I vow every Monday to start the morning by reading a book but it rarely happens. Something always seems to get in the way. Today, was different and I luxuriated in the peacefulness of my latest tome without a shadow of guilt.
This, I think, is what enabled me to be so productive with the rest of the day and tick many jobs of my list. One of these was to try out the stick
that came with the Green Johanna. The idea is that it helps aerate the contents of the bin. In other words, I was able to turn the contents without having to unload them and then put them back in.
The job was actually easier than I’d expected, although with the contents settling afterwards, it did occur to me that there might now be fewer pockets of air in there than there had been before I started. Still, with stick in hand, I thought I would give the dalek a go as well. Mm, not quite as easy, no doubt because the contents were in bigger pieces. At the same time, this heap had already reduced a bit, too, so there is plenty of room for more fodder.
With this in mind, I decided it was time to plant out the spring bulbs I’d bought during the half term holidays. This garden is looking pretty tatty right now but I’m excited to see the displays next year.
Growing out of chaos 
Isn’t it amazing how you can fill a compost bin to the brim, and keep filling it up for ages and still only get quite a small amount of compost at the end. I read somewhere that you get out one eighth the volume you put in. Being able to turn it without having a spare empty bin to turn it into would be great but my heaps are made of old pallets and a cubic meter each so I think I am just going to have to accept that I will get a lot of exercise!
It certainly is good exercise turning a heap… I’ve heard, too, that 8 inches of ingredients makes 1 inch of compost.
That looks a really handy tool. I reckon even though you think there is less air in there now, it is “new” air, more oxygen, etc. Chipping the material finer made a huge difference in our composting process, if you can do that before or as you are filling the dalek?
Yes, I’m trying to be less lazy about chopping, Martin 😉. Glad you are finding chipping speeds up your composting process.
I’m so pleased you were able to start your day so peacefully, Helen! You managed to achieve a lot in the small amount of daylight we have at the moment.
In truth, the work outside didn’t take very long. Whatever the time of year, I tend to do only about an hour a day. Apart from having other jobs to do, it gives me chance to reflect as I go along.
That’s what I love best about gardening – the time for thought.
😊