I have a Tumbler bin and a compost pile. Pass along some of your secrets.. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...w4DoBA&usg=AFQjCNGn0hh-A_E1uIdZRnXfrV6nwW7o1A
Keep a garbage bowl in the kitchen while you are cooking. Collect egg shells, carrot and potato peelings.. any vegetable matter that you trim. Collect coffee grounds. My grandmother had a fabulous green thumb.. for veggies and roses.
Water made from used tea makes a great water for watering african violets, you can then add the tea leaves to the compost pile. Get all the use you can out of it.. The violets will thrive.
Those ashes from the fireplace (magnesium, calcium and potassium) will make a good addition to the compost, or can be used directly into the soil. Of course there are certain plants that may not do well with it (applied directly to roots). Below is a decent little article outlining some benefits. http://www.growveg.com/growblogpost.aspx?id=217 Wrong place I know, but will share one of my tomato growing tips... If you ever noticed tomatoes with small white spots, or hard places on them, it is likely caused by too much nitrogen. Cut back on the nitrogen content fertilizer, and add more potassium. Okra responds well to a little extra potassium as well.
I read an article that said wood ashes is a good way to get rid of potato bugs. If you know anything about potato bugs they can destroy potato plants in no time at all. I have tried picking them off but that is tedious at best. Pesticides is not an option for me. I won't use them. I think I will try wood ash next time.
Hi Daisy, I know nothing about them, but one consideration you might have is the amount of potassium you may be putting on your potato plants, using wood ash. It's kind of a two edged sword... it's my understanding that potato plants do not need a lot of potassium added to the soil. Obviously, I'm not well read on the subject. I am not sure if or how well it may work, but maybe a soapy solution sprayed on them would do the trick. I have found this to be most effective for aphids on tomato plants (and other plants), as well as ridding plants of Japanese beetles. A simple cheap bottle of Joy or other brand dish soap for $1, a liberal squirt in a spray bottle, then fill with water and start misting. lol It really does work, and is inexpensive and non-toxic to the plants.
If I am not mistaken wood ashes raise the PH of your soil and potato plants need an acidic soil. You may want to rethink.
I like to use the animals for compost. If I have an area with hard clay I put the pigpens on it. Since pigs need to be moved every so often (to keep down parasites and disease) In a couple of months (or sooner) I will have a composted, clear, grub free area with very good soil. I often put hay in the pens to keep them dry after rains and they are natural composters. The first year i grow pig feed in the area then the next year people food. The cows are a little different. I go behind them with a wheelbarrow and compost the manure. In the cooler months my garden grows greens and green manure. The green manure (usually clover)keeps the gound from leaching nutrients and the clover is good pig feed. It is also good feed for the cows and chickens. In the fall the cow manure will be tilled into the garden directly. Most other stuff...like pea vines, corn stalks, green bean vines, and stuff like that are fed to the animals and composted through them. I just started this system a couple of years ago and the results are pretty good...hopefully...when the garden gets growing I will have some pictures.
I have one of those big green composters with the crank but I seldom use it anymore. I always forget to turn it.
