The compost bin

So, in my previous post I told you that we built a compost bin. Its something that I have been wanting to do for a while now. Before I had the bin I composted some, just into the rhubarb patch,things like food scraps, apple shavings, rhubarb leaves, some banana peels... basic stuff. But now, anything that will compost goes into the bin, coffee grounds, egg shells, leftover dinner, along with the apple shavings, banana peels, and rhubarb leaves. We also toss in there the grass clippings and used sawdust from the chicken pen. And the best part of it is I believe that most if not all of the materials used to build the bin were from recycled or repurposed items.

I started with 4 boards I salvaged from my grandfathers broken down barn (see the faded red paint on the front one!), 4''x4'x1/2''. I nailed them together with posts in each corner that were taken from some old pallets to form a box. I then took some lathe (skinny little boards used for walls) that were left over from another project and nailed those to each side along the top edge. I wrapped the whole thing in chicken wire that was left from the building of the chicken coop. I set it up behind the garage/barn and that is where all our compost goes. I feel so green! It all only took about an hour to build and it has saved on throw away trash. So join me in my "green movement" and do something great for the environment!

We've gone country!

In my absence from blogging, we have got a garden tilled into our back yard and planted, tilled and planted a strawberry patch (conveniently next to the rhubarb patch!), built and started filling a compost bin, got chickens (and are about a third of the way to getting eggs! only about 11 more weeks!), and are collecting rainwater for the plants and chickens... We have been busy! Baseball is about over for the boys and the heat is laying into us hard! I have started my Farmers market season and it is going very well, with a new Monday night market starting in a couple of weeks. I will try and keep in touch with my blogger, but it's been tough. I appreciate those who have stuck with me over the past few months and ask that you just keep checking back for more! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!