Fall composting?

Most people think that at this time of the year, composting would be drawing to a close.  Nothing could be further from the truth actually.  I am currently loading my 3 composters with all the materials that I can find.  I still have many bags of leaves that I collected both last fall and this spring that I need to use.  I am collecting as many table scraps that I can find and am combining that with the leaves and cardboard to get a last pile into play before the weather turns colder.
This is a perfect time of year to actually begin to compost as the wealth of items are outstanding.  I use newspapers, cardboard, fresh cut grass, kitchen scraps, tea and coffee grounds and of course, my bags of leaves.  Also, this is the time of year that if you have a garden, you can put your clean spent plants into the composter.  You have to be vigilant to not put any plant waste that died from a disease or fungus.  You would only be adding that to your garden next year.  You can always look online to find more extensive lists of materials you can use.
The point is, now is the time to either begin to compost or get your last loads in before the snow and cold weather begins.  It is a fact that if the pile is big enough, it will continue to breakdown over the winter.  It will just happen on a smaller scale and at a much slower rate.  But, it still happens.
Naturally, those of us who live in the warmer climes of the south can compost year round.
I cant emphasize enough as to the importance that composting plays in the scheme of gardening.  It is the black gold of soil as it renews the ground and recycles the natural resources we have at our disposal.
If you have never composted, you can check out my guest post that I did for Brennan Young at The-Urban-Farmer.com. that will explain the details of composting in much better detail.  I hope you like it!

My tools of gardening.

No matter how many gardeners I run across in my travels, they always seem to have a few tools that I have not seen before.  Whether that would be a generational hand me down like an antique weathered trowel one of their parents used or a random item they picked up at a yard sale, they always have seemed to peak my interest.  If pursued, most of the gardeners can relate a story or memory that made the tools more than just that - a tool.  No, these have a connection that goes far beyond the utilitarian purpose the item serves.
So, that got me to thinking about some of the tools that I have accumulated throughout my years of gardening. I don't have any that I would say are generational hand me downs from my side of the family as my parents were not enthusiasts of gardening.  But, I do have some beyond the ordinary tools that I have acquired or bought.
For instance, I have a hoe that was given to me by my father in law that his dad used many years ago.

 As you can see, it isn't something you are going to find in any store, flea market or yard sale.  It is kind of rough looking but has a very menacing look to it.  I cant remember ever seeing tines that big and thick on a hoe.  I have used this untold times in my garden and I can tell you, it is very effective at loosening the soil and removing deep rooted weeds with little effort.  But beyond that, I have memories of my wife's grandfather and I can envision him taking this hoe and swinging it with authority.  I am sure this piece is the result of him taking the head piece and fastening a new handle to it.  He was just that kind of man.  And therein lies the connection.




Another piece I have is what I call a root killer.

 Much like the hoe, it also came from my wife's grandfather.  It doesn't look like it, but it too is a heavy piece.  Seems that he had several pieces that were of this ilk.  I know this is because these were probably made during the 40's or 50's when almost everything made, was made to last.  And, attesting to this fact is that they are still around and I have continued to use them.  I did in fact use this to remove a stump last year.  Sure, there probably was an easier way but I do get a kick using these.  I can attest to this pieces' heft and it's strength.  It is a fitting testimony to both that generations grit and the pride they put into their work.  



And yet another piece from Grandpa's collection - I didn't realize I had so many until I started this blog entry - is an old wooden handled potato fork.  At least I think that's what is called.

I haven't grown potatoes but maybe this will give me the motivation to do that.  

Next, is a pitch fork that probably is for bailing hay.  I can attest to it's ability to reach way down into my garden soil in the spring.  I don't have any hay so I had to re-purpose it.  

Next is a sifter that I use on my compost.  And, yes, I pulled this out of grandpa's garage.

You can see the aging and I was told that he built it himself.
The next piece may bring back good or bad memories of when you were young, depending on your age naturally.  I actually do remember using one of these and I have used it here in my yards.  See, before there was the invention of the weed whackers, we had to use this.                                            

Oh man, I spent countless hours in my parents front yard pushing and pulling one of these contraptions.  It did the job alright but it was and still is kind of a back breaker.  I bought this at an antique store in Annville Pa. called The First Floor Attic.  I have used it since then but generally only in the Spring to cut a definitive edge.  Then I use my weed whacker to maintain the edge.
And finally, I bought this piece at the same store.

I wasn't sure what it was actually but I later found out from my wife that it was a chicken feed spreader.  Who knew there was such a thing?  Well, besides my wife that is.  I saw it and figured it would be a good compost spreader.  I actually use it to spread almost any soil amendment I use such as vermiculite, sand or peat moss.  It works really well and doesn't overload me.

So there you have it.  My collection of old tools still in use in my gardening endeavors shared for the whole world to see what my family and friends have known for many years.  That I am a bit fanatical about my gardening and the tools I use.  Hopefully, this has been a bit of a walk back into your past or an enlightenment of what people used over the years.  I get a sense of when I am using these, that I am reconnecting to the past in some way myself.  I hope you have enjoyed it!  Until next time, Happy Gardening!         

  

Garden growth

So far, I am pretty pleased the state of my gardens' progress.  The tomatoes are coming along fine even though they were delayed in being transplanted due to our wet Spring weather.  Here is a picture of them at this time.                                                                                                                        

   

               
They are full of little tomatoes so at this time, I have to be sure to continue to supply them with periodic nutrients and water.  I plan on giving the garden a dose of compost tea this weekend to start them on their way to maturity.
Here is my first watermelon of the year on the left and a volunteer tomato that decided behind my garage was a great place to reside on the right.  I just put a pole by it to see what I am getting.  I love surprises!

And finally, my cascading crop of cucumbers after a month.  They have taken over the trellis!

 

                                                                 

Like I said, all in all, not bad progress for this time of the year.  Well, I hope everyone is having a great year so far too!  Remember to be vigilant as there are a lot of distractions this time of the year.  Until next time, Happy gardening everyone.