tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55679732357319431812024-03-16T11:51:28.507-07:00Confessions of a ComposterGet the dirt on backyard composting in Hamilton County.Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-85298538925532151712024-02-28T06:05:00.000-08:002024-02-28T06:05:24.140-08:00Compost Like a Pro<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28uu6Ka8_SiLu7QKFYa1ChaCQWQwlnS0pDcQn0dku5KDxMcuEDoh-kS3gSZ48mTI1AF5cgIp5EDd5_3mBoTFWT7w5oIj4u6yKG8jizyauygdYOHtNU0SpLE1lG1ipgne1lBvQeRhk5A2-2J1qHSBiIk0hDosSq1nTP1s5fP6HOpWgD-p5UrEulx4S24PP/s2000/processed-988A20A7-27EA-4DAD-B0EE-649DAA0F03D6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1501" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28uu6Ka8_SiLu7QKFYa1ChaCQWQwlnS0pDcQn0dku5KDxMcuEDoh-kS3gSZ48mTI1AF5cgIp5EDd5_3mBoTFWT7w5oIj4u6yKG8jizyauygdYOHtNU0SpLE1lG1ipgne1lBvQeRhk5A2-2J1qHSBiIk0hDosSq1nTP1s5fP6HOpWgD-p5UrEulx4S24PP/w147-h195/processed-988A20A7-27EA-4DAD-B0EE-649DAA0F03D6.jpeg" width="147" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Earlier this month, I was able to attend the US Composting Council's Compost Conference in Daytona Beach, FL. As the newest backyard composter of the bunch, I felt overwhelmed by the scale of these massive composting operations, but still left feeling more motivated than ever after being surrounded by such a passionate community. On the airplane back to Ohio (which was somehow just as warm as Florida? In February?!), I "broke down" a few takeaways that I could apply in my own backyard.</div><div><br /><p></p><p></p><ol><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Find your why.</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Every person who composted had a motivation that drove them to consistently put in the extra effort. Some were motivated to compost in order to restore soil health. For others, it was to reduce food waste in the landfill and slow the impacts of climate change. Many stated that they started their compost operations because they wanted to do everything they could to maintain a healthy and thriving community for themselves and for their families. What drives you?</span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Know your limits.</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> One of the scariest things a composter can do is grow too fast. Accepting more materials than you can handle can lead to odors and mismanaged piles. Pace yourself. In your backyard, start with just vegetative scraps. As you get more and more comfortable, you can try out other compostables such as grains, eggshells, or other <a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2011/04/surprising-things-you-can-compost.html">surprising things you could compost</a>, without getting overwhelmed or fatigued. </span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Team Up! </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Partnerships and community go a long way! Find backyard composters near you to discuss ideas, celebrate wins, and problem solve with. Collaboration can come in all sizes, and composting doesn't have to be a solo sport. </span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And with these thoughts, I leave you with a final question: Is it time to turn your compost? <o:p></o:p></p><div>Guest Blogger: Sam Plante</div></div>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-29031618480524360902024-01-10T09:54:00.000-08:002024-01-10T09:54:38.093-08:00Difficult to Compost Compostables: Christmas Trees<p class="MsoNormal">Are Christmas Trees compostable? If they are<b>
<a>not</a></b> artificial<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span>trees,
then of course they are! They are organic material, so they are going to decompose
over time. But are they a good fit for your backyard compost? Let’s break down
the components of your Christmas tree.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Are your decorations compostable? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraph">Take off your ornaments, your ribbon, your garland,
and your lights. If you opted for <a>natural</a> decorations, like a popcorn or cranberry garland or some dried oranges as
ornaments, you can put those straight into your compost pile! Be sure to check
if the thread is compostable, and if not, deconstruct before adding. Your
lights can be stored for next year, along with any other non-compostable items.
If you are not looking to keep these items, drop them off at a local reuse
center if possible!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Do you want to compost your tree needles? <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraph">There are positives and negatives to composting tree
needles. Christmas tree (and other evergreen) needles have a waxy coat over
them. This keeps them from clumping together and extends the time of breakdown.
If you need better aeration of your compost pile, adding a few may not be a bad
idea, but keep in mind that your compost pile’s decomposition rate is already
much slower because we are in the mostly dormant, winter months. You CAN use
needles as a mulch, especially for <a>acid loving plants</a>.
Pine needles also can be <a href="https://www.marthastewart.com/8043258/upcycling-ideas-for-fallen-pine-needles">repurposed</a>
as a fire starter, drawer freshener, soap, or more. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a><b>What
can you do with your tree?</b></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraph">Christmas trees can be substantial in size. You want
material that goes into your backyard compost bin to be small enough to break
down (usually within the season). If you don’t have a chipper in your backyard,
it could take years for a tree to fully break down, and you may just not have
enough room in your compost bin to wait that long. Check with your local
community to see if they have Christmas tree pick-up or drop<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Elise%20Erhart" datetime="2024-01-10T12:07">-</ins></span><span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:Elise%20Erhart" datetime="2024-01-10T12:07"> </del></span>off
programs. If not, Hamilton County is still accepting trees at these <a href="https://hamiltoncountyr3source.org/253/Yard-Trimmings-Drop-Off-Sites">drop
off locations</a> on Saturday, January 13<sup>th</sup>, 2024, from 12-3pm.</p><p class="MsoListParagraph"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzBLubEUG6OJLScHXqdryaUexH0Uvekne14jEbKZP7J33t94EhSAK-EaVPwexTzq_3_AlcpwOab1sc2svCYTu1jLrWs0D0WvBp3aH7wbqctKD6dNnKYSdHavuovEKBr4Y6U6Azdio2q99alU-VcTVFoJd5-z3DdSWloMacaw3ZCU-zqt1JW4fJvN4PRJ2/s6682/Christmas%20Tree.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6682" data-original-width="4455" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzBLubEUG6OJLScHXqdryaUexH0Uvekne14jEbKZP7J33t94EhSAK-EaVPwexTzq_3_AlcpwOab1sc2svCYTu1jLrWs0D0WvBp3aH7wbqctKD6dNnKYSdHavuovEKBr4Y6U6Azdio2q99alU-VcTVFoJd5-z3DdSWloMacaw3ZCU-zqt1JW4fJvN4PRJ2/s320/Christmas%20Tree.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoListParagraph">Hopefully these tips will help you best manage your tree as
you are starting your new year. Speaking of New Year, don’t forget to set up
some compost resolutions using tips from some of our past New Year blogs here:</p><p class="MsoListParagraph"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2018/12/my-new-years-composting-resolution.html">My
New Years Composting Resolution</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2016/01/new-years-resolution-feed-my-soil.html">New
Years Resolution: Feed my Soil</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Composting! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Guest Blogger: Sam Plante <o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-88045297013431310172023-12-11T03:40:00.000-08:002023-12-11T03:40:10.871-08:00A Composter's Christmas Carol<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">As
the holiday nears, I love spending time going over some favorite festive
movies, and how I can apply lessons from the characters to my own life. A
classic Christmas tale: A Christmas Carol, uses the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present,
and Future to teach us lessons. But what advice could these ghosts have for
Confessions of a Composter?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRnEuvmbcU9VRr1spnFw7kNzp6-od-_LSDDdcjKKpOxnQEsgmdVXFYILwYRbmdJV6PNMA5eoXPbR2PHe_JGjmgPUV2Bi91eacjDBI6raZK32iAJcW-IivafUnO9Cw-GGHTYE8Q2CU8avZNFTeWWNeiPeDvwe_n9-mQNMFeWkF4DDwFvrlYJVnyOQRB6eL/s1024/dried%20orange%20garland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRnEuvmbcU9VRr1spnFw7kNzp6-od-_LSDDdcjKKpOxnQEsgmdVXFYILwYRbmdJV6PNMA5eoXPbR2PHe_JGjmgPUV2Bi91eacjDBI6raZK32iAJcW-IivafUnO9Cw-GGHTYE8Q2CU8avZNFTeWWNeiPeDvwe_n9-mQNMFeWkF4DDwFvrlYJVnyOQRB6eL/s320/dried%20orange%20garland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="line-height: 107%;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Well,
the Ghost of Christmas Past has a few reminders about your compost pile from
last year. You remember? That finished, turned, compost that’s been curing in
your bin? It may be a good idea to find storage for this compost, as composting
takes longer in the winter, so you may need some extra space in your compost
bins to accommodate the extra material. </span></div></span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Ghost of Christmas Present reminds us to make choices
during the holiday season that keep materials out of the landfill and to make
mindful purchases, while still enjoying the holiday season and celebrating. Buy
wrapping paper that is compostable<a></a><a>: without glitter or foil.</a><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span>You
can also make all sorts of compostable decorations. Stick to natural garland<a>, and</a><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></span>try
out making decorations from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBtPGBDygkw">dried orange</a> peels or
from cranberries, which would be welcome additions to your compost pile after
the holiday comes to a close.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div><!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Ghost of Christmas Future is planning ahead, but is still
keeping the Christmas spirit by thinking of others. Would someone that you know
want to receive a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/F2C-Material-Aerating-Assembling-Lightweight/dp/B09GVW8NNC/ref=asc_df_B09GVW8NNC/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=647165292229&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8864897504226660005&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9015695&hvtargid=pla-1951499991078&psc=1&mcid=741cb6f0c03e320986db5d7f7f1d7bf9">compost
bin</a> as a Christmas present this year? It may be a good idea, but maybe
isn’t the best to keep as a surprise. If you are considering gifting a backyard
compost bin to a friend, ask to make sure they are ready to commit to taking
care of it- but if they are, you just helped a friend begin a new, eco friendly
practice that keeps on giving.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_3" language="JavaScript">
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</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Guest Blogger: Sam Plante</span></p><div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><div style="mso-element: comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_3" language="JavaScript">
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</div>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-91033696981473304422023-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:002023-11-22T09:29:35.887-08:00Your Compost Pile's Uninvited Thanksgiving Guests<p> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanksgiving is a time to gather with the people you are
closest to, but when it comes to your compost bin, there are some guests that
you would rather NOT see. Here’s how to avoid some of your uninvited visitors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix4-4h5zune0jCaWH9UMcvKhfy9RMKSCpc-V6p6-FxJFChgymalgPoWfXxCAVGT3LamF2Pp_TA5fgL2sbQpmqwyGaJN62TSFc3LMw0bZQPRkc3_PW8GVuxynb2zr-pnRlvT0CjHNuphAuzoAqobgDg_5-Bhgk8oJh9GD1KVxlKbfVMxtNrt8b-_cDcc5D/s780/squirrel%20eating%20apple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="780" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix4-4h5zune0jCaWH9UMcvKhfy9RMKSCpc-V6p6-FxJFChgymalgPoWfXxCAVGT3LamF2Pp_TA5fgL2sbQpmqwyGaJN62TSFc3LMw0bZQPRkc3_PW8GVuxynb2zr-pnRlvT0CjHNuphAuzoAqobgDg_5-Bhgk8oJh9GD1KVxlKbfVMxtNrt8b-_cDcc5D/s320/squirrel%20eating%20apple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> . </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;">Racoons, rats, and squirrels love to feast on
uncovered foods. Specifically, any meats and creamy or buttery dishes that you
may put in your compost pile. As a rule, avoid putting your leftover turkey or
bones in your compost bin, as well as your creamy and buttery dishes, to let
the critters know your compost is not on their holiday menu. <o:p></o:p></span></p></li><li><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> . </span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2011/07/heres-quick-way-to-get-rid-of-fruit.html">Fruit flies</a> <!--[if !supportNestedAnchors]--><a></a><!--[endif]--> may not harm your compost, but they can be a nuisance to
have around. If you do not want to mingle with them every time you take out
your compost, bury your food waste with leaves or paper scraps. Fruit flies
won’t burrow to lay eggs, so a nice layer of carbon should prevent them from
settling in.</p><div><!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<div><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript">
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</div></li><li><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anaerobic
bacteria<a> is another guest, that while it doesn’t directly harm
the compost, isn’t a sign of a healthy compost pile. It can create a swampy
smell that you (and your neighbors) may not appreciate. Remember to turn your
