My sweet husband bought me a compost tumbler when we moved to the cabin. It is so wonderful to use. Every fall it gets moved to the deck. When I clean up my containers, I just dump the used soil in. Then it gets filled with fall leaves. For my morning coffee grounds and other kitchen items, I just step out the door. I fill it all winter (which can be many many months here in the hills) and then a top off in the spring with grass clippings. The rest of the summer it just sits. I give her a roll every week, if I remember. This year I kept it in a shady area and added some of my composting worms.
While the tumbler does it's thing, I spend the summer filling this compost pile. It is not going to finish as fast as the tumbler, but can take the bulk of garden cleanup. I am very happy with this bin. It has proven Ella proof, easy to turn, and very accessible.
I can't say enough how easy it is to compost when all you have to do is step out your door. We learned the first year not to leave it on the deck during the heat of summer, unless you like the smell of rotting stuff wafting through your house. It just gets moved to a shady spot. If you are wondering how my worms are doing. I still have them in a bin in the house. I feed them about once a month. I've been running their food through the blender to speed up the process. I'm going to mix the worm compost into the spring containers. I did that mid-summer this year and was pleased with how well my containers did and the number of worms in them.
Below is a photo of my black gold, complete with wiggly worms. I mixed it with some leftover buffalo compost. Each rose got a generous shovelful and the rest was used to top dress the flower beds.
I guess it is still Bonnie season for my husband as he snuck a couple of photos while I was working in the beds today. He is practicing for deer hunting. Meanwhile, I was emptying containers, dividing perennials, cleaning beds, and giving the plants some homemade fertilizer. There is snow in the forecast and I guess I'm as ready as I will ever be.
I don't like the sound of the "S" word.....need to get into our garden as well.
ReplyDeleteGill
That's great you raise your own compost worms .I do like that composter to never seen one like that , bet it makes a lot easier for you ! The soil in that wheelbarrow looks nice and rich with nutrients ! SNOW !! already WOW ! being here in Canada we aren't in for snow yet ! Hope you get all your gardens winterized before the snow fly's ! Great photos . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteBlack gold...wonderful stuff!! I'm anxious to use mine next summer and see how much of a difference it makes.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a great compost tumbler. I had one once, but it was small and low to the ground, and very hard to turn. Do you remember where you got yours?
ReplyDeleteYour homemade compost looks awesome! It is really great having compost to apply - I believe it really makes a difference to plant health, plus it prevents all those items from going into landfills.
ReplyDeleteThe rolling composter is from the Compost Tumbler Company.
ReplyDeleteTwo of our friends have the same kind of tumbler composter and just love it for the same reasons you mentioned it!
ReplyDeleteHello, oh what a easy way to compost, love it, I need one. Your black gold looks wonderful,does the garden good. Blessings Francine.
ReplyDeleteWe have one of those too. It was my husband's pride and joy. Then we moved here and it takes so much more mulch that he just left it alone.It made such wonderful stuff though. I always enjoyed the rich smell.
ReplyDeleteI hope your snow is gradual and you get a Indian summer and the trees are beautiful after they have been kissed by the cold.
Seems hard to think of the snow, I was in shorts all day.I have a variety of bins.
ReplyDeleteOur yard work is just starting; leaves falling, bushes need trimming, flower pots emptying...but no snow, but it is chilly. XOXO
ReplyDeleteYour compost is indeed like black gold. It looks like it is loaded with nutrients for your plants. Every plant which receive a shovelful of it is like getting a massive dose of vitamins.
ReplyDeleteOh now that is fancy what a great husband you have. SNOW why did you say that:)We truly do need the moisture though so I hope it snows a lot all winter.
ReplyDeleteI love the thought of your garden and I also love the photo of you. B
Love compost! Looks as if you are enjoying your garden work too!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing with the Farmgirl Friday blog hop!
Almost time for spiced apple cider...!
PS. We have matching wheelbarrow's and buckets!
ReplyDelete:) Happy Fall Clean up!
Lovely compost bin! I'd like that. We've had a few flurries, but nothing sticking. I still have moss roses that are hanging by the front door looking pretty good yet. I hate to dump them out yet. I have lots of leaves to "mow up" and dump in my compost heap.
ReplyDeleteI like the photo of you in their garden duds.
I have compost bin envy,it looks so simple to use.
ReplyDeleteHello! I'm visiting from South Carolina. We compost also, but we use 2 large bins similar to one of yours. We call it Black Gold also. We added some worms the first year, and they continue to thrive in the bins. It's still 80 degrees here!
ReplyDeleteYou can write a book about composting! Well done! I have a compost pile and a composter. Somehow, after several years, I shifted more to the pile. The only issue with the pile is that shrubs love it too! They send their roots for yummy compost. Composter is great, I just need to remember to turn it! Your model is movable and, I guess, lighter, and it is good!
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up at the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!
ReplyDeleteYour compost is a gardener's dream. Thanks for sharing your composting tips!
Cheers,
Kathy
The Chicken Chick