Getting Green: Composting #2, Basics

Composting can be as complicated or as simple as you want.  Depending on how big of a hurry you are in for the end result. We didn't need our compost to be ready until next spring, so we were able to keep it pretty simple.
You need to layer your “browns” and “greens” evenly.  Keep it moist enough so it has a slight dampness, and turn it occasionally.
Browns:(Carbon)

• Dry Leaves-shredded
• Woody plant trimmings-Shrubs, Trees, Dead Perennial Stems, Dried Cornstalks-Shredded
• Paper Products-Shredded Paper: Confidential, used paper towels, uncoated paper plates. Wet Cardboard, and Cereal Boxes.
• Straw-grain leftover straw
• Pine Needles- Use sparingly
• Sawdust-High in carbon
• Peat Moss
• Wood Ash

Green: (Nitrogen)

• Kitchen scraps- coffee filters, cut flowers, crushed eggshells, breads, tea bags, vegetable trimmings, fruits, pasta, rice and crushed nutshells(not walnut).
• Grass clippings
• Feathers
• Hair
• Leaves
• Algae
• Seaweed

You cannot just throw anything into your compost pile/bin and expect it to decompose, or be safe.  Use only the things on the list.  We have yet to have problems with wild life disturbing it.  If you were to throw things into it not listed above you could have problems with animals. 
Great Resources for my information:

• “Composting for Dummies”-Cathy Cromell
• Urban Garden Center

I hope that this helps everyone that might have an interest in reducing the garbage that you send out.  Please comment, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Getting Green: Composting #1, The Bin

Composting is a great idea, for many reasons.  We chose to compost to reduce the amount of garbage we pay to discard weekly, and to create fertile soil for a future garden.  Here is how we made our compost bin.
Materials:

• 3 Pallets (free, discarded locally)
  
• 1 Roll of Steel Safety Wire ($2.50 Home Depot)

Tools:

• Garden Rake
  
• Round Tipped Shovel
  
• Wire Cutters
  
• Work Gloves, to protect your hands

Instructions: 1.  We first found an area that would be easily accessible even during the winter months. It's also an area close to where we plan to use the soil it produces. The area should also be located in a hidden spot as to not draw attention and be an eyesore.  2.  Next lay out the area by cutting away and removing the top layer of sod. Approximately 2-3 inches deep ensuring to remove all grass root systems. The area should be the same length plus the height of 2 pallets.                                                  3.  Next we placed the Pallets next to each other forming a U shape structure. Wiring it together with twists of wire. Leaving the front open ensures easy accessibility to add materials and rotate the materials later throughout the process.                                                   4.  As my husband was wiring the pallets, I softened up the dirt underneath the sods we pulled out to allow worms to eat our compost.                                                   5.  After all 3 pallets were assembled, we placed a layer of hay on the bottom.  We shook some of the sod over the hay to make a sprinkling of dirt over the hay.  Then we added some food scraps that we had been collecting.  We shook out  more sod over the layer of food scraps, then we made another layer of hay.  Again we shook out sod to create another layer of soil atop the hay.                                                    6.  Lastly we sprayed water over the top of our compost lasagna and were finished.                                                   Kids naturally love learning through hands on experiences.  My kids are having so much fun with this project that they look for ways to help.
In my next post I will go into more specifics about what can be composted. 
In future blogs entitled “Getting Green” I will explain how taking recycling more seriously has helped our family budget and opened up opportunities that we didn’t know were out there.

Boredom Buster: Independence

Today the weather was gray and miserable.  The sun did come out for a bit then ran away again.  My younger daughter and my son wanted something to do and they together came up with a splendid idea.  They each took turns choreographing a dance routine, and then practiced it until they thought they were spot on.  Then they put on a show.  It was so much fun, watching them dance together and get along with each other while doing something of their own creation. 
The kids have fun coming up with things all of the time, to kill the boredom.  They are their worst critics and biggest fans to one another.  Keeping a distanced eye on them, allows them to learn the social building skills that they will require in school.  It is great to be able to see them work out their problems without help from me.  It shows us as parents that we are giving them enough freedom to grow and build self confidence.
Its is great to come up with things for you and your kids to do, but it will consume you and make them dependent on you for solutions to their boredom.  Allowing them to find their own way, and still have the needed limits is essential.  They still know the rules and know they will be expected to follow them.  Hope Everyone is having a wonderful summer.  Please tell us about some amazing things that your kids are coming up with by themselves. 

Boredom Buster: Charades

On rainy days like these, a game that is filled with action gets the whole family involved.  We love charades especially when the little ones try to act out the words they choose.  It is great fun to see where there imagination takes them.
We actually have the board game Charades for Kids.  It is pretty neat, because there are cards with the pictures on them, so my 4 year old can even do it for himself pretty well.
Now when I was young, we used to all sit down for about 15 minutes and come up with as many words as we could think of, then write them down and throw them into a bucket or bowl.  Each of us would take turns pulling one out and acting out the word.  I don’t really remember keeping score, it was just more fun to play. 
If you don’t have a large storage baggie already set up for this purpose, I found a few places online that have excellent words that you can use for a quick game of Charades.  With a little planning ahead you could make some wonderful memories, playing too.  The main thing is to get everyone involved and have fun.
Websites:
Charades word Generator by Evolutionary Games inc.
Printable cards By Charades-ideas.com
Game word list by yourdictionary.com
Charade categories and idea's by Gracecentered.com

Snacks In No Time: Hot Cocoa

It is a gray miserable day today, and now it is raining cats and dogs.  I wonder where that sentiment came from… On cold winter days or during rainy days, I try to make something special to keep the family in good spirits.
In our family we love Hot Cocoa.  We like it best made from scratch, but we do buy the mix, or sometimes I make the mix also.  We pull out the special mugs, and make cookies to go with our warm mugs of joy.

Hot Cocoa
Ingredients

• 1 cup of milk
  
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
  
• 2 Tbsp. Sugar
  
• 1 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
  
• a dash of salt

Instructions
Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl.  Heat milk in microwaveable container, until hot.  We use a 4 cup plastic liquid measuring cup.  Add vanilla and dry ingredients to milk and whisk until frothy and mixed. Pour into mugs and serve with freshly baked cookies.

Hot Cocoa Mix
Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups Sugar
  
• 1 cup Cocoa Powder
  
• 2 tsp. Salt
  
• 1/2 cup Dry Milk.

Instructions
Mix all ingredients and place into a sealed container.
To Use: 

• 2 Tbsp. of Mix
  
• 1 Cup Hot Milk
  
• splash of vanilla.

Add all ingredients to a mug and mix.  Enjoy.