compost to aerate your soil! Having a healthy balance of greens vs browns,
maintaining balanced moisture levels (you want your compost to be lightly damp
but not drenched), and frequently turning your compost will keep your compost
bin from being the host with the most.</a></span></p></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal">Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Please reference our
previous articles on other tips to keep your Thanksgiving compost-friendly: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2014/11/top-ten-turkey-day-tips.html" target="_blank">Top Ten Turkey Day Tips</a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-train-your-thanksgiving-guests.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white;">How to
Train Your Thanksgiving Guests</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2017/11/save-foods-guest-imator-is.html"><span style="background: white; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Save the Food’s GUEST-IMATOR is
Thanksgiving’s BFF</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #2e2e2e; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogQRLgL6E5qChfcTz1SwWQcJHPo82BQN8f7eLYTpHpJGR2cszUBLV6nrF-sBbl3PRD0Pjufv5jLwhyk01r-2B6w5rwV2ppOSsLI4FWxTADZzyBCXO0rLWxLHMYwooyCHzY_QXRVzPU3CTcnoNiCeUUgp1ADTyren1wsHX5tQs-t9EDTyiv3pPKw-EdFzZ/s4032/Sam%20Plante%20Image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sam picking blackberries" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogQRLgL6E5qChfcTz1SwWQcJHPo82BQN8f7eLYTpHpJGR2cszUBLV6nrF-sBbl3PRD0Pjufv5jLwhyk01r-2B6w5rwV2ppOSsLI4FWxTADZzyBCXO0rLWxLHMYwooyCHzY_QXRVzPU3CTcnoNiCeUUgp1ADTyren1wsHX5tQs-t9EDTyiv3pPKw-EdFzZ/w240-h320/Sam%20Plante%20Image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest blogger, Sam Plante</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br />Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-26236268705550914372023-11-06T07:43:00.000-08:002023-11-06T07:43:06.066-08:00An Abundance of Thanks…. and of Leaves<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">While students are making turkey hats and local farmers are
capping off their annual fall harvest, we like to take time to give
thanks in the abundance of good that has come in the last year. For many of us,
we see an abundance of leaves around this time as well. If you were able to
make enough upcycled leaf bins referenced in the previous post, you may be all
set, but for many, the trees just kept giving. What can you do with what’s
left?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb1GnmG_Mj_ukNWy6fOYT-fGMMQ3BJQC8HZy47hdEdQY-Ja0zzBmxWlGC-dZ62x5Yy7RLmvxUd6HJFHpyjPUrvc_q6zC6xrt2IkOTAobxBlI-Rx30QlmwBUO5Jsp_0oBvnxqfEAxplZp2Uwo1WxYtMYPO0JQwTilKAUTZIjXYLBRh5HGAgTbLW7Ydt2Px/s880/Leaves%20Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="basket of fall leaves" border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="880" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb1GnmG_Mj_ukNWy6fOYT-fGMMQ3BJQC8HZy47hdEdQY-Ja0zzBmxWlGC-dZ62x5Yy7RLmvxUd6HJFHpyjPUrvc_q6zC6xrt2IkOTAobxBlI-Rx30QlmwBUO5Jsp_0oBvnxqfEAxplZp2Uwo1WxYtMYPO0JQwTilKAUTZIjXYLBRh5HGAgTbLW7Ydt2Px/w320-h213/Leaves%20Image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Mow them down and leave them.
The leaves make a great home for local pollinators that need a warmer,
insulated habitat through the winter. Mowing the leaves down may help them
decompose faster before spring and prevent them from taking over your yard. The
leaf matter that is left will help your yard or greenspace the following year,
as it keeps nutrients in the soil and helps suppress weeds.</span></li><li><a href="https://cagisportal.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=add31af0882b4c469a20ed66daa0a0b2" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Check</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> if your neighborhood offers
a local yard waste collection program. You can check your neighborhood website,
and if not, feel free to drop off your excess leaves at one of the </span><a href="https://hcdoes.org/253/Yard-Trimmings-Drop-Off-Sites" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Hamilton County Drop Off
sites</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">!</span></li><li>Share the wealth! Do you know
any composters looking for some extra carbon for their compost pile? Check with
a neighbor, a community garden, or a local business that may be composting to
see if they could use your leafy matter.</li></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is also a great time to appreciate all the community
composters and neighborhood groups who work hard to keep natural materials out
of landfills and return nutrients to the local soil. For many of you- that’s
you! So, thank you.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogQRLgL6E5qChfcTz1SwWQcJHPo82BQN8f7eLYTpHpJGR2cszUBLV6nrF-sBbl3PRD0Pjufv5jLwhyk01r-2B6w5rwV2ppOSsLI4FWxTADZzyBCXO0rLWxLHMYwooyCHzY_QXRVzPU3CTcnoNiCeUUgp1ADTyren1wsHX5tQs-t9EDTyiv3pPKw-EdFzZ/s4032/Sam%20Plante%20Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sam picking blackberries" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogQRLgL6E5qChfcTz1SwWQcJHPo82BQN8f7eLYTpHpJGR2cszUBLV6nrF-sBbl3PRD0Pjufv5jLwhyk01r-2B6w5rwV2ppOSsLI4FWxTADZzyBCXO0rLWxLHMYwooyCHzY_QXRVzPU3CTcnoNiCeUUgp1ADTyren1wsHX5tQs-t9EDTyiv3pPKw-EdFzZ/w240-h320/Sam%20Plante%20Image.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest blogger, Sam Plante</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-81849237159802181582023-10-27T06:56:00.000-07:002023-10-27T06:55:59.981-07:00Addams Family Composting<p> "<i>Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is
chaos for the fly.”</i> -Morticia Addams</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZEDbYOl6HZFrLoXxcUVMfLRxiFz8ylO-vtwQP0ef1T1S5EUXyB4twaUDAXVNU1fxJ2bherLBkrqNu4KU5wGoKCRn7_7k2JcK6xOFXywih89ktfeS9-Qojs7QG1RCogAyhYH3pncLFUOUNJXV1ybJzeO17YJ7oqIbcsyYpYWkbJaxsjgO_kYZ3qYVFjsV/s2340/Morticia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="2340" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZEDbYOl6HZFrLoXxcUVMfLRxiFz8ylO-vtwQP0ef1T1S5EUXyB4twaUDAXVNU1fxJ2bherLBkrqNu4KU5wGoKCRn7_7k2JcK6xOFXywih89ktfeS9-Qojs7QG1RCogAyhYH3pncLFUOUNJXV1ybJzeO17YJ7oqIbcsyYpYWkbJaxsjgO_kYZ3qYVFjsV/s320/Morticia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Who better to share their composting secrets this Halloween than
a spooky and kooky family with a literal cemetery in their backyard?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We interviewed a few members of the Addams family and pulled
together their top three tips for creating beautiful, crumbly compost for your
garden.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Wednesday</b>: “I don’t bury hatchets. I sharpen
them.” A nice sharp spade will do wonders whether you are digging a grave or
harvesting compost. Having the </span><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2012/06/composting-tools-what-you-really-need.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">right
tools</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> for the job makes a big difference.</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Uncle Fester</b>: “My name is Fester. It means “to rot””.
Every day we create food scraps such as apple cores, banana peels, and coffee
grounds that we can collect for composting. Every little bit adds up to an
important source of energy for the microbes “rotting” our scraps into compost.</span></li><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>Addams Family Motto</b>: “We gladly feast on those
who would subdue us.” Ignore the naysayers and keep on composting. You know the
value of all of the yard trimmings and food scraps breaking down into an important soil amendment for your garden.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now snap twice and get composting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWU3p2Z4-3F36OoJ7B-uqLmEXpOYGo38Kw-fnZKnX_UjpbFzLaDq2DfDtELxizohlGTqKneiFbtl-Ml66UReBSZ8NB9eEYjYyppGnx7umvx-TWWzXLMV5nqzxDKJMpBD7aaAH4OJW7gHxdUdZthtvq93DWyT0jIZOaieL4BL-jB7ejDDR_6Upx5Mi8Cdx/s880/jackie-coogan-ted-cassidy-actor-television-retro-series-sitcom-addams-family-fester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="880" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWU3p2Z4-3F36OoJ7B-uqLmEXpOYGo38Kw-fnZKnX_UjpbFzLaDq2DfDtELxizohlGTqKneiFbtl-Ml66UReBSZ8NB9eEYjYyppGnx7umvx-TWWzXLMV5nqzxDKJMpBD7aaAH4OJW7gHxdUdZthtvq93DWyT0jIZOaieL4BL-jB7ejDDR_6Upx5Mi8Cdx/s320/jackie-coogan-ted-cassidy-actor-television-retro-series-sitcom-addams-family-fester.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Wishing you all a spooky Halloween and Happy Composting! If
you love Halloween as much as me and want to check out the previous year’s
posts, see the links below.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2021/10/did-boogeyman-snatch-your-compost.html"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Did the
Boogeyman Snatch Your Compost Blogger</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2020/10/fall-composting-tips-from-mummy.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Fall Composting Tips from a Mummy</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-headless-horsemans-guide-to.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">The Headless Horseman’s Guide to Backyard Composting </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2018/10/compost-lessons-from-swamp-monster.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Compost Lessons from the Swamp Monster </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2017/10/three-reasons-werewolves-make-terrible.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Three Reasons Werewolves Make Terrible Composters </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2016/10/compost-ghost-halloween-ghost-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Compost Ghost </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2015/10/frankenstein-would-have-made-remarkable.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Was Frankenstein an Outstanding Composter?</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-to-practice-compost-witchcraft.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">How to Practice Compost Witchcraft</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2013/10/compost-like-vampire.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Compost Like a Vampire</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2012/10/three-warning-signs-your-compost-pile.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Three Warning Signs Your Compost is a Zombie</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><u><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2011/11/smashing-pumpkins.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Smashing Pumpkins </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-38068044410639023922023-09-01T07:56:00.000-07:002023-09-01T07:56:21.761-07:00The Seasons are Turning and So Should Your Compost<p>This is not a drill, people. </p><p>Pumpkin Spice Latte’s are
peeking around the autumn-hued corner and before you know it, we will have more
leaves than we can we handle piling up in our yards. This year, I am planning
to be ready by taking a few steps now.</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Aerating my compost bins.</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> I prefer a
pitchfork or a wingdigger to </span><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2013/04/turn-baby-turn-compost-inferno.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">add
air to my compost pile</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. Adding air gives those microorganisms a boost and
speeds up decomposition, which means more room for those fall leaves.</span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Finish off those leaves.</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Still have crispy
leaves from last year? I do. I am going to add water to those leaves and stop
at a local coffee shop to pick up a latte for me and a </span><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-secret-ingredient-for-speeding-up.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">large
bag of spent grounds for my compost</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. The infusion of water added with
nitrogen from the grounds will further speed up the composting.</span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Make upcycled leaf bins. </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Last year I ran out of space even with </span><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2010/11/leaf-mold-compost-how-to-turn-your.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">three
seasonal leaf bins</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> so I plan on stopping by a local reuse store to see if
they have any fencing material that might do the job.</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe my excitement for sweater-weather is going to my head,
but I am looking forward to completing my September Composting To Do List. What
are your fall-time resolutions?<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDHEz-raIbiVCK1iMEtp1wTX-qIVofZYk4qayj-91jEME7iEB9htc05tdy8QdA1EY8ATdFbcNwyIIlPz4g4j2f8iuVl6Vth276BnRXlDLL1vhQKyRDQVaKvC5AihzIjlHOl3vF5uTbnDIokUd7lDv__d3p7I7YlGm46DTRlTRMz55UqMMADgqfUrsEYFk/s612/leaves%20fall%20girl%20clip%20art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="612" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDHEz-raIbiVCK1iMEtp1wTX-qIVofZYk4qayj-91jEME7iEB9htc05tdy8QdA1EY8ATdFbcNwyIIlPz4g4j2f8iuVl6Vth276BnRXlDLL1vhQKyRDQVaKvC5AihzIjlHOl3vF5uTbnDIokUd7lDv__d3p7I7YlGm46DTRlTRMz55UqMMADgqfUrsEYFk/s320/leaves%20fall%20girl%20clip%20art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-77060245750399055802023-08-07T08:25:00.001-07:002023-08-07T08:25:38.882-07:00When Life Gives You Lemons….Think Before Composting the Peels!<p>Lemons and oranges are tasty citrus fruits, especially
during these hot summer months. After making lemonade, orange juice, or some
other treat, you’ll probably want to toss the peels into your compost bin.
