Build Yourself a Compost Corral
About fifteen years ago- geeze time flies—we bought two large heavy, black plastic rectangles perforated with one inch holes. When the ends were brought together to create a cylinder, they became compost containers. With two we could turn the compost from one to another.
They worked well, but time took its toll. They eventually collapsed. Needing to replace them, we used the opportunity to increase the size of our container.
Rather than buy a container, we went to our local big box home improvement store and picked up four sections of split rail fence including four corner posts, a roll of wire fencing, and three angle steel fence posts.
After clearing out the old plastic pieces and moving the remaining compost aside, we built a square enclosure with the split rail starting at one corner and building our way around until we met the original post. We did it this way instead of planting the corner posts first. Our method was more forgiving when working with the vagaries of the terrain.
Once the split rail was in place, we lined the interior with the wire fencing. We fastened the fencing to the split rail with nails that we pounded in part way and then bent over the wire of the fence. We took another piece of fencing and ran it down the center to create two compartments. We reinforced this 
center piece with the angle steel fence posts.
With the finished compost on one side ready to be used, we’ve started filling up the other side with “fresh” veggie and fruit leavings. The area is large enough to toss in mulched leaves. With plenty of worms in the finished pile, we’re confident that this new arrangement will have us in lots of compost soon.
My compost piles are not well kept. I don’t turn them like I’m supposed to do. I don’t even use the compost as much as I should. Still the piles do pay their dividends. Last year I got pineapple plants. This spring I had an incredible crop of earthworms.
Other stuff grows around my compost piles — ferns, jewelweed, wineberries to name a few and assorted saplings. About ten feet behind and to the left of the pile is a large cherry tree. At one point I figured out what kind of cherry, but I’ve forgotten. I don’t get the cherries anyway. The squirrels do.
Because of the proximity of the cherry tree, I assumed that the sapling coming up right next to the pile was another cherry tree. It bloomed this spring at about the same time, but it didn’t bear cherries.
Today, as I went to dispose of some yard clippings, I looked at the sapling and was joyously surprised to see– of all things — peaches. The little tree has at least a dozen peaches. Had I actually planted and nurtured a peach tree, it would, undoubtedly, be dead by now. As a counted the young fruits, visions of peach cobbler immediately began to dance in my head, warm with ice cream.
As quickly as that vision appeared so did another. I saw fat, happy raccoons eating my peaches.
Now I have a new project: devising a raccoon-proof shield for my peaches. I suspect that if I am successful , I will have a marketable product. Success, however, is highly unlikely.
Still, you can bet I’ll be checking the crop each day. Maybe I can get at least one little treat from my lovely, new peach tree.
Compost+Snow=Magic
I have a piece of land that I am trying to rehabilitate on the cheap– no store bought soil enhancers, no store bought plants. I’ve turned compost into the dirt and planted by dividing bulbs, rhizomes, and plants, and I’ve moved volunteers. When the snow came and the snowplows pushed four feet of snow onto this area, I thought my work was all for naught. Continue reading The Continued Joy of Composting-Treasure under the Snow
Garbage? Art? Useful -- definitely!
I’ve been composting kitchen garbage and yard waste for a long time. As I have mentioned before, I am frugal so composting “feeds” that need in me. I love getting something for nothing. I am equally fascinated by making something from nothing. That’s compost — in a nutshell.
Like anything else that’s good for us and reasonably easy, some folks have thought of ways to make composting expensive. Sort of like walking shoes. We were able to walk just fine for years until shoe makers decided we needed special shoes.
The photo is my compost in waiting pile– one meal’s worth a veggie and fruit scraps (plus an over-the-hill banana) ready to be tossed onto the pile. Starting with this material formerly destined for the landfill, you can engage in the art of composting. And, like walking in the ol’ days, you, too, can do it cheaply but with purpose. Continue reading The Fine Art of Composting – how to be an artist
About fifteen years ago- geeze time flies—we bought two large heavy, black plastic rectangles perforated with one inch holes. When the ends were brought together to create a cylinder, they became compost containers. With two we could turn the compost from one to another.
Once the split rail was in place, we lined the interior with the wire fencing. We fastened the fencing to the split rail with nails that we pounded in part way and then bent over the wire of the fence. We took another piece of fencing and ran it down the center to create two compartments. We reinforced this 
center piece with the angle steel fence posts.
