While it was flowering I went out to brush some pollen around to help the pollination along. Later I read that pear trees are self sterile. I hope I didn't screw up the pollination process too much. I can see a few small pears growing on the tree already. I met one of my neighbors who lives adjacent to my back yard and he told me he had a pear tree. I guess that's where I am getting my pollen from. I also bought a few fruit trees at walmart. I bought 2 apple trees a cherry tree and a plum tree. I need to go back and buy a second cherry tree because those are also self sterile. One of the people I go to church with knows a lot about trees and he things I can get them producing in a few years if I take good care of them. Above is a picture of my small orchard. I think it needs a nice pathway and a bench

Compost

I started a compost pile around mothers day. I always wanted to have my own compost pile and I feel this is the perfect place to have one. There are tons of trees around and there is a never ending supply of leaves. I did about a weeks worth of web surfing trying to learn everything I could about composting and I was ready to give it a shot. I found an old wire fence half buried at the property line and dug it up. After wrapping it up in a circle twice I had my compost bin. I felt that it would be ideal because it would allow for plenty of oxygen to get into the pile. My search for my compost ingredients began. I had a HUGE pile of leaves from the previous year so the carbons wouldn't be a problem. I used my grass clippings and my kitchen scraps as the nitrogen source. I also added some stick to help keep the pile aerated. I have been very diligent about turning it every couple of days and once a week I take the bin off and stir the pile up. It has been a huge success. I think my first batch will be ready in about a week or two. I need to build a sifter to make sure that I keep anything that still needs further decomposition in the pile. I love going out to the pile because it smells fruity. When I turn the pile I check the temperature and it is always so warm and smells nice and earthy. Only the very bottom of the pile smells bad. Here is a picture of what I have.