Return and Recycle, it's time we must. It’s time to get back to basics. From crop rotation to recycling plastic bottles.
The results of one family recycling may astonish you. One tree is spared per month per family who recycles. One forested acre of land is spared per year for each recycling family. Wow!
Crop rotation is highly beneficial in a garden, especially when the spent carcasses of a harvested garden are tilled under. Alternate your rows of veggies each season and plant your winter annuals in the garden to keep the soil biotic.
Build a compost heap! Use coffee grounds, egg shells, grass, potato peels and corn husks – just avoid any meat or dairy products at ALL costs. You can construct a wooden bin with a lid and air holes at the bottom to keep the compost in. Just build it like a toy chest which angles down in the front for easy access and turning. You can also make a smaller one out of a Rubbermaid-style trash can with lid and a square hole cut in the bottom side, leaving a flap. This hole should be large enough to fit a shovel in for easy turning. To help speed up the decomposition of your compost and release the beneficial nutrients, mix in any of the Kellogg plant/vegetable granular fertilizers which contain Michorriza. This will also help your compost stay balanced and reduce spoilage.
A fun thing to do if you will be starting small bulbs or seeds is to save your egg shell halves. Rinse them and place them back in the carton. Then place starting soil in the shell and add your seed or bulb. When sprouted, simply & carefully crack the shell halves while planting it into the ground. There's no better calcium boost.
Speaking of Dust to Dust – “Adam, you’re the best.” Around here a lot of us have clay pan or hard pan; although clay pan is the more common of the two. Discovered recently by Dennis P., is a third entity of local soil which is dead pan. Situational example: two trees planted at the same time both on the same side of the house (NSE or west concerning). One tree is doing great, the other is not. The only difference is one is planted next to a fence. Theoretical example: when a fence is constructed, a lot of time clay or hard pan is hit 8-12” down. An auger is brought in to break through this “dead” layer. What the auger brings up and into the new opening remains in the area where the fence post is cemented in. Once the post is set and back filled this can leave these areas biotic, a.k.a. dead pan which can cause failure to thrive and/or sudden death. If you have encountered these areas leave them excavated, till and/or back fill them 50/50 with your compost and the native soil. Add a little soil buster and water well.
Recycling nowadays has come a long way. Not only glass, plastic and cardboard; but other items we would not realize the potential of and toss away. Example: the composite shingles, decking, park benches and the Woodflex Bender Board are made of items that can no longer be recycled such as – toothbrushes, eyeglass frames, goody combs from the awesome 80’s; computer cases, cell phones, lighters, TV remotes etc. These may not be items we can cash in on, however these are the items that crowed our landfills along with disposable baby diapers and are depleting our ozone when being incinerated!
Baby diapers testimony: disposable baby diapers are collected (by the sadly obliviously punished and underpaid) who then deposit them in a landfill where they are covered with tarps, and spouts are placed to capture the methane that is then used in fuels.
I wrote a majority of this column while watching over my husband Tommy resting peacefully after a near brush with death. August 2nd at 3:30am he awoke unable to breathe, his blood pressure was 248 over 156. His resting pulse rate was 106. I was faced, at a moment’s notice with being alone and raising Hunter and Harlie solely under the mercy of God. After a week in the hospital (Mercy San Juan) and surrounded by angels in disguise he lay peacefully and I write frantically effected by the week of torment and self actualization. I have come to realize how precious life and earth really are. Just the thought of having my husband as a soil amendment!
Respectfully I would like to say, “Thank You, Tommy” for sticking around sweetheart. I got blisters at the thought of digging your hole! Ashes to ashes dust to dust. Return and Recycle, it’s time we must.
Your Plant Lady
P.S. Thank you to everyone for your love, support and prayers.