Chapter 13
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To make compost: 1. Start the compost pile directly on bare earth to allow worms and microorganisms to aerate the pile and transport to gardens. 2. Lay down a base layer of twigs or straw for drainage and aeration. 3. Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist ingredients like food scraps with dry ingredients like leaves and straw. 4. Add nitrogen sources like manure or grass clippings to activate the pile and speed decomposition. Keep the pile moist by watering or covering to retain heat and moisture. Turn the pile every few weeks with a pitchfork to aerate.
Chapter 13
- 1. Compost How to Compost 1. Start your compost pile on bare earth. This allows worms and other beneficial organisms to aerate the compost and be transported to your garden beds. 2. Lay twigs or straw first, a few inches deep. This aids drainage and helps aerate the pile. 3. Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist and dry. Moist ingredients are food scraps, tea bags, seaweed, etc. Dry materials are straw, leaves, sawdust pellets and wood ashes. If you have wood ashes, sprinkle in thin layers, or they will clump together and be slow to break down. 4. Add manure, green manure ( clover, buckwheat, wheatgrass, grass clippings) or any nitrogen source. This activates the compost pile and speeds the process along.
- 2. ? 5. Keep compost moist. Water occasionally, or let rain do the job. 6. Cover with anything you have - wood, plastic sheeting, carpet scraps. Covering helps retain moisture and heat, two essentials for compost. Covering also prevents the compost from being over-watered by rain. The compost should be moist, but not soaked and sodden. 7. Turn. Every few weeks give the pile a quick turn with a pitchfork or shovel. This aerates the pile. Oxygen is required for the process to work, and turning "adds" oxygen. You can skip this step if you have a ready supply of coarse material, like straw.
- 3. Pretty card ? 1.Choose flowers and leaves from outside that you wish to press and use. To press the items you gathered, you can put them in a flower press or simply between the pages of a heavy book. In a day or two, you will have a dried pressed flower. ? 2.Select your card stock, which you can find at your local craft store. Card stock comes in a variety of colors and textures. You can even find card stock that is already folded and in bundles with envelopes. ? 3.Decide on the size of your card or gift tag and cut the paper. If you want to add a decorative edge to your card, cut the paper slightly larger than your intended card. Use a ruler and place it on the cardstock parallel to the edge and in from the edge about half an inch. With a damp paintbrush, make a straight line along the ruler's edge. Holding the paper secure with one hand, begin to tear away that extra half inch, using the wet line and ruler as a guide. This creates a natural torn edge. Fold the card stock in half, lining up the torn edge to the now-backside edge of the card.
- 4. ? 4.Arrange your leaves and flowers on the card or tag using tweezers. Start with the largest pieces and work your way to the smaller ones. Once you have a sense of what you want your card to look like, remove the pressed pieces carefully from the paper. ? 5.Apply glue or other adhesive to the backs of your pressed flowers and leaves using a small paint brush. Don't overdo the glue or adhesive; small dabs will do. Position the flowers on the card with the tweezers and let them stick. Wipe away any glue that oozes out from underneath. ? 6.Allow the adhesive to set for a few minutes. Then take wax paper and place it over your card face. On top of that, place a heavy book and let sit overnight. Or if you prefer, seal the card with clear contact paper or cover it with wax paper and iron it. ? 7.Finish your card by writing your message on the front or inside. Place it in an envelope and deliver. ?