While this is a perfectly acceptable practice, have you ever considered using
the peels to make something new?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-comment-continuation: 1;">When it comes to
food waste, it’s important for us composters to get creative before we chuck
everything in our backyard bins. Composting is pretty awesome for your garden
and for the earth, but food should always be eaten if possible! Need some ideas
to get you started? Well, pull up a lawn chair, put on some sunglasses, and learn about how
you can upcycle citrus peels this summer:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>1. </b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Let’s start simple…. use the zest!</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Zesting
a lemon or orange is a great way to extract its delicious flavor for deserts and
other recipes. If you don’t need the zest immediately, you can freeze it for
future use. Feel free to compost whatever is left of the fruit after you zest
it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>2. </b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Let’s get fancy…. make a marmalade! </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Orange
and lemon </span><a href="https://simplelivingcreativelearning.com/easy-to-make-homemade-orange-and-lemon-marmalade/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">marmalades</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
are a yummy breakfast addition. You can even make </span><a href="https://lucysfriendlyfoods.com/2019/01/23/st-clements-marmalade-orange-and-lemon-flavour/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">St.Clement's Marmalade</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> (orange and lemon combined), which is quite popular in
the U.K. Best of all, most marmalade recipes use nearly the whole fruit!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><b>3. </b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Let’s get fancier…. make a flavored olive
oil! </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Lemon and orange </span><a href="https://www.sidewalkshoes.com/lemon-infused-olive-oil/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">olive oils</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
can be fun and fresh alternatives to traditional olive oil. Just make sure to
carefully strain the excess oil out of the citrus peels before you compost
them!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hopefully these summery recipes inspire you to use your
citrus peels before (or instead of) backyard composting them. For more tips on
how to reduce food waste at home, you can visit the <a href="https://www.wastedfoodstopswithus.org/" target="_blank">Wasted Food Stops With Us</a>
website and subscribe to Tony’s blog! <o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<div style="mso-element: comment;"><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript"><br />
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5Xn2gw5_tJ5SJPfj3F1v1Kca6QWCsJ9uf3tJ3I0nsmNa9xQqrTYL_FP98FW5KYXqEY9v9kHGxKEl-CL2F0I1FdjC7N7iX-h4kvspFggNPM6Ir0-4PmRiX3T2KMpMlKxh_7o-FZPzIkvIkIvmrKMoUywb0RA9Zq5uTlwjVt6gnl01Zv8ZZdkiQzO6Gm6K/s5787/citrus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3858" data-original-width="5787" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5Xn2gw5_tJ5SJPfj3F1v1Kca6QWCsJ9uf3tJ3I0nsmNa9xQqrTYL_FP98FW5KYXqEY9v9kHGxKEl-CL2F0I1FdjC7N7iX-h4kvspFggNPM6Ir0-4PmRiX3T2KMpMlKxh_7o-FZPzIkvIkIvmrKMoUywb0RA9Zq5uTlwjVt6gnl01Zv8ZZdkiQzO6Gm6K/s320/citrus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript"><br /></div><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript"><br /></div><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript" style="text-align: center;">Guest blogger and sucker for citrus: Abigail Miller</div><div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<!--[endif]--></div>
</div>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-58517251437291117952023-08-01T07:04:00.000-07:002023-08-01T07:04:25.559-07:00Want to Compost Your Old Houseplants? Do Some Detective Work First! <p>If you like to compost, odds are you like to take care of
plants. But what do you do when your beloved plants pass away? It seems only fitting
to return them to the earth as compost that will nourish a new generation of
plants.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, there are some things to keep in mind before you
put your old houseplants in your backyard bin. As a rule of thumb, do some step-by-step
sleuthing before you give your plant a proper burial… <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Check for a pulse. Can you resuscitate your houseplant?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even if your houseplant looks like it’s passed on, you may
be able to revive it with some good old-fashioned sunlight and water. Check out
<a href="https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm">this
article</a> for tips.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Identify the victim. What kind of plant was it?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some houseplants, (pothos, snake plant, varieties of succulents,
etc.) <a style="mso-comment-date: 20230725T1449; mso-comment-done: yes; mso-comment-reference: MA_1;">propagate easily<span style="font-size: 10.6667px;">. </span></a>This means that when you compost your old plant, little plant babies
(volunteers) may come up in your bin and eventually in your garden. It’s best
to chop up these troublemakers before backyard composting them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Find the culprit. Why did your houseplant die?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If your late plant fell victim to disease or pest
infestation, do NOT put it in your compost bin! Most backyard compost bins
don’t reach the temperature needed to kill pathogens, and the same pests that
caused your houseplant’s demise could make their way into your compost and
wreak havoc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, whether you feel like a criminal for killing your plant or
you’re mourning its natural demise, you may be able turn your houseplant into
compost. Just make sure it’s actually dead, cut up your plant if necessary, and
avoid composting diseased or infested houseplants. Stay safe out there,
detectives!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0hLRiTWCZib1f2tKwkvtGoG23nTo8Byw9L3u76D1msuX-NK7RRpo0X9cIbanxrts8uEOTpyA5dvjUosE1OByPAL29c5FzlfjEeBVl0th1gX_7AtFlOITV1DWX1W_JDtrLdiC3iM6m7xLfNfMUIqsPOQzh7LL19twnY97VIj9MgofLw5fw5OS65dJ-cPA/s589/houseplantss.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="442" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0hLRiTWCZib1f2tKwkvtGoG23nTo8Byw9L3u76D1msuX-NK7RRpo0X9cIbanxrts8uEOTpyA5dvjUosE1OByPAL29c5FzlfjEeBVl0th1gX_7AtFlOITV1DWX1W_JDtrLdiC3iM6m7xLfNfMUIqsPOQzh7LL19twnY97VIj9MgofLw5fw5OS65dJ-cPA/w226-h302/houseplantss.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And some fun plant art just because…</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWdoQnFNUB4vigNxcigZearXz45SWrZgLrDBC1z-SZ4gtxp3lJn1M8-AidQr955GJOi26X4RttWo43G040pAgHJPiLVGNJNk2viVGvJ9vDkKwfSmrtM5SJKJQjyD7MnMNEAHSxPs8ViPj1-atqRzxLYHSVCGhpwf0daonbwwQZ9arBZvqwnG4KtyelhnM/s276/heart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="195" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWdoQnFNUB4vigNxcigZearXz45SWrZgLrDBC1z-SZ4gtxp3lJn1M8-AidQr955GJOi26X4RttWo43G040pAgHJPiLVGNJNk2viVGvJ9vDkKwfSmrtM5SJKJQjyD7MnMNEAHSxPs8ViPj1-atqRzxLYHSVCGhpwf0daonbwwQZ9arBZvqwnG4KtyelhnM/s1600/heart.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guest blogger and houseplant hoarder: Abigail Miller</div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><br />Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-25274057278080356942023-07-20T08:07:00.000-07:002023-07-20T08:07:07.226-07:00 So You Can’t Compost at Home…Don’t Give Up!<p>Let’s face it, not everyone has the time or resources to
compost in their backyard (or even has a backyard). So, what do you do if you
want to put your food waste to good use but have decided that backyard
composting just isn’t your jam? Well, fear not, because we’re here to help
composters of all kinds.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If backyard composting is off the table, your best option is
a food scrap drop-off or pick-up program. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">First, let’s meet Hamilton County’s professional composters
who can make it happen!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.compostnow.org/">CompostNow</a></li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.back2thedirt.com/">Back2TheDirt</a></li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.findlaymarket.org/compostingprogram">Findlay Market Residential Composting</a></li><li><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://gozero.org/">GoZERO</a></li><li><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.queencitycommons.com/compost-service/compost-drop-off/">Queen City Commons</a></li><li><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Plus a few others!</li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next, it’s time to decide if a drop-off or pick-up service
makes more sense for you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Food Scrap Drop-Off<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is when you take your food scraps and other compostable
materials to a designated collection site.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the composters listed above operate drop-off sites.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some drop-off locations are free to the public, and others require
a modest subscription fee. You can see all food scrap drop-off sites in
Hamilton County on the map below. Click to reach the <a href="https://hamiltoncountyr3source.org/492/Food-Scrap-Drop-Off" target="_blank">interactive version</a> and
learn about each location.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hamiltoncountyr3source.org/492/Food-Scrap-Drop-Off" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="636" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOCtVNz2pHYKF4AvbJW105Il0Vqd5iSEW3HjBm3I0DJu8sLPnDEKRtRUIFxmzWxdUH_FLLymfNSjatcW8lRLEdQJKW8s_PPhTgVun5cO3k2GEtyG0uC9zqFirmxJ4gY0X_-at16rM3ekzzoy7HduRM6FVNR7o0bdaT4o_k8PdYZm9kOptz3vmv7nhYgLt/w362-h273/mapscreenshot.png" width="362" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Food Scrap Pick-Up<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is when you pay for a composting service to pick up
your food scraps on a regular basis.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Compost Now and Back2The Dirt are the only pick-up services operating
in the area.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, to sum it up, you don’t have to have a backyard bin to
be a killer composter. Check out the map to decide what service is right for you.
