mixing mels mix is like........

I am curious whether anyone else draws comparisons like me .......I am continually thinking how it reminds me of making lasagna.
Lasagna has the 3 substances (the basil ricotta mix, the tomato mix and the noodles( that get added one by one ....
and when I make it (in bulk) I am always running out of one item.
WIth Mels mix we get stocked up on peat, and compost but then runout of vermiculite
then sent hubby in to Kamloops to get vermiculite, now have lots, but then out of peat.... and on and on and on.

The OTHER thing that mixing mels mix reminds me of is square dancing (from my very distance past).... lifting the corners and swing your partner .... alaman left and do see doe.......

Is this just a wandering sort of mind, or do others have things they are reminded of?

Back when I had to do it by myself in a plastic wading pool with a flat-nose shovel, I always thought that .....

Mixing Mel's Mix is like.......folding egg whites into cake or waffle batter.

mixing up a batch of concrete: add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water........CRAP...too much water!

Kay

Lavender Debs wrote:Mixing Mel's Mix is like.......folding egg whites into cake or waffle batter.

+1. Good one Debs. Seems like forever until you stop turning over surprise clumps of peat or vermiculite.

My oldest daughter (age 9) helped me this last time whilst baby napped and middle child was at a friends house. I enjoyed spending the quality time with her. She'd help me fluff the peat out onto the tarp and then fill the bucket and dump it in the wheelbarrow. I'd pour a bucketful of vermiculite, then she'd take it and dump it in the wheelbarrow (that was her favorite ingredient, because it is the lightest). She'd start mixing those two while I'd fill up the bucket with my mixed compost and then I'd dump it in the wheelbarrow (too heavy for her). Then I'd take over the mixing while she kept a sharp eye out for easter eggs (clumps of compost coated in vermiculite). She loved to grab them and break them open. Sparkly golden vermiculite on the outside, rich dark compost on the inside. So I guess she might say making Mel's Mix is like an easter egg hunt.

CRAP...too much water!

Done a lot of tiling myself and the worst part about that too much water is when you are a 2 hour drive from the store and that was your last grout...

So I guess she might say making Mel's Mix is like an easter egg hunt

I have found that the spilled vermiculite seems to settle such that the GOLD pieces are on top, sort of reverse gold panning.
It glitters....

Lavender Debs wrote:Back when I had to do it by myself in a plastic wading pool with a flat-nose shovel, I always thought that .....

Mixing Mel's Mix is like.......folding egg whites into cake or waffle batter.

+1

boffer wrote:mixing up a batch of concrete: add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water........CRAP...too much water!

boffer wrote:mixing up a batch of concrete: add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water........CRAP...too much water!

Exactly how I have felt the last two days! My daughters and I got 2 4x6 beds done. Now we wait for it to settle and drain! But better too much water to start than not enough!

CindiLou wrote:

boffer wrote:mixing up a batch of concrete: add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water...add a little more water........CRAP...too much water!

Exactly how I have felt the last two days! My daughters and I got 2 4x6 beds done. Now we wait for it to settle and drain! But better too much water to start than not enough!

+1 and it doesn't take long to drain even if it's soup.

Kay

I'm kinda like boffer. Water the mix till you think it's wet, then water for 10 minutes more. After 10 minutes of continuous watering, water for an additional 5 minutes. At this point, you should be to the half-way mark.

Sounds about right....

IF you fluffed your peat moss good! I know mine was cause I had a little 2 yr at the job He did an awesome job! Child labor is always better!



He actually yelled at his NaNa "no! me do!" It was soo cute!

Yes it took forever but he got to help....I dont mind...I try to encourage the kids to like gardening lol

Nearly all of my peat moss has been clumped-up, so I hit upon the idea of merely stomping it to death with my feet. Works like a charm, although the results do not compare with those of the two-year-old genius.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/Leftover Mel's mix.. I use it to fill in any pot/box that is low... I hated making it as I could barley walk after the workout

I put a 5 gallon bucket of fluffed peat moss in my 3 year old grandson's wagon. Fill it full of water and then let my grandson stand in the wagon and tramp on the peat moss like you see people mushing grapes in a big vat. Really hydrates well and he enjoys helping and getting dirty. Then add the hydrated peat moss to the Mel's Mix.

I was not allowed to take any pictures of adults during the making of MM! Let's just say it was a day of grape stomping A strike was promised if the camera pointed at a daughter