tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138459729531944998.post7365966413529649670..comments2024-03-11T02:25:25.123-05:00Comments on Living Low in the Lou: Fermentation and transformationSLClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17307602613058790026noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138459729531944998.post-25307461426370962312015-11-17T16:50:33.369-06:002015-11-17T16:50:33.369-06:00Hi Chris! Soil from the vegetable garden ends up i...Hi Chris! Soil from the vegetable garden ends up in the compost piles on a regular basis since it clings to plant roots. Some of the weeds I dig up from the rest of the yard find their way to the piles as well, again bringing in some soil. But I haven't yet been as deliberate about it as you suggest. <br /><br />Some of the thinner leaves, like those of silver maples, decompose pretty quickly, even in winter. Oak leaves, however, can take until the following summer to decompose. That isn't so good for a lawn, which I suppose is why people are forever blowing leaves from place to place with their leaf blowing machines. But it makes oak leaves good to use as mulch on my garlic and potato onion bed and also to mulch the hydrangeas and camellias once it gets cold.SLClairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17307602613058790026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138459729531944998.post-21141798836072017702015-11-17T16:41:32.795-06:002015-11-17T16:41:32.795-06:00Hi Pam! I get distracted too sometimes, especially...Hi Pam! I get distracted too sometimes, especially when I am doing housework. I might end up with four different tasks in various stages of completion and then scold myself for the mess. But it all gets done eventually.<br /><br />I live in a pretty good approximation of an urban forest, surrounded as we are by mature pin oak and silver maple leaves, so I have more leaves than I can rake up. And while I probably have more sun than you do, I haven't had as much as usual this year. But next year is another year.SLClairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17307602613058790026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138459729531944998.post-87190349640520294642015-11-12T01:02:00.913-06:002015-11-12T01:02:00.913-06:00Hi Claire,
Thanks for the thoughts and insight in...Hi Claire,<br /><br />Thanks for the thoughts and insight into your garden rituals. They are rituals aren't they?<br /><br />Remembering the dead is important too. <br /><br />Just out of interest, do you innoculate your compost pile with bacteria, fungi and soil life (eg. nematodes and worms etc.) from areas of your garden. It probably wouldn't take more than a handful or four thrown into the mix from well established and productive areas of your garden. I'm aware of someone that takes samples from all sorts of areas and adds it to their own garden to increase the overall soil life. There is something to be said about that.<br /><br />As it is warmer here, most fallen leaves have disappeared into the ground within two weeks of their leaf fall. I'd like to put a time lapse camera on that event one of these days...<br /><br />Well done and very top work with the wood storage area. You know, I've been finding that each year the requirements for fire wood changes so I have no idea how much I actually need - given it is the main heat source here during the winter too. Remember that this year was the coldest winter in 26 years too.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />ChrisFernglade Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06950962122594709186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5138459729531944998.post-15187929101620247762015-11-11T15:34:26.712-06:002015-11-11T15:34:26.712-06:00Hi, Claire!
Today I went outside to try your meth...Hi, Claire!<br /><br />Today I went outside to try your method of layering kitchen/green/slimy compostables with leaves.I got distracted and worked on my hugelculture bed instead, and then I got distracted some more and never did get to it. I am easily distracted. Tomorrow is another day! Living in the middle of a forest we have endless leaves. I'll trade you some leaves for some sun?<br /><br />On November 2 we have Remember Mr. Jackson Day. He was a dog, but the special day is a catalyst to remember those, with any number of legs, who have gone before.<br /><br />I don't think that I keep good enough records from each gardening season to put together the type of analysis that you are working on. I imagine that your discoveries will inspire me, as your other observations have.<br /><br />PamPam in Virginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00895842137691734477noreply@blogger.com