Before you commit to a drop-off or pickup location, make sure to carefully read
what they do and do not accept, as well as any other conditions that the
service may have. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Being environmentally conscious looks different for all of
us. When it comes to composting, in the words of Fleetwood Mac, “you can go
your own way!”<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUQGBih043CLam8SX9KKRnVmn05xHd8RyVXDVOYg8abV0UiaYUCKtSqmYhQl_FmoGNDrgngJl4ADkPkku_PzAqP7a_8vjnLcA8Ugpgrd0-K19iNOS5UhS_zNeTi44kYgsiUyMMn5g20xeZP3rPv60mZaIIALCIft-gQ0mPniQgUB2L_blUnOvph-l63oi/s3088/IMG_8440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUQGBih043CLam8SX9KKRnVmn05xHd8RyVXDVOYg8abV0UiaYUCKtSqmYhQl_FmoGNDrgngJl4ADkPkku_PzAqP7a_8vjnLcA8Ugpgrd0-K19iNOS5UhS_zNeTi44kYgsiUyMMn5g20xeZP3rPv60mZaIIALCIft-gQ0mPniQgUB2L_blUnOvph-l63oi/w159-h212/IMG_8440.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Guest blogger and soon-to-be backyardless college student: Abigail Miller</p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-70041376201804009702023-06-28T10:05:00.002-07:002023-06-28T10:05:30.607-07:00Composting is Truly a Tale as Old as Time<p>Some things never change or, at least, composting hasn’t. Turns out us composters are following in the footsteps of ancient farmers who understood the benefits of adding organic waste to their crops. To get an idea of just how far back it goes, here are a few facts about composting around the world in the olden days:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The use of animal waste as fertilizer in Scotland dates as far back as the Stone Age.</li><li>The first written record of composting can be found on clay tablets from the Akkadian Empire in Mesopotamia around 2,000 BCE.</li><li>Ancient Mediterranean civilizations were known to compost agricultural scraps.</li><li>The Aztecs used human feces and guano to fertilize their island farms, or Chinampas (check out the image below).</li><li>Chinese farmers historically used “night soil” (human feces collected at night) on their farms.</li><li>Native Americans wrapped seeds in fish pieces to add nutrients.</li><li>George Washington built the USA’s first composting bin (read more <a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2011/09/compost-like-george-washington.html" target="_blank">here</a>).</li></ul><p></p><p>As you can see, composting is as old as, well, dirt, and is pretty much ubiquitous. However, you’ll also notice that the ancients primarily composted nitrogen-rich human and animal waste. We now know that a 1/3 green to 2/3 brown ratio is ideal for your compost bin, so don’t get too old school with your composting. Make sure you have enough carbon-rich materials like leaves and paper, and <i>refrain </i>from composting dog and cat poop (and human poop, for that matter). For the complete do's and don’ts of composting animal waste, see <a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2010/06/dos-and-donts-of-composting-pet-poo.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. </p><p>In conclusion, the next time you’re turning your compost pile, remember all the composting pioneers of the past, and let’s be especially grateful to Cleopatra, who loved vermicomposting so much that she made the killing of earthworms punishable by death. Keep up the noble work, composters!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBWniPYPFQpJr11k300djEwvg-SMwv5mHsD6haroBtedmYQeUvWGLEXUKr1z73K6I2GdmhFWr0ab_c09Ub1Jk1sof2PlVk41I3iW83exlW2OCowjKqdgAjtu1w1RbW6b_yYtQcmiPtsfKaXTvzyvgq_hqcMb35xj3GK0gQiNkw1DgFq7skMtVSOE6WgIN/s457/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="457" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBWniPYPFQpJr11k300djEwvg-SMwv5mHsD6haroBtedmYQeUvWGLEXUKr1z73K6I2GdmhFWr0ab_c09Ub1Jk1sof2PlVk41I3iW83exlW2OCowjKqdgAjtu1w1RbW6b_yYtQcmiPtsfKaXTvzyvgq_hqcMb35xj3GK0gQiNkw1DgFq7skMtVSOE6WgIN/w383-h207/Picture1.png" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5xITLUNRiQxVLz25Zrw_C4cmkXz1Xs1ygBa3kIfjVJQi6mOtduOB6v_XUWgXYH-Cgox5Q_lp9793hotcKZIVP7REKZfc3E8M4Wik_oYs50UHLKUuuOSIihZsHmLiyck0yitzs3CrBUiCj1-fjx18TYcYh8rW6KykHVVyGNFtA_xkCEl4UATTHfFyl1YZ/s3088/IMG_8440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2320" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5xITLUNRiQxVLz25Zrw_C4cmkXz1Xs1ygBa3kIfjVJQi6mOtduOB6v_XUWgXYH-Cgox5Q_lp9793hotcKZIVP7REKZfc3E8M4Wik_oYs50UHLKUuuOSIihZsHmLiyck0yitzs3CrBUiCj1-fjx18TYcYh8rW6KykHVVyGNFtA_xkCEl4UATTHfFyl1YZ/w179-h239/IMG_8440.jpg" width="179" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guest blogger and infrequent history nerd: Abigail Miller</div><br /><div><br /></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-38527821488278699012023-06-05T10:06:00.001-07:002023-06-05T10:27:06.132-07:00Composting Algae: Slimy and Surprising Solutions<p>Do you have a pond or aquarium at home? I don’t know about
you, but the only pets I was allowed to have as a kid were fish and the
occasional frog. These aquatic critters were pretty low maintenance, but I did
have to clean algae out of their tanks from time to time. What I didn’t know
back then was that algae are compostable! Due to their high nitrogen content,
algae are a perfect addition to the “green” layer of your compost bin.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, to all of you with fishy friends, you can compost your
excess algae and old aquarium plants. For the pond-owners out there, feel free
to skim the top of your pond, drain the excess water, and put the scum in your
compost pile.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right now you might be thinking, “hold on, I put chemicals
in my fish tank and pond. Surely that can’t be safe to compost!” Well, if
you’re like most fish owners, the only chemical you add is a water conditioner,
which is simply used to remove chlorine and heavy metals from the water. If
this is the case, algae and plants from your tank/pond are totally safe to
compost. However, it would be best to check what water chemicals you’re using,
just to be sure.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make sure to balance the wet, high-nitrogen algae with a dry,
carbon rich material like leaves so the pile doesn’t start to smell. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy composting, my fair fishy friends!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRSEJ3RpBJWuXZ6i29Yn7XFT8e3wV7q8YsNd3Oi0UzNsqI51rGFtnCtDDjZed1X5u8S5Wmqg7Uz8FxE80Wlq3DN8q7SH9lO3VWBGIC98v2YLtSu9KYbcavvzPOtgssEmYjpsrAnEpgd5fswtFXs4I9J2JpUXiLL4g-vRduyAhbZYo384joH2OcbUTHA/s791/fish%20tank.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="791" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRSEJ3RpBJWuXZ6i29Yn7XFT8e3wV7q8YsNd3Oi0UzNsqI51rGFtnCtDDjZed1X5u8S5Wmqg7Uz8FxE80Wlq3DN8q7SH9lO3VWBGIC98v2YLtSu9KYbcavvzPOtgssEmYjpsrAnEpgd5fswtFXs4I9J2JpUXiLL4g-vRduyAhbZYo384joH2OcbUTHA/s320/fish%20tank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBmZLhH_8aQPmk4F4WoK1-4BPVYayzOjIESn87BOIeCu4y0heK5EP9pDENgOMTjcUFNR3MVwLrFjezqi_WE8WRzKGZ0iPRw0-sVwfaxmZJPCbrhGwQ4RSI3CxPxLhKoVfdwBXwf9S7FwLhkSVwzYN8ifUZKOuEwfkjuzOulG1GMR1kX5P9wU6xeVoLg/s259/algae.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBmZLhH_8aQPmk4F4WoK1-4BPVYayzOjIESn87BOIeCu4y0heK5EP9pDENgOMTjcUFNR3MVwLrFjezqi_WE8WRzKGZ0iPRw0-sVwfaxmZJPCbrhGwQ4RSI3CxPxLhKoVfdwBXwf9S7FwLhkSVwzYN8ifUZKOuEwfkjuzOulG1GMR1kX5P9wU6xeVoLg/s1600/algae.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqLdZGdYNV9uOEDGVtrJBoBTB8XFs5u_fLCEoHyBlLexNAeYGXZ4ktYqsDi86YJmm1c2n21llZivpfaLO8XdE5UxO-DQe6ACZJZ0mC2hdsPDQKSMFzGerNYNRLYa7muBaEjwH_mjILzBqWUjfq8eQGAA2UCR9imDbMd4Ka1wlLpJVcdn0nUHiuTKnng/s4032/A1B8BB52-0562-4015-BA5B-ECAF12977A7B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqLdZGdYNV9uOEDGVtrJBoBTB8XFs5u_fLCEoHyBlLexNAeYGXZ4ktYqsDi86YJmm1c2n21llZivpfaLO8XdE5UxO-DQe6ACZJZ0mC2hdsPDQKSMFzGerNYNRLYa7muBaEjwH_mjILzBqWUjfq8eQGAA2UCR9imDbMd4Ka1wlLpJVcdn0nUHiuTKnng/s320/A1B8BB52-0562-4015-BA5B-ECAF12977A7B.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guest blogger and part-time mermaid: Abigail Miller</div><br />Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-65345948103510110112023-03-22T07:21:00.002-07:002023-03-23T07:09:22.654-07:00Hamilton County R3Source’s Spring Compost Seminars<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Many
of you are compost connoisseurs, so this is a request to spread the word to
others that our Backyard Composting Seminars will be returning in April and May.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">This year, we
are offering six in-person options throughout Hamilton County and two virtual options. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Each seminar
will last one hour with a presentation and Q&A time. The information will be
geared toward beginners as well as those who want a refresher on backyard
composting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will discuss the
benefits, what structures can be used, how to start, what to compost, how to
maintain the compost, how to troubleshoot, and how to use the compost at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">All attendees
will receive a free kitchen scrap collector and a composting booklet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a bonus for those who attend the in-person
seminars, we will draw a name at each location and that attendee will win a
free compost bin!!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m-W5RByJBbRXmJ4G5CSGa-YuoIMBvqJga-4MdgX4jlhogUJmm8iLq6ASCJOpf4bmRLwUW2jk-TedQXAYshM6o6j19Pwpo2yMav-Pd-Lgkae2-4Jjp_yyKRHNEh4HFCLzOw-sEE-B_KxtS-RaEDAOukudE1fRRMDDatc7Ula3N239XPrLpW12zjMYWA/s1920/compost%20in%20hands.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m-W5RByJBbRXmJ4G5CSGa-YuoIMBvqJga-4MdgX4jlhogUJmm8iLq6ASCJOpf4bmRLwUW2jk-TedQXAYshM6o6j19Pwpo2yMav-Pd-Lgkae2-4Jjp_yyKRHNEh4HFCLzOw-sEE-B_KxtS-RaEDAOukudE1fRRMDDatc7Ula3N239XPrLpW12zjMYWA/w200-h150/compost%20in%20hands.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">In-Person
Backyard Composting Seminar - 6:30 p.m.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Thursday, April
13 at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Civic+Garden+Center+of+Greater+Cincinnati/@39.1296121,-84.4987011,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8841b3bf74156a9b:0xfdf454bd37df6d1a!8m2!3d39.1296121!4d-84.4987011!16s%2Fm%2F0x1_xxv">Civic Garden Center</a>, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2715
Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45206 </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Tuesday, April
18 at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Miami+Township+Community+Center/@39.1634583,-84.7013683,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8841cd88c80b6281:0x9d2d5f510b31c37e!8m2!3d39.1634583!4d-84.6991743!16s%2Fg%2F11g1ppvqq_">Miami Township Community Center</a>, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3780
Shady Ln, North Bend, OH 45052</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Tuesday, April
25 at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Deer+Park+Branch+Library/@39.2094435,-84.4026565,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x884052e73e8a4981:0xac77f895faa1eb1b!8m2!3d39.2094435!4d-84.4004625!16s%2Fg%2F1tf_1rph">Deer Park Branch Library</a></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">, </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4020
E. Galbraith Rd, Cincy, OH 45236</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Thursday, May
4 at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Forest+Park+Senior+Center/@39.2872104,-84.5256585,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8840494d3d75c3e9:0xd565a2b48e37ba79!8m2!3d39.2872104!4d-84.5234645!16s%2Fg%2F11bw3dhzbj">Forest Park Senior Center</a>, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">11555
