Compost Happens

Well I have taken the plunge and started my Square Foot Gardening program (see the book by Mel Bartholomew). 


As you can see I have my first 4 ft by 4 ft square foot garden worked out:

You can see the weed block on the bottom - which lets through moisture but blocks weeds. There is a little organic material in the bottom to stop it blowing about. 
I need to get bags of peat moss and vermiculate next to create my 'Mel's Mix'


I have the compost heap ready - as you can see below:

In Fact I have four compost heaps here. One main one - within the fencing. There is a pile of rotting grass clippings and in the wheely bin there are some leaves. To the left of the grass there is a large pile of leaves also. 

The compost mix in the fence was made up of rotting vegetation, grass clippings and leaves. I ran a lawn mower over everything to get it down in size. I need to turn the compost heap once or twice a week so it really starts to get oxygen in there and rots away nicely. I need it to be ready for late March - so I need it to rot as fast as possible. 

My second square foot garden is under construction:

I just need the ground leveled and the blocks in place.  I intend to spray the boring looking grey blocks with a brown colour to make them look more organic. 

You are supposed to use wood to make the 4 by 4 ft box - but I chose concrete as it will last longer and I can also grow stuff in the little holes in the side. I will probably put carrots in there as I need a good 12" of earth. The main part is only supposed to be 6 inches. In all Mel's experimentation there is no benefit for using more than 6 inches - only with Carrots and other long root vegetables. 

That is where I am now - updates to follow...

Lance.