Making the compost heap a houseplant-free zone

Hi everybody,
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I just wanted to drop a line regarding the compost pile... I've had a back-and-forth going with someone moving two houseplants from the trash to the compost, I put it back in the trash, etc. Can we please be sure to keep houseplants out?? As far as I know there are no organic houseplants, and even if we get them at crunchy garden stores, they've probably been sprayed. The fertilizer we used in my greenhouse is bright blue, just to give you an idea. Anyway, this way we can keep our organic vegetable farm organic. Thanks. I hope you are all cozied up with a leftover turkey sandwich.

Little Bulbie Babies

[do you think we can get our garlic bulbs to wear straw hats?]


Hey neighbros,

I am so excited, today I finally got my garlic order via the postal service. I love supporting this place in PA (D. Landreth! The oldest seed co. since 1780something or other) but it took over a month, and I think they think I'm scamming them. Anyway...

T and I plan on planting bulbs on Saturday. Anyone have garlic they want to plant? Anyone want to join us? We will be there if you need us. If you want to plant garlic in a certain area but haven't bought it yet, please let me know which spot I should avoid planting, and I will reserve it for your bounty. I got all hardneck varieties, so get ready for mad garlic scapes. mmmmm

xo
a

Garden Noam Chomsky

Straw v. Hay

[the hay is green, the straw is yellow]

Hey y'all...

So I finally looked up the difference between straw and hay. Straw is, according to Eliot Coleman in 'Four Season Harvest', "the best brown ingredient of all [in compost]. Straw is the stem that holds up the amber waves of grain in crops such as wheat, oats, barley, and rye. After the heads containing the grains are harvested, the straw is baled as a byproduct." He goes on to say that the failure of compost is usually due to the lack of a proper brown ingredient.

I forget where I found this part about hay. I think it was some guy's farm page: "Hay bales are a food source. That is the first and perhaps most important difference. Hay is actually a plant that is cut when it is alive and full of grain. The purpose of the hay is to feed animals. Straw, on the other hand, is simply the stalks of standing plants that contain no grain."

Barbara Damrosch says in 'The Garden Primer': "Try to get a second, or better yet, a third cutting [of hay] that will contain fewer seeds." I guess hay (being alive) has a chance to sprout, but this shouldn't be a problem. It is the traditional mulch to lay on top of gardens, and it should be fine in compost. Plus, I love me an experiment! There will be so much heat in that pile that I'd be amazed if seed sprouts can survive. And if it's a rough, poor winter we can always eat it. :) I hope this was helpful.

calling all residents!

Billielee and Tiff are going to have a nice little fire this evening and we would like it if any or all of you stopped by for a little or a long time. We are heading out about 5:30pm since it is plenty dark by then. Happy November!

Friday Flippin

Hey all. Billielee, Tiernan and I are going to be flippin the compost tomorrow afternoon (4ish?) if anyone would like to help out.

I think the location looks great! Also people should grab the seed packets I left in the white bucket if they want them. The temp is starting to fluctuate so they shouldn't stay in the shed. Also what is the garlic plan?