Winton Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45240</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Tuesday, May 9 at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Anderson+Center/@39.079297,-84.3515628,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8841a92b0c81452d:0xb0acecd8b9961213!8m2!3d39.079297!4d-84.3493688!16s%2Fg%2F1tfc78x3">Anderson Center Room B</a>, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7850
Five Mile Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45230</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Wednesday, May
18 at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Swaim+Park/@39.2289525,-84.3616051,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88405383aef0969d:0xaa9c9542c0a7cb5b!8m2!3d39.2289525!4d-84.3616051!16s%2Fg%2F11ckr61273">Swaim Lodge</a></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Swaim+Park/@39.2289525,-84.3616051,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88405383aef0969d:0xaa9c9542c0a7cb5b!8m2!3d39.2289525!4d-84.3616051!16s%2Fg%2F11ckr61273">,</a> </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7650
Cooper Rd, Montgomery, OH 45242</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Virtual
Backyard Composting Seminars</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Thursday, April
27 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Tuesday May
23 at 12:00 p.m. on Zoom</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">To register for
a seminar or share with a friend, </span><a href="https://form.jotform.com/230603873387158"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">click or send them this link!</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span></a><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCsgd5rNX62gUTafhIl9ZL4UU0vWGxI4oBNSRCVoxomgQmbVPi4mQrJFGWk5S538fa_qzuocUEfwpelEPIel6f_t83HpTwYcMK4Y7Pn4lhsXR4BeuWLgUNGwiRbWVJzyFf9UHZxXPjBJcQ0Yh75DrU8qu39VsT-piD2_HOl51gNtwZo8ZnFYazUjt4g/s200/elise.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCsgd5rNX62gUTafhIl9ZL4UU0vWGxI4oBNSRCVoxomgQmbVPi4mQrJFGWk5S538fa_qzuocUEfwpelEPIel6f_t83HpTwYcMK4Y7Pn4lhsXR4BeuWLgUNGwiRbWVJzyFf9UHZxXPjBJcQ0Yh75DrU8qu39VsT-piD2_HOl51gNtwZo8ZnFYazUjt4g/s1600/elise.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest blogger and compost educator extraordinaire, Elise Roalef</td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br /><o:p><br /></o:p></span><p></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-13120142281061679522022-10-28T08:20:00.002-07:002022-10-28T08:20:25.414-07:00Mothman’s Advice for Compost Maintenance<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Mysterious, elusive, and nocturnal with glowing red eyes and
large wings, the Mothman is not only my favorite <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptids#:~:text=Cryptids%20are%20animals%20that%20cryptozoologists,rejected%20by%20the%20scientific%20community" target="_blank">cryptid</a> but surely, he has the best compost around.
So, I caught up with him in a moonlit farm field in Point Pleasant, West
Virginia, and gleaned a few tips on maintaining your backyard compost bin.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEvNEO9lesYpDyBxyw2zLf99YlEbboU4TxkX1tIxMPCc5pgrujR0_NYJSqAkab-KObgNqLdLVSqtHxV7rzCuxP0Jz1HOOXj9lZwBgOOWGlLDL3kpUILcQuY29eIlNriHroRnHxe-hnpucNJIFJixNyS_rHknC0TKocGPPYkmTnhPLSq6PcBVHjKGBjw/s3032/Mothman_Artist's_Impression.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2589" data-original-width="3032" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEvNEO9lesYpDyBxyw2zLf99YlEbboU4TxkX1tIxMPCc5pgrujR0_NYJSqAkab-KObgNqLdLVSqtHxV7rzCuxP0Jz1HOOXj9lZwBgOOWGlLDL3kpUILcQuY29eIlNriHroRnHxe-hnpucNJIFJixNyS_rHknC0TKocGPPYkmTnhPLSq6PcBVHjKGBjw/s320/Mothman_Artist's_Impression.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration credit: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Triangulum" target="_blank">Tim Bertelink</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Stay out of sight</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">- the Mothman has
only been spotted a few times, and your neighbors will appreciate if you take
that approach with your compost bin. Tuck it into an </span><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2014/08/location-location-location.html" style="text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">out of the way spot</a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> in
your yard to avoid unwanted attention</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Keep it big- </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">the Mothman was</span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">reported
to have an impressive 10-foot wingspan. You don’t have to go quite that large
with your compost pile but keeping it to a 3’ x 3’ x 3' size will help it heat
up. If you compost in a bin, you want to try and fill the bin at least halfway
for the best decomposition results.</span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Celebrate your fascination</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">- every
year thousands of people congregate at the <a href="https://www.mothmanfestival.com/" target="_blank">Mothman Festival</a></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.
You can show your love of composting with one of our I Heart Compost magnets.
Hamilton County residents can have one for free- just <a href="mailto:michelle.balz@hamilton-co.org" target="_blank">send me an email</a></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieimDVrz79E9iHwgATLni-AtNtJq-GqBQJRRE2lE5a3bvaEms-d3hdR82VXl234AwToxSKQ88fi6ZdaKMAPxYhEVT5cCbUNn9aOvnKQIGiUjM-opoMBCLWLUfLfO9yOBfceUVlW7jj_F0uLfHdU3fpwdfwuupmT4PzcoB6wpLdjEuvU3yyPqq5rk8aw/s145/BumperMagnet_web.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="49" data-original-width="145" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieimDVrz79E9iHwgATLni-AtNtJq-GqBQJRRE2lE5a3bvaEms-d3hdR82VXl234AwToxSKQ88fi6ZdaKMAPxYhEVT5cCbUNn9aOvnKQIGiUjM-opoMBCLWLUfLfO9yOBfceUVlW7jj_F0uLfHdU3fpwdfwuupmT4PzcoB6wpLdjEuvU3yyPqq5rk8aw/s1600/BumperMagnet_web.gif" width="145" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You may not fly behind cars of teenagers with glowing red
eyes or stalk fireman through farm fields, but you can take the Mothman’s
advice to improve your backyard composting. And while you are unlikely to encounter
the actual Mothman in your backyard, you will attract lots of real
macroinvertebrates to snack on your food scraps. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Halloween, composters! If you like Halloween and
composting as much as me, check out previous year’s posts:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2021/10/did-boogeyman-snatch-your-compost.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Did the Boogeyman Snatch Your Compost
Blogger?</span></span></a><span style="color: #04ff00; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2020/10/fall-composting-tips-from-mummy.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fall
Composting Tips from a Mummy</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-headless-horsemans-guide-to.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">The Headless Horseman’s Guide to
Backyard Composting </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2018/10/compost-lessons-from-swamp-monster.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Compost Lessons from the Swamp
Monster </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2017/10/three-reasons-werewolves-make-terrible.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Three Reasons Werewolves Make
Terrible Composters </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2016/10/compost-ghost-halloween-ghost-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Compost Ghost </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2015/10/frankenstein-would-have-made-remarkable.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Was Frankenstein an Outstanding
Composter?</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-to-practice-compost-witchcraft.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">How to Practice Compost Witchcraft</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2013/10/compost-like-vampire.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Compost Like a Vampire</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2012/10/three-warning-signs-your-compost-pile.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Three Warning Signs Your Compost is a
Zombie</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #04ff00;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2011/11/smashing-pumpkins.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-decoration: none;">Smashing Pumpkins </span></a></span><span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-15075524134541837262022-09-13T10:39:00.003-07:002022-09-13T10:39:42.145-07:00 Move Over Summer, It’s Fall Y’all<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">I have to admit, I feel a bit of denial that summer is over.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE fall- weather nice for hanging outside and camping,
beautiful leaves, my birthday…but I haven’t quite wrapped my head around the
fact that the swimming and popsicle days are over.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Regardless of my mental space, summer is wrapping up and
that means it’s time to make room in your compost bin for the onslaught of
leaves coming our way. In my opinion, fall is an excellent time to <a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2019/09/compost-harvest-time.html" target="_blank">harvest your finished compost</a>. Place the finished compost on your beds you hope to
plant in the spring or around trees you are planting this fall. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a style="mso-comment-date: 20220912T0815; mso-comment-reference: ST_1;">With
all the finished stuff moved out, you will have more room for leaves. Another
tip I use is to create a few wire leaf bins to hold the leaves over winter. By
spring the leaf pile will have reduced in half and you can condense the bins to
make room for spring plants.</a><o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN5py7uZO_GSAm-kK0V9u6VOuykFWcZ3oc2CbFVBqQQsa7XilJ4viUvQ0JLjBKgxPon7--KkiiXNMWcoitFyfRI0qAQjajJ7fs4ahGf2vs5g2MUz8b7P9r6ZJDYQVXdloCIWHpQCNtsS5BFjpf8PxCHmeUffWsOHLU9xJnkr-80PAXWM2V-Y1yod1hQ/s641/May%2022%202017%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="641" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN5py7uZO_GSAm-kK0V9u6VOuykFWcZ3oc2CbFVBqQQsa7XilJ4viUvQ0JLjBKgxPon7--KkiiXNMWcoitFyfRI0qAQjajJ7fs4ahGf2vs5g2MUz8b7P9r6ZJDYQVXdloCIWHpQCNtsS5BFjpf8PxCHmeUffWsOHLU9xJnkr-80PAXWM2V-Y1yod1hQ/s320/May%2022%202017%20cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My wire leaf bin in spring</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Building a Wire Leaf Bin<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->First, measure about 10 feet of wire fencing. I
like welded wire fencing, but you can use chicken wire or anything else you
have laying around. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Roll the fence into a cylinder with at least 3
feet circumference. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Secure the ends with zip ties, wire, or
something similar. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 38.4pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Depending on your fencing, you may need some
stakes to keep the shape of the bin. My welded wire fencing does not need this
