Monday, June 12, 2006

Black Gold





With simple raw materials my husband makes our soil.
We call it, "black gold".
We are compositors.









He takes the fallen Autumn leaves and grinds them up and layers grass clippings from Spring and Summer mowing.









They begin cooking.








He stirs them up.


Kitchen, non-animal, scrapes also go into the compost.




I use his mix as mulch.


Three times a year I mulch. Early spring, when I am cleaning a bed of the winter debris, Summertime, when I clean a bed of weeds and faded spring flowers and once again in October, when I ready the beds for winter. The mulch works itself into the ground, enriching the soil.

These bins are ready for me to use. I dig in with my pitch fork and bring out what I need.
As I dig in a pleasant scent comes forth, I call it, " The Forest Floor". It is warm and rich. As I dig deeper I find the Gold. Nice clumps of soil made with care.



He has simple bins, just wire, for air flow and open for the rains.
These bins are cooking for autumn use.






When I replant a bed, like the wheat, I will plant my seeds and mulch. The seeds are happy to have the added blanket of mulch for moisture. I am happy for weed control. The gourds are sprouting.


We are seed to seed and leaf to leaf sort of folks.






4 comments:

Sprite said...

I enjoy seeing your composting.

You know some of my favorite smells are that of a 'forest floor,' deep, woody, musky, grounding, rich, dark and what is beneath. There are aromatherapy oils that are like that. Vetiver and Patchouli are two of my favorite smells.

Oh sprouting gourds! I love my gourd birdhouse, it's delightful.

Gourds decay and return to earth too.

L~

Sprite said...

I forgot to smell the forest floor today when I was traveling through a lovely garden near a park.

I had thought that I would, but time disappeared. I ended up smelling the flowers instead. Lavender was abundant in the garden paradise, and it captures me and pulled me into its magical fragrance.

I spent time in meditation, and healing. Offering light to the world in ways that I can offer.

There was a St. Francis statue I passed by, giving me pause to think of how he so loved the animals, and the helpless and cared for them.

I am reminded of a beautiful movie that I saw when I was 13 by the name of "Brother Sun Sister Moon." The soundtrack was by Donovan. I fell in love with St. Francis and his simple ways. My heart was so open and loving then. I awakened.

Q said...

I also love the smell of the deep forest.
My Mother had the statue of Saint Francis in her yard. It came home to my gardens when my ancestral home was sold. I love it very much.
I wrote "Brother Sun Sister Moon" down on my list of movies to rent. Sounds like a movie I would enjoy. Thank you.

Sprite said...

Wow, look at the heat coming off that mulch. That is alchemy in action!

*Sprite