{Composting Update}

So, here's the verdict on composting:

It's awesome.

And I know it's not nice to tell people they "should" do

anything -- but you should totally do it if you aren't already. :)

I started it in April. It's become a household habit with ease.

All the things I thought might happen that I wouldn't like

have not happened at all. Such as:

- the dogs don't even notice it much less get into it.

- it doesn't smell like anything except dirt.

- it doesn't draw flies as long as we keep it mixed and add a

light layer of dirt from our yard when we add new produce.

- there isn't a mouse in site.

(That last one worried me the most. Totally unfounded

though. Notta one!)

We keep a big white bowl on the top shelf of the fridge, and

we throw fresh, natural food scraps into it as we gather them.

We now have one to three bowls of "garbage" a week that we

do not have to add to the already overloaded landfill system.

Not to mention the outdoor "garbage (browns) like leaves,

branches and grass that we compost instead of leaving them

at the curb on garbage day.

David is into it, too, which I think is just fabulous. He is so

good about putting things in the bowl (instead of forgetting

and dropping them into the trash). Plus, now in the past two

months that the compost in our bin has multiplied -- and

gotten heavier -- he stirs and waters it for me every week.

(So appreciated.)

The garden part of my resolutions will come later in the year.

First, it has to cool down a bit so the plants can adjust easier to

their new home. Then, I will need David to help me run the

drip system to the area where the garden will be. Finally, I'll

build out a space for it. Since all that won't happen until the

fall, the composts only home is in the bin. But...

We've actually decided to expand to the 3-bin system!

I called the City of Chandler and requested two more bins.

They delivered them the same day. (Impressive speediness.)

I mentioned this in April, but it bears repeating. The bins

were free! A lot of other cities offer the same service. So,

it's totally worth a call if you're interested in starting this

process. All you need is a small space somewhere in your

yard and the will to stir and water it 1-3 times a week.

Anyway ...

I've had them on the side of the house for the past week or two,

just hanging out until I had a chance to put them in. And then,

my darling and very thoughtful husband, went and installed

them for me last weekend. (So nice!)

So, now we have a 3-bin system.

1 -- for drying out browns (grass, leaves, branches, etc.)

2 -- for mixing browns and greens to make compost

3 -- to let already mixed compost break down until it's

ready to use

Bon week-end!