support.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And that’s it. You can fit about 4-5 leave bags full in
these bins and it is shocking how <a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-year-in-life-of-leaf-bin.html" target="_blank">fast they decompose and settle </a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, just thinking about leaves has me a little more ready
to accept the changing seasons.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy fall, y’all.</p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-86451004212931457732022-06-14T09:51:00.000-07:002022-06-14T09:51:02.236-07:00Doggone Composting!<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Guest Blogger: Joy Landry, Communications Specialist, with a little help from her furry and feathered friends!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW6L7skMuD6qZFfHrk-0-JClhbBn7LPOPmXDCVpG1H0qsQQ6V5q0OCRNRVTNr-8qbeHpOWCihoT3-8j6DSMPiOqkBpuPz4-d6nBj581o9W_KIsHNzWY2qz00aoy71GneZAM-qUaApyyuHOab6g8TyTWcJnQdFxRArzJm_QtkgIUmlnz4sxEK3lLg2gA/s348/Taffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="261" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW6L7skMuD6qZFfHrk-0-JClhbBn7LPOPmXDCVpG1H0qsQQ6V5q0OCRNRVTNr-8qbeHpOWCihoT3-8j6DSMPiOqkBpuPz4-d6nBj581o9W_KIsHNzWY2qz00aoy71GneZAM-qUaApyyuHOab6g8TyTWcJnQdFxRArzJm_QtkgIUmlnz4sxEK3lLg2gA/s320/Taffy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />As summer approaches, those readers who have dogs may be experiencing flying fur as their pups shed in preparation of hotter days to come. My Labrador Golden Retriever cross is shedding with every step she takes. The solution is to take her outside daily for a good brushing. </p><p>Quite by accident, I discovered a natural reuse opportunity for my dog’s fur. As I was brushing her out recently, the breeze picked up errant furs and spread them around the driveway. Within minutes, the house sparrows fluttered down and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PkfQVCPtQFE" target="_blank">s</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PkfQVCPtQFE" target="_blank">tarted collecting the dog hair for their nests</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmt2FbXZPPj3U_YxuByihMKajt_RlxlLGf9qls7udqGjbgHFEYnCxH4WXEApgBYIu_bbf7DbfY3f8lHvf7ZYm_Gpo2v4P_e4VX2UWlflIsHrHcYCs81AdM9__7VoBsV3enQzGtMl_a61SZri2RsgbLv53Z_TgxbGuZoeYQadD1ajay7iFfHvBYp9ulA/s406/Birdie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="406" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmt2FbXZPPj3U_YxuByihMKajt_RlxlLGf9qls7udqGjbgHFEYnCxH4WXEApgBYIu_bbf7DbfY3f8lHvf7ZYm_Gpo2v4P_e4VX2UWlflIsHrHcYCs81AdM9__7VoBsV3enQzGtMl_a61SZri2RsgbLv53Z_TgxbGuZoeYQadD1ajay7iFfHvBYp9ulA/s320/Birdie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>We had more fur than the birds needed. So what to do with the excess? I put it in my compost pile. That’s right, your dog’s fur is an organic material perfectly acceptable for composting. Don’t take my word for it – even the <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/things-you-can-do-with-dog-fur/" target="_blank">American Kennel Club endorses composting fur!</a></p><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-6173237002856564052022-05-04T09:22:00.000-07:002022-05-04T09:22:15.140-07:00Hamilton County Compost Bin Sale<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happy
International Compost Awareness Week!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5__2gTXPUXByKyOCrXnTzx9ggOyOm7nI5hbM1vzc69pkrxczZlfOi3SGWg-QPuC9OnaVXLR8d2BBJ7N4L3IMG7qzGXrl-8QkKtrSdizpCAur6tW5JCD60Ro2kLGicOAuwRu-1szgS9waNHKARBVBD4rsxGPOQDEMLLlSjt9zNFHOKEJZfFo-1q7Zwkw/s786/ICAW2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="786" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5__2gTXPUXByKyOCrXnTzx9ggOyOm7nI5hbM1vzc69pkrxczZlfOi3SGWg-QPuC9OnaVXLR8d2BBJ7N4L3IMG7qzGXrl-8QkKtrSdizpCAur6tW5JCD60Ro2kLGicOAuwRu-1szgS9waNHKARBVBD4rsxGPOQDEMLLlSjt9zNFHOKEJZfFo-1q7Zwkw/s320/ICAW2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Need
a new compost bin or know someone who is searching for a new one?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look no further!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hamilton County R3Source will be hosting its
annual Compost Bin Sale in exactly one month!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Day:</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> Saturday, June 4<sup>th</sup></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Time:</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> 8:00am-1:00pm</span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Location:</span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Colerain Township Senior and Community
Center <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Address:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> 4300
Springdale Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45251<span class="normaltextrun"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Preorder your new compost bin on the </span></span><a href="https://hamilton.compostersale.com/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Compost Bin Sale Website</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> and
it will be ready for you to pick up on June 4<sup>th</sup>.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you
or a friend would like to receive a special discount code for <b>$20 off</b> a
compost bin, we encourage you all to attend one of our upcoming Compost
Seminars!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In-Person
Seminars<span class="normaltextrun"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">May 12 – 6:30pm @ Reading City Hall</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">May 17 – 7:00pm @ Forest Park Senior Center</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Here is the </span></span><a href="https://hamiltoncountyr3source.org/245/Backyard-Composting-Seminar" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: #0563c1; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">link
to register for an In-Person Seminar</span></span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><b><u><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Virtual Seminar<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></span></p>
<p class="paragraph" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">May 31 – 12:00pm on Zoom</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black;">Here is the
</span></span><a href="https://hamiltoncountyr3source.org/467/3355/Virtual-Compost-Seminar-Registration" target="_blank"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: #0563c1;">link to the register for the Virtual Seminar</span></span></a><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background: white; color: black;">.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="background: white; color: black;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Please
share this information with everyone you know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It could be a sign for someone who has been considering composting to take
the leap and get started. 😊</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKKyKtsg-C1gDbGrdEvRN3LXp0CTWYrL53NWiXa5ku2mOpdZbAB5Qzdq0Wmmq5mlrJXy0hC-OV6IH41O1HtEmBKm7wo2BHK15NBVk1o55_kyVnWjER2K03FQqQ0nZeMc830U2ceY0KlnANsORaoWeiODylUQX8AXKca7sK11ignv8i23dUSzAAVW8kw/s200/elise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKKyKtsg-C1gDbGrdEvRN3LXp0CTWYrL53NWiXa5ku2mOpdZbAB5Qzdq0Wmmq5mlrJXy0hC-OV6IH41O1HtEmBKm7wo2BHK15NBVk1o55_kyVnWjER2K03FQqQ0nZeMc830U2ceY0KlnANsORaoWeiODylUQX8AXKca7sK11ignv8i23dUSzAAVW8kw/s1600/elise.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest Blogger Elise Erhart</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-13727061066216060532022-03-18T05:47:00.001-07:002022-03-18T05:47:49.826-07:00Compost Seminars are Back! <p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Those of you
who read this blog are most likely familiar with composting, so this is a
request to spread the word to all your family, friends, and coworkers that our
annual Get the Dirt on Backyard Composting seminars are back.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">We are excited
to announce that we will have in-person seminars for the first time in 2 years!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will also be virtual seminars for those
who prefer that option. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Seminars will
be 1 hour with a presentation and Q&A time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will discuss the benefits of composting, how to start, how to
properly maintain the compost, how to troubleshoot any problems, and how to use
the compost at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All attendees will
receive a free kitchen scrap collector, a magnet, and a composting booklet!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOXkqi1Oarvf4EsZX4gKrM0aGXES4PL94OPtO4uBNj0kkIlSITxWkqgaj9S-13rlnxwWJG9xEFOxaq9_92YJ_xMnp3v97KkpKfi07c4DteJIieFYRVQtWwWHfRDWQBWvCT43HQ4vikz67Tile8bXsAOg2Wqmm5R65gXdvgLvf6BIghErpSEnePytMW4w=s1920" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1920" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhOXkqi1Oarvf4EsZX4gKrM0aGXES4PL94OPtO4uBNj0kkIlSITxWkqgaj9S-13rlnxwWJG9xEFOxaq9_92YJ_xMnp3v97KkpKfi07c4DteJIieFYRVQtWwWHfRDWQBWvCT43HQ4vikz67Tile8bXsAOg2Wqmm5R65gXdvgLvf6BIghErpSEnePytMW4w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">In-Person
Backyard Composting Seminars</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">April
14 – 6:30pm @ California Woods Nature Center</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">April
21 – 6:30pm @ Colerain Senior & Community Center</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">April
26 – 6:30pm @ Civic Garden Center</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">May
12 – 6:30pm @ Reading City Hall</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">May
17 – 7:00pm @ Forest Park Senior Center</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Here is the </span><a href="https://hamiltoncountyr3source.org/245/Backyard-Composting-Seminar"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">link to the registration page for
In-Person Seminars</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Virtual
Backyard Composting Seminars</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">May
3 – 6:30pm on Zoom</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">May
31 – 12:00pm on Zoom</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Here is the </span><a href="https://hamiltoncountyr3source.org/467/3355/Virtual-Compost-Seminar-Registration"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">link to the registration page for
Virtual Seminars</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Please share
this information with anyone you know so that we can encourage and inspire the
whole county to start composting (and to do it the right way)! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw9zUA8oMu-A_U8RI93e9KbQkuVHxoJiDxu41vs-qFZ3Qumw7DQfqPTbWc23S_yCB9G_ZE1fC2gpzqKPKhLXVVxMDb5FY96RIWfcYVAyRycV95xGlqLcg6WZlUMGl4qBdSh7O1ptiyF3hucHbwaFuOcv_7bAP1mNd8GV3I_ZNOPf0FJRDEoYbtssdczw=s200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjw9zUA8oMu-A_U8RI93e9KbQkuVHxoJiDxu41vs-qFZ3Qumw7DQfqPTbWc23S_yCB9G_ZE1fC2gpzqKPKhLXVVxMDb5FY96RIWfcYVAyRycV95xGlqLcg6WZlUMGl4qBdSh7O1ptiyF3hucHbwaFuOcv_7bAP1mNd8GV3I_ZNOPf0FJRDEoYbtssdczw" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Guest Blogger Elise Erhart</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-51385855499873168712021-10-29T09:50:00.001-07:002021-10-29T09:50:39.639-07:00Did the Boogeyman Snatch Your Compost Blogger?
