I've started--sorta

Got home from camping and was putting away the food from the camper fridge. Yuck! The veggie bin was filled with stuff I didn't wanna eat. Compost---I'll start my compost!!!!

Drilled holes in a plastic trashcan. Dry leaves and grass--check. Chopped apples, clementines, grapefruit, lettuce--check. Paper from the paper shredder--check.

Answer the "What ARE you doing?" question--check.

Then, to my delight, I found my Dear One digging in the garbage for the egg shells she had thrown away to add to the counter top container---the TTTC (Take To The Compost) container. Then, she said--"Hey, let's use what Jen (her daughter) uses." And with that she was digging around for a lidded container to sit on the counter. Operative word here is LET'S meaning LET US.

Don't know if this composting thing is gonna work but I'll give it a shot. Found some alpaca/leaves compost locally on craigslist so am negotiating only a few gallons rather than a truckload. What's up with "compost tea"??? Is it necessary with MM??

Found a seldom used meat thermometer in the utensil drawer so will go take Baby's temperature.

Also found a herb starter at Big Lots so started Sweet Basil, Chives, and Parsley. Basil, I understand repels mosquitoes and flies so am hoping to provide some of my camping friends with a nice pot of Basil to sit on their picnic tables. In theory, sounds good--don't know if it'll work.

Still too early in the season for anyone to have vermiculite (or anything else!) out for sale.

Hope this isn't too long---writing about my baby steps helps with the excited anticipation of a thriving SFG!!!!

Judy

Welcome Judy,

Sounds like you are off to a good start! Ask for the vermiculite at a small farm supply store, where they sell chicken food, etc. Most order each week and maybe they'll order for you. Mine did and it's cheaper than the normal outlets.

Jo

Whether you like it or not compost happens. Only thing that would stop it is no moisture. So you get things a little moist then leave it to the microbes to do their job.

Thanks, CharlesB! That's encouraging---! Think I'll screen print a t-shirt that says exactly that----"Compost Happens"!!!!

hey obrdrin,

that's about how i started the compost. have wanted to garden easily for a while (the row style is just too much for the way i work), read ANSFG and just KNEW i had to compost lol. best way for me here in ky in jan was to let the squirmies do it for me, no fuss, no muss, no turning, no waiting for a pile to build. I can do all that in the summer. veg matter goes in the top, compost comes out the bottome, well at least that is the plan.

you can get some great ideas on the compost forum, that's where i lurked most lol.