Composting Oct. 2015 – Loretto 6th Class Secret Gardens

https://backyardfeast.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/how-to-build-the-ultimate-compost-bin/

COMPOST

Know as Black Gold, the essential ingredient to help sustain a healthy environment in your Garden.

It is important to return to the soil, as much as possible, what you have removed. The soil is composed of millions of insects, micro organisms and fungi, all with their own jobs. Breaking down, organic matter, recycling nutrients, creating channels for both air and water.

Bulky organic matter, in the form of compost and manure forms structure which acts like a sponge retaining large amounts of water, helping especially in drought situations. Soil heat is retained longer as it acts like an insulating blanket.

Home compost is made from all organic non-cooked waste. Never add meat or any cooked food as it will attractive wild life to your heap (rats).
It is a combination of 2/3 green (vegetative) and 1/3  brown ( twigs, shredded paper — carbon, saw dust, wood chip).
In an ideal situation do not add weeds, especially with seeds. These can be composted separately in double black plastic sealed bags and left for approx. 2 years to insure all traces of original make up has ceased. Personally, I feel we will always have weeds and add everything except certain weeds which are particularly difficult to deal with such as Convolvulus ( bind weed).

A really well working compost heap will create heat, thus killing weed seeds sometimes actually going on fire!!

This is part of the lesson we had this week. Also 2015 is the year of the SOIL along with air and water and is totally necessary.

I will be starting a new course in the new year. Also as part of our Gardening Conversations, designing your space is an ongoing conversation. Keep in touch.

 

Dalkey Creates Writers Festival Gardens

Some of the miniature gardens designed and constructed by the 6th Class Loretto Girls for Dalkey Creates Writers Festival. As all the gardens reached the standard of Creative Excellence they were all awarded Gold Medals by Dalkey Garden School. Maybe we will see some of these young designers bloominthepark.com in the near future.