Greenhouse tomatoes have gotten a well deserved reputation for mealiness and lack of taste. The greenhouse tomatoes in Bulgaria don’t taste that way. They are grown in the ground rather than in pots. This inspired me to try the same thing in my greenhouse. A raised bed has been built inside the greenhouse. The plants have been started and are almost ready to go into the ground. Fluorescent lights have been installed on chains so they can be moved up as the tomatoes grow.
The lights are also on a timer. The ideal time of daylight needed is 18 hours per day. There will also be cucumbers and basil in the raised bed. A special variety of cucumber is being used that were bred specifically to be grown in greenhouses. They are long skinny things with bumps instead of spines. The arugula and mesclun are doing well in the garden. They do not normally freeze. The weather people are calling for a very cold winter this year. A tunnel might be needed for the worst nights. Since the plants are in raised beds, that should be fairly easy to install.
Year round salads from the garden are a major goal in our house. Grocery store stuff is ok; but not as satisfying as the things from the yard. We did not get a single tomato from the hanging vine; because the deer ate them. The vine has recovered pretty well so it will be moved to the greenhouse.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
New Composting System at Work
It is hard to tell this early in the process; but compost seems to mature faster in the new bins. One reason why it is hard to tell is there is so much of the old compost still in the system. Enough compost has accumulated already to fill at least one of the new raised beds.
The compost starts off in the “accumulation bin”. 
This bin collects everything that becomes available for a week. Each Saturday the 4th bin is piled onto the screen above the 5th bin which is being referred to as the storage bin. 
Everything that falls through the 2” X 4” mesh on top is considered finished. Everything that doesn’t fall through goes back into the accumulation bin. 
Then the 3rd bin is turned to the 4th bin and the 2nd bin is turned to the 3rd bin and the accumulation bin is turned into the 2nd bin. The accumulation process starts over.
This bin collects everything that becomes available for a week. Each Saturday the 4th bin is piled onto the screen above the 5th bin which is being referred to as the storage bin. 
Everything that falls through the 2” X 4” mesh on top is considered finished. Everything that doesn’t fall through goes back into the accumulation bin. 
Then the 3rd bin is turned to the 4th bin and the 2nd bin is turned to the 3rd bin and the accumulation bin is turned into the 2nd bin. The accumulation process starts over. Right now the accumulation bin is full and there is a bag of grass that will start the new batch off right. The rainy weekend slowed down the turning. Compost from the 4th bin clumps up when wet and is hard to push through the mesh into the storage bin.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Maintaining a Raised Bed.
Raised beds have an advantage over normal garden rows in that they don’t get walked on so they don’t pack down as quickly. They are subject to some packing from rain and from the deterioration of the organic matter in the bed. Every 3 to 5 years the bed needs to be reworked. Depending on how badly the bed is packed the degree of reworking can vary. This weekend the bed that originally housed strawberries was reworked.This bed was only 3 years old and was not severely packed. The strawberry plants had been eaten by something so a minor reworking was done to refresh the bed. The top 10” of soil was removed to a new bed in about ¼ of this bed.
The bottom was covered with a few inches of compost and the next section of bed was dug and the soil placed in the first section. 
This process was repeated until the whole bed was done. Some of the dirt that was intended for the new bed was used to cover the last ¼ of the old bed. 
Since nothing is being planted in this bed now, the whole thing was covered with leaves. 
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Planning a Raised Bed Garden
A vegetable garden is a fairly permanent establishment. When raised beds are added it adds a new level of permanence. A regular garden will be in the same place every year. The rows may not be. With raised beds the rows (beds) will stay where they are. This has advantages and disadvantages. Some crops have very specific needs and the beds used for them may not work well in crop rotation. Most of the beds in my garden are 3’ wide. This is optimum for reaching the center from anywhere. The squash beds need to be 4’ wide. That may not be enough.
There is always something growing in our garden; so the spot where things are growing may have to wait for beds. The picture from Thursday’s article shows greens planted in a row with beds on both sides. Those greens will last until well into spring, I hope. Space had to be left for a bed between the other beds. That really doesn’t matter this time of year; but it could cause a problem next spring.
Some things grow vertically. This can complicate planning. Normally I like the tallest crops in the west of the garden with a north/south orientation. This lets everything get maximum sun without being blocked by other plants. In a raised bed plants are mixed up more to take advantage of the tighter planning requirements. This could put tall plants and short plants together, requiring heightened awareness of available and needed sunlight.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
There is always something growing in our garden; so the spot where things are growing may have to wait for beds. The picture from Thursday’s article shows greens planted in a row with beds on both sides. Those greens will last until well into spring, I hope. Space had to be left for a bed between the other beds. That really doesn’t matter this time of year; but it could cause a problem next spring.
