Compost

Notes on compost:
- cured is more important than temperature
- sift through wide wire mesh, store in plastic bags over winter, to use in spring
- turn to mix materials. More frequently, faster decay
- too many leaves, too dry? add moisture
- put seed-bearing weeds, diseased plants in own pile. High heat to kill pathogens.
- Immature compost can be layered & planted on top of. Peas, beans, potatoes, squash do well. When plants done, bury & cover w/ soil. Good way to heal neglected soil.
- Layer stemmy plants or twigs, coarse material on bottom of pile to aerate.
- Don't use meats, fats, carnivore manure, treated woods in compost.
- Ok: paper or cardboard torn up small.
- Compost is ready when you can no longer recognize what it was.

Melons

Put paper plates under ripening melons to protect from rot/insects.

Compost

- Bad odor: too green or too wet. Loosen/mix, add dry material (leaves) or wet (grass, fresh weeds) Don't have too much grass alone, or wrong kind of kitchen waste (fats, dairy, meats).
- Maggots- too much fresh kitchen waste. Bury it.
- Ants- too dry. Add wet/greens.
- Pests only come if scraps are not buried under at least 8" material
- Let cure/age at least 1 month before using in garden
- OK: coffee filters, bread scraps, entire tea bags.