Our first compost pile!

This morning, before heading to my parents house, we made a compost pile.

Four bags of leaves, chopped with the lawn mower, about three gallons of kitchen scraps, and about twenty pounds of coffee grounds. One non-mulched bag of leaves on top to help retain moisture. I may tarp it tomorrow.

I think I'm allergic to all these oak leaves, but that's not gonna stop me. I'm on a mission for soil health and fertility here.

I will add more coffee grounds to the next piles as I am able. I'm having a hard time convincing Melissa to let me go get a coffee again, and I don't wanna go to that business to collect their grounds without buying something. That kinda feels weird to me.

That pic is just some clover popping up from underneath leaves. Natural carbon and nitrogen

For a while, the plan is to compost as much as I can to add soil to the north hugel. I'll start adding to the south project by way of mulched leaves and leaf mold. That project will start shortly as well. That way we'll have a couple of different approaches to making awesome soil.

Reading the soil chapter in Gaia's Garden helped me see things. It's not just about making organic matter into soil before you use it. It's about the organic matter being there for the microbes to make soil in place. It's a technique explained by Ruth Stout. Leaf mold helps kick that off some as opposed to simply putting down the leaves.

Things are coming together so much right now. I'm learning and growing and strengthening plans and resolve. We're moving in the right direction and gaining momentum. It feels good.

Off to bed now. Lots to do in the morning!

Be blessed, and support the microherd!

Nate

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