How To Make A Compost Heap

Illus. by Marc Brown

Super Soil, from Marc Brown's Your First Garden Book (ISBN 9780316112178) (the author of Arthur series which is also PBS kids' show), is how I plan to do my compost heap from now on:
"Compost is rich organic matter.  When you add it to the soil it helps plants grow.  Use it for your gardens indoors and out as an extra boost.
1. To recycle waste and make compost, or super soil.
2. Dig a hole about 3 feet wide and 2 to 3 feet deep.
3. In the hole make layers of plant matter (vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and leaves) and soil.  It will become rich compost as the plant matter decays.
4. Check the hole now and then.  When the leaves and grass clippings have completely disappeared, dig in with your shovel and mix up the layers.  Your compost is now ready to use!

photo from Southern Living

You can get fancy with compost heaps, but it shouldn't keep you from composting.  I've had no problems just heaping my compost in a pile out of the way but not too far from the kitchen.  Living in the country, I take advantage of being able to burn trash such as boxes food comes in, I take plastics and metals to a recycling center, and I compost all my kitchen scraps.  This leaves very little for the trash man to carry away.  My daughter recently informed me that her carbon imprint at home was practically nothing, but is pretty bad at the dorms.  I'm not into "carbon footprints" but I like the way they recycled everything during World War II, had victory gardens and composted to enrich their gardens.  In fact, you can actually just place your scraps in empty garden beds over the winter and till over with a hoe.  It's pretty well decomposed by spring.

from Southern Living

Compost heaps should be placed somewhere out of the way and shady.  Mark a 6 x6 foot area.  I pile kitchen scraps, especially egg shells (not meat or grease), raked-up leaves (even better if you chomp them up first with a mower), grass clippings, wood ashes from the fireplace, and garden refuge.  Cover with an inch of soil and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of lime to keep odors down if necessary, but I don't have a problem with odors.  Add 2 cups of garden fertilizer and keep layering up to several feet.  Water often in dry weather conditions.  It helps to leave an impression on top to catch rain water or snow.  Turn pile with a pitch fork occasionally.  Add more soil to keep the heap from looking unsightly.  I read in article in Southern Living magazine where a man grew cucumbers in his compost heap, (it was surrounded by a circle of chicken wire that the cumbers trellised up).  Now that's something I've got to try!

Nifty Recycling Bins

I picked up a copy of BH&G Big Style for Small Rooms 2012, and got a GREAT idea right off the bat--laundry baskets lined with plastic bags to make handsome recycling bins.

The baskets are actually laundry baskets.  I don't normally buy tall kitchen garbage bags, but I bought the odor control kind because I'm keeping this conveniently on the porch.  We live an hour away from any recycling places, so we don't make trips often.  The taller receptacles not only store more recycling, but we can use the tall bags to simply lift them out and throw in the back of the truck and carry to the recycling plant.

I rinse out all of my recycling before placing in the bins.  This can be done by filling the sink with water and rinsing small batches of recycling as they pile up on my counter by the sink.  I use a baby bottle scrubber to clean cans with sharp edges.  (Can openers can be purchased that don't leave sharp edges).  Rinsing cuts down on odors and pests.

Homemade Firestarters

Homemade firestarters work really great!  You'll have a blazing fire in no time.  First is a tutorial for an easy way to recycle egg crates, candle wax, and dryer lint into firestarters.  Next, are the instructions for using pinecones from the yard to dip in scented candle wax and give as a gift basket.

Save cardboard egg cartons and keep one nearby the dryer when cleaning out the lint.  Place the lint in each egg opening.

I use stubs of candles and leftover candle wax.  Place them in a metal can inside a pan of boiling water.

When the wax is melted, pour it over the lint so that it soaks thoroughly.  They are easy to tear apart when you need to build a fire.

(photo from Gooseberry Patch Christmas 3, p. 52)

One thing we have plenty of around our house are pinecones.  These can be dipped in leftover candle wax that's already tinted to make a lovely fireside gift.  To de-critter, be sure to bake the pinecones on a foil-lined cookie sheet.  Space the pinecones evenly and bake for 35-45 min. at 250 degrees.  Watch carefully and handle with care.  Do not use for 24 hours.

Pinecone Firestarters Gift

Red or green wax dye (optional) 
Paraffin
"Christmas" scented oil (optional)

(or instead of the first three items, use leftover Scentsy or candle wax that's already scented and dyed)

Double boiler

Dry pinecones, free of any sap residue (see baking instructions above)

Wire or candle wicking

1.  Heat wax or paraffin in a double boiler to approximately 140 degrees.

2.  Hook a short length of wire onto pinecone.

3.  Holding wire, carefully dip pinecone into hot wax.

4.  Set pinecone on its base, and allow to cool and dry for a few hours before using.