Additional info about composting and the like ...

I have an addition to THIS post on composting.

I was in downtown Salina this week and came across a flier that's trying to raise awareness about environmental issues. This is interesting: 14% of the Salina landfill is filled with food waste. Click on the above link to see all about composting ... it's another way to rid yourself of food scraps. BUT, be sure to NOT put meat in your compost, or you'll have the neighborhood dogs and coons in it.

It also compares water usage of Salina residents to that of Hays residents. Now, THIS is extremely interesting. In Hays, residents use an average of 89/gal/person/day. Any guesses for Salina?????

124. An average person in Salina uses 124 gal/person/day. When I first moved here, I suggested to the Salina city commission that they make water reduction a priority. In Hays, the city puts aside $1,000/year toward washer rebates. Yes, that's right. If you buy a high-efficency washer, the city will give you $100 towards its purchase. I believe they also take your old shower head and will give you a low-flow shower head gratis.

One of the most frustrating things about living in Salina is how wasteful people are with their water. I just cringe during the summer months. Maybe that's why I work so hard to use my rain barrels. I suppose I hope that my excessive collection and not using water will make up for the extra water that others are using.

Arizona I

When we were in Arizona visiting Erik's parents after Christmas, we went to a park with hiking trails not far from their house. I kind of dig the moon. :)


Another photo in/around Madera Canyon.


Us up there. NOTICE the snow ... and the sandals on my feet ... and the winter jacket on my body. Somehow when I found out we were going to southern Arizona, I ASSUMED it'd be warm and pleasant. Well, it's NOT necessarily the case. I'm told it was unseasonably cold when we were there. Pft.


View from where we were.

Traveling tidbits

When we were going to Arizona, we stopped over in Denver. I really got a kick out of this in the restaurant. It's the right size for luggage.

You just have to remember to collect it when you leave. ;)

Light lounger

I've not seen the cat chill in this location before, but she certainly seems to like it. :)

Comments ...

Hey blog people ... I was looking at the number of comments as of late, and just want to send a big kiss out to our blog readers who comment. Seriously, reading comments certainly encourages me. :)

For growing plants from seed ...

PSA to those who grow their garden plants from seed: I was talking with someone from the local nursery today ... and she suggested to have a fan blow on them. Just a little one.

I've been in a greenhouse before, and there were fans. I wondered what they were for.

Anyhow, the woman said they are to help prevent fungus or mold from growing on baby plants. :) So Michelle, this post is for YOU! :)

Composting

About a week ago, I made THIS post about gardening.

It's taken awhile (sorry!), but now I am taking the time to put words to the promise of blogging about composting. :)

But before I start, let me say that Erik and I have about 1 to 1.5 bags of trash that we put into the collection bin PER WEEK. I don't know how much your garbage out put is, but I'm pretty proud of that. We attain that by recycling everything possible (and we recently received a SECOND recycling bin from the city so we can put out even MORE recycling!!!), along with composting.

So, first things first, here is a photo of our compost pile:


(There are some dirt piles behind the pile, but the area inside of the wire inclosure is our compost pile).

There are certainly more elaborate setups, but this home-made setup works for us.

I simply went to Lowe's and purchased the 4 metal pole thingies, and the wire mesh stuff. I don't know the exact name of it. But I guess even chicken wire would work.

I hooked the wire stuff around the metal poles, but did make sort of a "door" that I can open it if I need to.


So, how do you start? Well, it's not terribly difficult. Seriously, VERY little actual SKILL is involved!

You take items you don't eat, or maybe they've gone bad, and toss it on the pile.

THAT'S IT!!! :)

Ok, so what do you add on to the pile? Fruit and veggie scraps.

It could include:
• apple core
• bananna peel
• the outer portion of the corn
• the center of the tomato
• the core of a pepper
• ends of an onion.
• garlic peel
• egg shells
• plants I've pulled from the garden at the end of the summer

Also .... GRASS CLIPPINGS!!!!! AND LEAVES. The first year, I didn't have leaves in the pile, just the grass clippings and the food scraps. It was a pretty smelly pile (my neighbor across the fence wasn't appreciative of the pile's placement). I did some reading, and realized we needed some "brown" in the pile ... so on the leaves went! (the neighbor is less objective to the pile now).