When I was a kid, few things were creepier to me than the idea of a formless creature lurking under my bed ready to snatch me away to a nameless place never to be seen again. Maybe that was the scariest thing about the boogeyman - what does he look like? He can be lurking in any dark quiet place, just watching and waiting… <div><br /></div><div>But, alas, the Boogeyman never did make an appearance in my childhood, and I can’t use him as an excuse for the absence of this blog either. I’ve just been really, really busy with other waste reduction stuff. So sorry for blogging sabbatical, my fellow composters. I still very much care about you and composting! </div><div><br /></div><div>Since I’m here to continue the great Halloween blogging tradition, let me give you composting tips straight from the Boogeyman himself. </div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Be patient</b>: if the Boogeyman can wait for years quietly peeking from your slightly open closet door you can wait six months while your compost does its thing. Your beautiful, finished compost will be worth the wait. </li><li><b>Remove expectations:</b> No one really knows what the Boogeyman looks like which makes him even scarier. We are left creating the scariest being our own imagination can conjure. In the same way, composting can look different for each person depending on the bin you use, the size of your yard, and what you want to compost. You do you - don’t worry about anyone else. </li><li><b>Involve the children:</b> the Boogeyman steals misbehaving children from their homes (apparently in the 1500’s utter terror was considered a great parenting technique to keep your kids in line). Rather than a scary, permanent, punishment, compost can be a way to <a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2012/04/fun-ways-to-get-kids-excited-about.html" target="_blank">foster kids’ interest in biology and the natural world</a>. </li></ol>Need more Halloween composting goodness? Here are our past blogs: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2020/10/fall-composting-tips-from-mummy.html" target="_blank">Fall Composting Tips from a Mummy</a> </li><li><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-headless-horsemans-guide-to.html" target="_blank">The Headless Horseman’s Guide to Backyard Composting </a></li><li><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2018/10/compost-lessons-from-swamp-monster.html" target="_blank">Compost Lessons from the Swamp Monster </a></li><li><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2017/10/three-reasons-werewolves-make-terrible.html" target="_blank">Three Reasons Werewolves Make Terrible Composters </a></li><li><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2016/10/compost-ghost-halloween-ghost-story.html" target="_blank">Compost Ghost </a></li><li><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2015/10/frankenstein-would-have-made-remarkable.html" target="_blank">Was Frankenstein an Outstanding Composter?</a> </li><li><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-to-practice-compost-witchcraft.html" target="_blank">How to Practice Compost Witchcraft</a> </li><li><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2013/10/compost-like-vampire.html" target="_blank">Compost Like a Vampire</a> </li><li><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2012/10/three-warning-signs-your-compost-pile.html" target="_blank">Three Warning Signs Your Compost is a Zombie</a> </li><li><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2011/11/smashing-pumpkins.html" target="_blank">Smashing Pumpkins </a></li></ul>After more than a decade, I am running low on Halloween monsters to give us composting tips. If you love Halloween as much as me, and have some good ideas for next year, suggest them in the comments below. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Halloween!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_ePDHlccQv24YdXTzApP3uG4A5Xutke3Z_HNEfY5D2Ib0y1wHVU9bBqcuOKia2M8XkGMDOuCyqp05-esX6vT8m4Ws5SaUgus7mvF46uaSmxirO_UJ2QPtZJ7nESvE2HxO0ua2IHZj3Rz/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="570" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_ePDHlccQv24YdXTzApP3uG4A5Xutke3Z_HNEfY5D2Ib0y1wHVU9bBqcuOKia2M8XkGMDOuCyqp05-esX6vT8m4Ws5SaUgus7mvF46uaSmxirO_UJ2QPtZJ7nESvE2HxO0ua2IHZj3Rz/w400-h210/image.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://365projects.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-are-you-planning-to-do-after-you.html"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This Photo</span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Unknown Author is licensed under </span><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CC BY-NC</span></a><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-22761440257594928802021-06-08T06:32:00.002-07:002021-06-08T06:32:44.336-07:00Hybrid in My Compost?<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The weather is great for planting our gardens, but I never
expected to raise the lid of my compost bin to see a hybrid developing. A
Hybrid? And here I didn’t think I could even afford one.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Remember putting seeds (especially weeds with seeds) in your
compost is risky since our backyard bins don’t heat up enough to guarantee that
the seeds won’t germinate. Many of us have experienced a variety of volunteers
popping up in patio pots, garden beds and other places we’ve spread and mixed
compost with our soil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Never though had I seen a plant like this one…</span></span><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwogGhw1yNj_whACKE1SzbrgkdMGDbIe_2JijP_9s-SOygsNV5GMwUQZh_AFV0aJ2wmQoVBz2FGVsKifzt6uotYN9sGsMaGF11002iylBDsQEhaPjwVgLYjuw0efQenaWAGfJUuutTwSs/s1108/Hybrid+eggplant+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwogGhw1yNj_whACKE1SzbrgkdMGDbIe_2JijP_9s-SOygsNV5GMwUQZh_AFV0aJ2wmQoVBz2FGVsKifzt6uotYN9sGsMaGF11002iylBDsQEhaPjwVgLYjuw0efQenaWAGfJUuutTwSs/s320/Hybrid+eggplant+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Hybrid "Eggplant" 😀</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">My
bean sprouts, no longer edible, decided an eggshell was the perfect spot to
develop! Mother Nature does love to entertain us and I thank her for all the
smiles. </span><span style="font-family: Segoe UI Emoji, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP21RR4HynK9WXrp0W0DUEyqis7CQR-thvHBLyOXaaMrmg79uQuLEpCF_HIxnuHbSsPODjwrB5BtzZ83oXqI3EiHoz0MqMzQ2LManYcnfEaQ9SBehaXS09lJDrz3cuSQChFKu1juTs4JtH/s468/Hybrid+eggplant+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP21RR4HynK9WXrp0W0DUEyqis7CQR-thvHBLyOXaaMrmg79uQuLEpCF_HIxnuHbSsPODjwrB5BtzZ83oXqI3EiHoz0MqMzQ2LManYcnfEaQ9SBehaXS09lJDrz3cuSQChFKu1juTs4JtH/s320/Hybrid+eggplant+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgw9TUCC4zW8Hb38_fFDcB835pQl9MXWONJrmuUhyphenhyphenhQq6Lh2B3O8oD3IuzYWLjN98LKAG7mOWU5RZP5lb2rHhp6i2vL-bVLHlgx51eXMcPYSNPLzBjzb1ltiuJFCnc6XHDOhOjTjLSt5j/s475/Jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="356" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgw9TUCC4zW8Hb38_fFDcB835pQl9MXWONJrmuUhyphenhyphenhQq6Lh2B3O8oD3IuzYWLjN98LKAG7mOWU5RZP5lb2rHhp6i2vL-bVLHlgx51eXMcPYSNPLzBjzb1ltiuJFCnc6XHDOhOjTjLSt5j/s320/Jenny.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Guest blogger/ Accidental Gardener Jenny Lohmann</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></div>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-33719596977153151332021-05-18T05:35:00.003-07:002021-05-18T05:37:05.357-07:00The Cicada Circus is Coming to Town!<p>Like the circus when we were kids, we await the coming of
the cicadas with much anticipation. Whether planning an outdoor graduation
party, cutting the grass, composting, or running to our car screaming, the
entertainment will be absorbing. We won’t be able to watch all the performances,
but they sure will put on a show!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0aOYnmQlEaleYIXTEJzvVgDyCwhOuVpaS1wKLN-e7625wnuIeTH0JY8HCIDlyKYIdQewRGa6jgRqxCSqkwgeju1PuGe5o1nbMPhCgYw3dj9i0dsGoaHclutXaVWthynWGplHhyphenhyphengYksfn/s807/cicada+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="601" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0aOYnmQlEaleYIXTEJzvVgDyCwhOuVpaS1wKLN-e7625wnuIeTH0JY8HCIDlyKYIdQewRGa6jgRqxCSqkwgeju1PuGe5o1nbMPhCgYw3dj9i0dsGoaHclutXaVWthynWGplHhyphenhyphengYksfn/w298-h400/cicada+1.png" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">In ring one we have the emergence. In the womb of our living
soil for 17 years, these nymphs have laid dormant, feeding the soil when they
eat or are eaten. Rising, the tunnels they produce provide natural aeration for
our soil, allowing for more moisture absorption and less compaction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In ring two we’ll witness the climbing, costume changes,
mating ruckus, feeding frenzy and more! The tree climbers will shed their nymph
shells and will take a few days before their exoskeleton is fully developed.
Interested in getting a free protein source? This is the stage you want when
they’re white and free of crunchy roughage. To get ideas of how to cook with
them check out this <a href="https://nypost.com/2021/05/17/we-tried-8-brood-x-cicada-courses-and-yes-we-got-a-recipe/" target="_blank">NewYork Post</a> article. <o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dfrL-B1YXhiVZerGqQIQFaJqrjCDcGSD0tQ6VY4V2TbdZYcjFU3fils5rc7Pdw3XBhB3ldQFiUKo6VnCbfIkHPOCJkhXe8u7f-6WdZNHIoaNNxx0ztvTMNoWhxxSExcZvvgJArwwKfv9/s423/cicada+2.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dfrL-B1YXhiVZerGqQIQFaJqrjCDcGSD0tQ6VY4V2TbdZYcjFU3fils5rc7Pdw3XBhB3ldQFiUKo6VnCbfIkHPOCJkhXe8u7f-6WdZNHIoaNNxx0ztvTMNoWhxxSExcZvvgJArwwKfv9/s320/cicada+2.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of https://pixabay.com/users/barskefranck-6433778/</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Those in ring two that reach full maturity have one mission
in life, mate. The males are the singers attracting females with song and dance
(flight) all awhile both sexes only feed on plant fluids. Is this where the
idea of night clubs started? No wonder this Brood is X! The females have one
more job before their life’s purpose is over. They need to climb back up a tree
and deposit their eggs. Natural pruning won’t harm your trees unless they’re
defenseless saplings, so please do protect these.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Finally in ring three, we get to participate by mulch mowing
the carcasses into the grass where they’ll return to the soil or rake them up
and add them to our compost pile. The cicadas add nutrients back into our soil
just as all things that used to be living do. Meanwhile, the newly hatched
nymphs will drop to the ground, burrow, and find a nice place to live for the
next seventeen years. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Hmmm, singing, dancing drinking, mating and good for the
earth… maybe in my next life I will be a cicada! <span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i> </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTWrUAEWdIBpuxF6SZc6bMEXwWd7V2eFdlFso1KvszKMwJq5EIu2lH-3r_hiT3V5dXg4zbFth7UqfRNsPTdGioAbyX9vWhcBPGjKYCA7fADD55hJ5U0obn8h19b-jktqkSzuriIPVne3y/s475/Jenny.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="356" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTWrUAEWdIBpuxF6SZc6bMEXwWd7V2eFdlFso1KvszKMwJq5EIu2lH-3r_hiT3V5dXg4zbFth7UqfRNsPTdGioAbyX9vWhcBPGjKYCA7fADD55hJ5U0obn8h19b-jktqkSzuriIPVne3y/s320/Jenny.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest blogger and cicada enthusiast, Jenny Lohmann</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-62732153764866622802021-04-14T06:41:00.000-07:002021-04-14T06:41:13.337-07:00Composting Crime!?! Who is the Culprit?<p> Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we are here today because
the defendant would not confess.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>The crime: digging in the compost pile, despite the clear
deterrent of the traffic cone.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUtkGLsImJI1lsbSZrSAFRW2P4-lvyYfbcCrMmLBv8d1jA2nxNTuqfrwWbWMInnmpjKWSavyL_O7qCjSPNATqT_5kv8CWbyu2ja5nC3az11IGHIIzzEcjjn64jo8RUerOxcmHcY7EK7Z-/s200/Joy+bin+with+cone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="200" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUtkGLsImJI1lsbSZrSAFRW2P4-lvyYfbcCrMmLBv8d1jA2nxNTuqfrwWbWMInnmpjKWSavyL_O7qCjSPNATqT_5kv8CWbyu2ja5nC3az11IGHIIzzEcjjn64jo8RUerOxcmHcY7EK7Z-/w320-h310/Joy+bin+with+cone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The culprit: Taffy the Retriever<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYXw2jf2762WHOS3rrnS99Xg6zapxwCAzoVSRD-KFGEyHccaAKlZreUPYJvvz9zRx3KkOB2ymLNt6g1sjw5zS_2Efa4Bs4oqTI41YAvqrFd4q_UMmr0y5N_AbPBS2ct3FDXiBW3efevL0/s636/Taffy+photo+%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYXw2jf2762WHOS3rrnS99Xg6zapxwCAzoVSRD-KFGEyHccaAKlZreUPYJvvz9zRx3KkOB2ymLNt6g1sjw5zS_2Efa4Bs4oqTI41YAvqrFd4q_UMmr0y5N_AbPBS2ct3FDXiBW3efevL0/s320/Taffy+photo+%25231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Exhibit A: past transgressions of backyard shenanigans, such
