Soil Health

I have been reading a lot about old/ancient methods of amending the soil. Two that interest me the most right now involve wood: Mycelium and Biochar. This brings in the micro-organiasm's needed to support healthy soil over the long term. I found a site that keeps it simple and to the point.
Greensparrow Gardens: Should we be adding charcoal to our soil?

Compost Day!

I saw on the calendar that today is compost day, who knew!  My compost bin is full so I pulled more out of the bottom to the top again, this will distribute tons of red wrigglers to the new stuff faster.  So guess I participated in Compost Day!   Otherwise, a beautiful day!    Worked on a small project for my daughter, a pincushion (it will look like stacked pillows).  The top pillow is pieced in a log cabin.  Don't know why, but I like to make pincushions.  Last Christmas, I made a pretty heart design that I found on the internet for my sister-in-laws.  Did a little free motion quilting but I did not like the way it sat so I poured acrylic beads into the point (the kind used in beanie babies) then the fiber fill and perfect!  It sat just right with the point down, showing off the top nicely.  I will be making more of this one.

Sustainable future

I found a site last week called Peak moment TV, conversations about 25-30 minutes long.  (people who are trying to create a sustainable future) Just love it!  The conversations have set my imagination to work and I want to try out some of the projects others have done.  Yesterday, I watched a program  showing how to set up a grey water system with a wetland pond  with plants that help clean the water (no water is visible) as it travels to final destination sites.  (program  #141) and it was done with local codes and approved by the city.  We rent an OLD house that has a 'grandfathered'  grey water pipe.  It's not used for it's potential, it just makes a puddle in the field.  What a waste!  I will definitely want to set up a system like this.

I am keeping a compost pile that I will take with me.   The container is a hand me down that wasn't being used!  Sad.  So yesterday I dug out the bottom (there is a door to pull up) and added the beautiful, black compost to the top with all the lovely worms.  This will distribute the moisture and bring the good bacteria in faster to recently added debris (I did this a couple weeks ago).  I have been adding the guinea pigs bedding and am running out of room,  this adds the carbon I have been lacking, works great.  I used to use rabbit years ago, fresh in the holes I'd dig for pumpkin and squash and never had problems (we had chickens, their manure HAS to be aged).  When starting my raised beds,  I am going to burn logs (in a trench, cover them with soil, this will let them smolder and put the logs out slowly.  This will create charcoal.  Good bacteria lives in it for years!  The Mayans did this (National Geographic article) and experimentation has been done with success recently.   Covered with my own compost and a layer of good dirt.  The first year should be good.   All of this is my plan for a part of my garden to be NO till, also from recent articles I have read.  Every year the beds are top dressed with compost and mulch.  If we happen to move to a property in the fall, I am going to try the lasagne  method of starting a garden.  Corn and sunflowers will be grown in quantities to large for raised beds.  So, many new methods to experiment with.  When?,  don't know.  Soon? I wish for.

Denim love to use and re-purpose jeans.  Covered a couple of tall chairs for someone as a favor with it.  I stapled right over the previous cover to make it easy.  They do look nice, should be durable too.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Make-Biochar-To-Improve-Your-Soil.aspx