It's a nice day, but I'm stuck inside! So here's some notes on compost.

Arg! It turned out to be a lovely day outside but we are finishing up some indoor spring cleaning which means I have to stay inside. Not that that is such a bad thing. See, my rabbit Chinny decided to give me a litter of 7 healthy kits! Makes me smile to see them each time I pass her cage. I use Chinny's droppings in the garden, so temporarily having 8 rabbits giving me poop is not a bad thing to me at all.

Rabbit manure is wonderful for the garden because it can be added straight to it at any time. Whether there are plants in the bed or not, mostly because it does not burn the plants. That is why it is called a "cold" manure. Unlike "hot" manures like horse or cow, which has to age before being added in.

Now if you prefer not to put manure straight in the garden, that is ok. Its fine in the compost pile too. I adore composting so if my beds are full everything will go into the compost pile to get broken down to be dug into the bed the next spring. All kinds of things can go into the compost pile. More than most people think can. Of course I am an oddball and do not compost in the traditional way. I take a 5 gallon rubbermaid tub and drill 8 holes in the bottom to allow drainage. I put a scoop of garden soil in and daily add stuff to it. I turn it each time I add to it, stirring it up similar to a cake mix, I want it well blended each day and after I turn it I pour on about 1/2 cup of water, once a week pouring in milk instead of water. This process fills the tub after about 9 days and then I have to setup another one. But I keep turning and adding water or milk to the old ones until they are done then they get added to a new raised bed or an old one that has had some settling during the growing season.

The only time I can not compost this way is during deep winter. This means temps that rarely get over 50 during the day or night. Night temps can be lower if it is warm during the day, but once day time temps get inconsistant composting takes a break.

That's my post for today. I'll be back!