Really, lots of stuff. If we have lettuce that sits around too long, we toss it onto the pile.

Oh, I also put some peat into it when I started.


During the summer, I have my pitchfork and turn the pile about once a week. It's also important to be sure the pile gets some moisture. If it doesn't rain for a month or so, wet the pile down, because it will help to break down the pile.

Also, I will say that I have sort of a "backup pile." This is for when I've decided it's time to put the compost into the garden. Now, HOW do I know it's ready? Well, when you're turning the pile regularly, you'll notice that the pile sort of starts to look like dark, dark, dark dirt. Once I start to see that, I don't keep piling new stuff in because I want the compost to "finish" so to speak. I pile stuff onto a smaller area, and once the compost looks like rich dirt, I remove it and put it into the garden. Then I move the stuff from the "backup" site into the regular compost pile.


And this is what we use as transport. I learned this idea over the summer from the people Paul lived with. They had a nice stainless steel container WITH A LID. Previously, we'd just been using a big yogurt container with a lid. It would get gross and icky ... but with the stainless steel container, we can give it a really good thorough cleaning.

Oh, one last thought before I pull some photos of compost piles/devices I pulled from the web: It's important to have some slats or some way air can flow through/into your pile. I wouldn't suggest just sticking it into a trash can or something that is completely enclosed.

Ok, some photos of other ways of doing this I pulled from the web:



I really like the next two:




PLEASE don't feel like you have to spend a lot of money on one like this:


(but you can if you *really* want to).

Personal Photos

Shortly after making THIS BLOG POST, I read something that really kicked my butt.

I photo-blog-stalk an amazing photographer in Utah named Rebekah Westover. She made THIS POST on her blog about the importance of getting family photos printed and put in little albums. And I NEED to just get off my duff and do this.

Let's say I'm adding this to my "to do" list for 2010. People, HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE!!!!!

I think it's going to be a good idea for me to get into this habbit before any kiddos are on the horizon/scene ... because I'm sure the picture-taking will increase 100-fold at that time!

I concede (I'm going to be an *auntie*)

So, Erik and I formally concede the first Mikols grandchild to my sister, Robin, and her husband, Chris (you can read about it HERE on their blog).

And knowing my mother-in-law, baby Laws will actually be *her* first "grandchild" too. ;) When I talked with my mother-in-law yesterday, I said "if baby is due in August, that means there will be a little one with us for Thanksgiving" ... and there was a squeal of delight.

Life is crazy-busy right now, I'm sorry. I know I still need to blog Arizona pix, Grand Canyon pix (from like JUNE!), compost info. I'm also toying with the idea of fessing up about my trip to Topeka yesterday. You know, the one where I packed 2 pair of dress shoes, 0 pairs of dress pants and 0 pairs of socks. *rolleyes* my brain is just THAT fritzy. A quick Target run was in order to be sure I was appropriately clothed before I photographed at the Capitol yesterday.

Come to think of it, those 2 or so sentences summed up my yesterday, so I'll consider it covered. ;)

The spice hoarder

Erik enjoys an A&E show called "Hoarders" about people who compulsively keep JUNK.

And he tells me he's considering turning me in for being a spice hoarder.

Here's why:


But let me tell my side of the story, OK?

I think having fresh spices and herbs around rocks. Right? Are you with me, ladies? And when I see them go ON SALE at the grocery store, well I can hardly resist spending a QUARTER when they're regularly $2.99. ARE YOU WITH ME??!??!???


So, I get them, then stash them in the freezer.

I will, however, admit that it was getting a bit out of control. There were tons of little plastic packages and it was becoming a freezer hazard. So I consolidated them into baggies and we're all much happier.

Oh, and IN MY DEFENSE, I used TWO of these items just this week in my soups ... so I use them ... OK!

:)