“Land is not merely soil, it is a fountain of energy flowing through a circuit of soils, plants and animals.”
Aldo Leopold, Author, philosopher, scientist and conservationist
So the soil, our soil, your soil too - it is full of worms, microbes, life - it’s actually fascinating!
In thinking about our soil and what’s possible in our allotment garden this year, I was reflecting on what we’ve done in the past and what’s possible now. Possible now with our capacity and will.
The soil becomes the life force of plants. The fuel for their vibrant show of petals and fruit. So it’s important to understand it and nourish it and it’s a perfect steady job for winter!
A recipe for a hot compost and a new way of seeing things when ‘there’s not much to see’
Hot compost is a composting method that can be ready in as little as 18days.
A cold compost in a standard compost bin will take 6-12 months so a hot compost is a real win.
We’ve done a few hot composts over the years so Dave has all the equipment if anyone local wants to borrow.
Ideally you need all the piles of stuff to fill your pile/ bin (carbon and nitrogen based materials) ready, a compost thermometer, compost turner and some strength and will.
Your compost pile needs to be wide and tall to give it the volume to turn hot. Minimum 1m square by 1.5 tall.
I’ve probably got the strength but not the time and Dave doesn’t have the strength at the moment so not to be disheartened I have a different plan.
I am planning to laminate myself a little menu reminder about perfect compost make up and pop it in the green house for reference!
It will spur me on to know I won’t have to buy so many plastic bags of the stuff in spring! Although note to UK readers Lidl is a great place for buying compost. I learnt this by watching other folks load up their trolleys with 6-8 bags of it with their weekly food shop!
It means our compost won’t be a super fast hot compost this year but it will not be a horrible neglected sludge either!
“Happiness is impermanent, like everything else. In order for happiness to be extended and renewed, you have to learn how to feed your happiness. Nothing can survive without food, including happiness; your happiness can die if you don’t know how to nourish it. If you cut a flower but you don’t put it in some water, the flower will wilt in a few hours. Even if happiness is already manifesting, we have to continue to nourish it.” Thich Nhat Hanh
Can you see why I’ve chosen to focus in on it in the depths of winter when we’re all feeling a little less like ourselves than we might have been a few months back? is so key isn’t it and January can be a hard time to get to that… I try to embrace all the seasons and their gifts and I’m actually really geeking out about compost for the first time…