This is the topic of our new gardening blog poll. The choices range from: bird droppings, seaweed, horse manure and more. Please drop by and submit your vote. The poll and subsequent posts regarding composting, compost piles, compost tumblers, how to make a compost pile, starting a compost pile, how to make a compost bin, ect., will also be posted at www.mygardentips.net

They say that plants in Hawaii grow unbelievably in fast and furious. Is there a connection to the volcanic material in the soil?

Build your Own Compost or just Buy Compost?

Should we just give in and buy our compost from the local nursery, or build it yourself? I suppose the answer lies in whether or not you have place for a compost bin. If you do, I’d recommend making it yourself. If you don’t, research your local market, in search of the perfect compost. Ask at your local farmer’s market, as you’ll have a better chance of finding affordable home-made compost. Let’s assume you do have space in your garden for composting… the next question is: Should I build it myself or buy a ready-made compost tumbler?

Compost Tumbler or Compost Pile?

Ready-made has its advantages, but home-built is my choice personally, despite its disadvantages. There’s just no substitute for this natural recycling experience. What are the basic steps in building your own compost pile? How does one go about starting a composting pile?

What to put in your Compost Pile?

Actually, the real question should be, what don’t you put in it? The answer to that is simple: Don’t put in cat or dog droppings, or any type of meat. That makes it pretty simple. Put in everything else, like grass clippings, manure, straw, leaves, fruit and vegetable refuse, coffee grounds, seaweed, even ripped up newspapers. How’s that for recycling? The basic rule is 1 part green stuff to 20 parts inorganic stuff, like the leaves or newspaper. Remember to cover your live stuff with the dead stuff, so it doesn’t stink too much, and this also aids in the aeration and decomposition. Once a week or so, mix up the compost pile so that air and dry materials gets mixed in. The easiest method is to remember to cover your mushy organic materials with enough shredded paper or dead leaves, each time you throw in your kitchen scraps. For more Spring Time Tips, visit the no-crank site or gardening tips blog.