as digging muddy holes. Caught red-pawed, this mug shot says it all:<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEvABQOI2S2k-dRPh4egjwAjZjnldv6eqja8FHS0QuTiCaSC86YT1PogQCVRbm-Sg_ipfZFsg7zMnRsNhP-Hw9Mpk6uH1OJzVXY-ESSvK4f0kDplKrmjqEUIjbH1g52wCuBtzBhzhuje3/s803/Taffy+photo+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="803" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEvABQOI2S2k-dRPh4egjwAjZjnldv6eqja8FHS0QuTiCaSC86YT1PogQCVRbm-Sg_ipfZFsg7zMnRsNhP-Hw9Mpk6uH1OJzVXY-ESSvK4f0kDplKrmjqEUIjbH1g52wCuBtzBhzhuje3/s320/Taffy+photo+%25232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>But seriously, my dog’s renewed interest in my compost pile
this spring reminded me it was time to turn it over. The fallen leaves I had
put in the pile last November had slowly compacted under the weight of
February’s snow. The center to bottom of the pile was mostly heavy, wet leaves,
which made me realize I need to add some greens to my browns. So the next time
I mow my yard, I’ll collect the thicker grass trimmings and mix them in with
all those brown leaves.* That, along with banana peels, apple cores, and
spinach stems, should help balance my compost pile. Then nature will go to
work, as the combination of spring rains, sunshine, and warming temperatures will
make that compost pile cook. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you’re reading this, chances are you are a loyal
composter yourself. So why not share this blog with a friend or neighbor and
introduce them to the world of composting? </p><p class="MsoNormal">As you can see from the first photo
above, my compost pile is a very basic construct. But for those that want a “no
muss no fuss” approach that their dog can’t raid, they can purchase a compost
bin at our <a href="http://www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/residents/composting/compost_bin_sale" target="_blank"><b>online Compost Bin Sale</b></a>, now through May 3. Would be - and experienced - composters can
learn basics and tips at our free, virtual <b><a href="http://www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/residents/composting/compost_seminar" target="_blank">Get the Dirt on </a><a href="http://www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/residents/composting/compost_seminar" target="_blank">Backyard Composting Seminars</a></b>. There are three more opportunities available on April 21, 22, and 29. So register now and get composting!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>*I never bag grass clippings. When they are thick in the
spring, I compost them. For the rest of year, I leave them on my yard to promote
healthy soil.</i></p><br /><i>Guest Blogger and Dog-Enthusiast, Joy Landry</i><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxrTUR2LFPOrcRXCt8VTudA7jHhmHtJLuhnarN9d-Syq9ohYKkGoIQjikeIrj0Vk5K2Ax2vyEmgKVWtma9PRP7Jj4eBzp87zZXrGtTnj_7LWFPrUeVtGZp4d2YHtpNVMLiPOX05F9cpoo/s140/JML+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxrTUR2LFPOrcRXCt8VTudA7jHhmHtJLuhnarN9d-Syq9ohYKkGoIQjikeIrj0Vk5K2Ax2vyEmgKVWtma9PRP7Jj4eBzp87zZXrGtTnj_7LWFPrUeVtGZp4d2YHtpNVMLiPOX05F9cpoo/s0/JML+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><br /></div>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-20042100122291697012021-03-30T09:21:00.008-07:002021-03-30T09:21:58.443-07:00Compost, Cocktails, and a Sale, Oh My!<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">If you enjoy compost, cocktails, and sales you’re going to
love these opportunities beginning March 31. <o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QVLv8YevRtWCQhn_rjW9iw" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRh7RWhFQ7xdnE6ka5b183MogE95SgSs45kFnkAXyPYLguZpF6-vNEu63WWCfLWWwJJDTFUBiN2TtHlynhhUziFItd8J6O2EM6dWYX9umw4b7KNMngKemfm8L6eDlknGoYvuHbUgrza2l/s320/compost+cocktails.png" width="320" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re hosting our first ever virtual ‘Compost and Cocktails’
happy hour tomorrow. We will meet up on Zoom at 5:30 p.m. to share
cocktail/mocktail recipes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A panel of
local entrepreneurs will detail services that will compost your food scraps
from your home, business, or at a drop off site. Gather your pod of peeps and
enjoy a toast to compost! <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QVLv8YevRtWCQhn_rjW9iw" target="_blank">Register here</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have your own backyard and choose to DIY? Then join us for
our annual <a href="http://hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/residents/composting/compost_seminar" target="_blank"><i>Get
the Dirt on Backyard Composting</i></a> seminar followed up by our compost bin
sale. Whether you’ve been contemplating composting and just want to learn more
or need to jump start your spring with a refresher, this virtual opportunity is
the place to learn.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/residents/composting/compost_seminar" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="558" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcx8X9-Hv49p2815SoZw4PbcFjY2L6wf47K6aA7Bfg6vAbkg__x-EEbm9t0IwLo740MDLLrzSaIjIv7uypDkY8msnC6F25SY1pZ3-aBEChOhLfiJgJnObAVri_il1UQyvmaZODuPHaWLM/s320/Get+the+Dirt+2021.png" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All seminars this year are virtual at a variety of times,
and even on Saturday! You’ll learn the basic steps to successfully compost while
earning a $10 off coupon good for one of our already discounted compost bins. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So be like a tornado and whirl over to our <a href="http://hamiltoncountyrecycles.org/residents/composting/compost_seminar" target="_blank">website</a>
for more information and to register for the seminars. </p><p class="MsoNormal">BTW, your mother called,
she said she wants a compost bin this Mother’s Day!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><br />Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-52877805742168860072021-02-08T07:02:00.003-08:002021-02-08T07:06:08.887-08:00Can I Compost Orange Peels?<p>Oh, sweet citrus. You make my bleak winter months bearable,
but our family seems to end up with a lot more orange peels this time of year.
If you are in the same citrus boat as me, you may wonder, is it okay to throw all
this acidic goodness in with my compost?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can you compost citrus? The answer is:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> In the
backyard = Yes<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> In the
worm bin = No<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Set Your Mind at Squeeze<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yes, if you are composting in a typical backyard composting
bin, you can include orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, pomelos, and whatever
other kind of citrus you want. The key is to not include only citrus peels. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Orange peels are acidic and if you were only adding citrus
peels, you may make the pile too acidic to be a good habitat for our
microorganism friends. But it would have to be A LOT of citrus. Like, if
you owned a lemonade stand and were throwing 5-gallon buckets of lemon peels
into your bin every day, you might have a problem.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the rest of us, keep on adding the peels. They provide
nitrogen to help your pile break down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Zest One Exception<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have a worm bin (or vermicomposting bin for fancier
folk) then you want to minimize or even avoid citrus altogether.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why? Two reasons. First, our worm friends are very sensitive
to changes in pH and in the confined space of the bin there is nowhere for them
to escape the acidic onslaught.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Second, little white mites seem to be attracted to citrus in
worm bins. I don’t know where they come from or why they appear in worm bins
and not backyard bins. This mystery may never be solved, I just know they are
annoying enough to deter me from wanting to feed the worms citrus.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Random Acts of Rindness<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, if you compost in your backyard, keep tossing those
peels into the bin. Your compost pile will convert those peels into lovely,
finished compost with ease.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmZYcQJHIW84Nsswo6CW-5ugZ4Ue6oiHty43HHJZG6Okh917aoQxCgmuTPGVG2_GpQRTkXQbq_9lfNSsaUSXwXK26rdusq7E8bPYOeA488P-4C8gLvIa7FEh2Xc3bmYSCnY7gEQeEWpbo/s847/Orange+clipart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="847" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmZYcQJHIW84Nsswo6CW-5ugZ4Ue6oiHty43HHJZG6Okh917aoQxCgmuTPGVG2_GpQRTkXQbq_9lfNSsaUSXwXK26rdusq7E8bPYOeA488P-4C8gLvIa7FEh2Xc3bmYSCnY7gEQeEWpbo/s320/Orange+clipart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">I’ll just be over here stuffing my face with
orange slices and </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;">dreaming
of warmer days to come.</span></p><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-35047044856908652682020-10-30T09:53:00.001-07:002020-10-30T09:53:48.559-07:00Fall Composting Tips from a Mummy<p>With Halloween upon us and autumn in full swing, I have
asked my friendly neighbor spook, the Mummy, to give us a few of his best fall
composting tips.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mummies, of course, know more about preservation and not
decomposing than your average Halloween ghoul and they can use those lessons in
reverse to teach us the best composting methods.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Empty
your bins of finished compost now to make room the fall leaves</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. Just as you
would remove the organs from the body you are about to mummify, you need to
clear out those bins now so you have space for the leaves that have already
started to fall.</span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Create
hollow monuments to hold your dead</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. Maybe not a pyramid or fancy sarcophagus,
but a few simple wire bins will help you hold onto those extra leaves instead
of sending them off with the yard trimmings truck.</span></li><li><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Without
moisture, we mummify</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">. If you want your leaves, food scraps, and internal
organs to be around next year (or 1,000 years from now) you need to remove all
of the moisture. We do not want that, so make sure the contents of your compost
bin are as wet as a wrung out sponge.</span></li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Mummy recommends holding onto those fall leaves now so
that next year you are not cursing yourself with having too little browns. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy Halloween!<o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrdEWwvK9YCfH6H8_Sg6bwPUPwlE4H_5MzvkH-rLTJAXJrWq3drP8rDhaVzou8jBcHPO2KUKeJax9QId2xb11KkyO59is-CaKnrraVmfwLlemwOBXgD1FGWjm-x60I0KVDysEhZUkV7EH/s400/mummy-0010931datlqk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="214" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrdEWwvK9YCfH6H8_Sg6bwPUPwlE4H_5MzvkH-rLTJAXJrWq3drP8rDhaVzou8jBcHPO2KUKeJax9QId2xb11KkyO59is-CaKnrraVmfwLlemwOBXgD1FGWjm-x60I0KVDysEhZUkV7EH/s320/mummy-0010931datlqk.png" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">For past Halloween composting posts check out:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-headless-horsemans-guide-to.html">The
Headless Horseman’s Guide to Backyard Composting</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2018/10/compost-lessons-from-swamp-monster.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Compost
Lessons from the Swamp Monster</span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2017/10/three-reasons-werewolves-make-terrible.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Three
Reasons Werewolves Make Terrible Composters</span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2016/10/compost-ghost-halloween-ghost-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Compost
Ghost</span></a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://confessionsofacomposter.blogspot.com/2015/10/frankenstein-would-have-made-remarkable.html#_blank" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Was
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Michelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.com4