Compost

We've started a compost pile. The soil here is sandy and also we like the idea of using what is available for improving the general conditions. Somehow I find it satisfying saving leftover egg shells, greens, scraps of cucumber skins, old tomatoes, tea and coffee grounds and carrying the tupperware container out to the pile and dumping it in. It's also satisfying chopping it up with a shovel and turning it knowing each day it gives us more to work with.

The weather has turned nice today, in the 70's. After driving into town yesterday on errands, it's nice to be outside cutting old branches, and raking weeds and leaves while the hawks circle overhead. Very peaceful. We planted some grapes, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries last week and so far they are still alive , as far as I can tell. It's a little early , but we'll see. The garlic that was planted in the fall is doing well. The green shoots are not yet drying. It's the first time I've planted garlic, a winter crop, but, I read after the stalks turn dry 1/3 of the way up it's time to harvest.