Some things grow vertically. This can complicate planning. Normally I like the tallest crops in the west of the garden with a north/south orientation. This lets everything get maximum sun without being blocked by other plants. In a raised bed plants are mixed up more to take advantage of the tighter planning requirements. This could put tall plants and short plants together, requiring heightened awareness of available and needed sunlight.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Cutting off the Head of the Hydra
This was one of the twelve labors of Hercules. Each time he cut off one head two would grow back in it’s place. This is the way greens work in the garden. The more you pick them the more you have. Notice the pictures of the arugula and the mustard and turnips. They were all picked down to almost nothing on Sunday. The picture was taken on Monday afternoon. Another of the labors of Hercules was cleaning the Augean Stables. What kind of garden could you have with all that manure?
You may notice that the Arugula is in a raised bed. The bed was full to within an inch of the top when the arugula was planted. It has settled some since then. When the arugula is pulled off or dies from cold or heat, the bed will be topped up with compost and spaded with a spading fork to fluff it back up.
The scrap lumber from an old deck that was torn up several years ago is becoming raised beds now. Some of it went into the greenhouse. The lumber is of course being supplemented by regular scavenging. The garden thrives on recycled vegetable material, why should it not save old building materials from the landfill as well?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
You may notice that the Arugula is in a raised bed. The bed was full to within an inch of the top when the arugula was planted. It has settled some since then. When the arugula is pulled off or dies from cold or heat, the bed will be topped up with compost and spaded with a spading fork to fluff it back up.
The scrap lumber from an old deck that was torn up several years ago is becoming raised beds now. Some of it went into the greenhouse. The lumber is of course being supplemented by regular scavenging. The garden thrives on recycled vegetable material, why should it not save old building materials from the landfill as well?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
What Happens in a Compost Pile
Composting turns organic garbage into fertilizer. The way this happens is by two processes. The first is an aerobic breakdown of the material. This is encouraged by turning the compost, keeping it wet and having lots of good green stuff in the pile. The compost heats to between 90 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit during the process. The higher the temperature the faster the compost makes fertilizer. Turning the compost regularly keeps air mixed in which enables the aerobic (oxygen fed) process. Not turning the compost lets it pack down and burn all of the available oxygen and engage in anaerobic decomposition. Anaerobic decomposition produces methane. This stinks and is a serious cause of global warming.
Some of the internet sources of advice say not to add meat or bones because they attract scavengers. These are good sources of phosphorous. Just bury them in the hottest part of the pile. You can tell that your pile is working when you are turning it or digging into it because it is actually burning. There will not be a flame; but the material is grey like ashes and smoke comes from it. The center of the pile is inhabited by microbes surrounding the hottest part. In the cooler portions, if you are lucky, there will be earthworms. Earthworms love compost and coffee grounds seem to be their favorite food. They cannot live in the hottest part of the pile. Earthworm poop is one of the greatest fertilizers on earth.
The composting system used in my yard is 5 bins made from old pallets. They won’t last forever; but they are free. Compost takes about 5 weeks so I turn the bins each week. The final bin has a top of 2”x 4” fence wire. When I turn into that bin anything that doesn’t fit through the wire goes back to the 1st bin. Also material from the 4th bin is used to cover new material placed in the 1st bin and give it a “starter” of bacteria and earthworms. All of our grass clippings and table scraps and coffee grounds and egg shells go in the compost. I also pick bags of grass clippings up from the side of the road in the grass cutting season. Leaves are good; but they compost pretty slowly. They are only used when they have been mulched or if they are mixed with grass clippings.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Some of the internet sources of advice say not to add meat or bones because they attract scavengers. These are good sources of phosphorous. Just bury them in the hottest part of the pile. You can tell that your pile is working when you are turning it or digging into it because it is actually burning. There will not be a flame; but the material is grey like ashes and smoke comes from it. The center of the pile is inhabited by microbes surrounding the hottest part. In the cooler portions, if you are lucky, there will be earthworms. Earthworms love compost and coffee grounds seem to be their favorite food. They cannot live in the hottest part of the pile. Earthworm poop is one of the greatest fertilizers on earth.
The composting system used in my yard is 5 bins made from old pallets. They won’t last forever; but they are free. Compost takes about 5 weeks so I turn the bins each week. The final bin has a top of 2”x 4” fence wire. When I turn into that bin anything that doesn’t fit through the wire goes back to the 1st bin. Also material from the 4th bin is used to cover new material placed in the 1st bin and give it a “starter” of bacteria and earthworms. All of our grass clippings and table scraps and coffee grounds and egg shells go in the compost. I also pick bags of grass clippings up from the side of the road in the grass cutting season. Leaves are good; but they compost pretty slowly. They are only used when they have been mulched or if they are mixed with grass clippings.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
OH! Deer Me!!
The live and let live strategy used with the deer in the past has failed miserably in my garden this year. Having talked to friends and done extensive internet research a two prong strategy has been developed. An eight foot fence with bird netting will be put at the perimeter of the garden. A deer can jump this flat footed; so hopes are not high. The 2nd approach will be to fill little cloth bags with human hair.
A friend of mine is a beautician and he has volunteered to supply the hair. Rags could be sewn together for the bags; but being lazy, I have decided to staple them. They will be scattered throughout the garden on poles. Last year I tried hanging some smelly work clothes in the garden. The smell of them horrified my wife; but did not seem to bother the deer. I hope the hair will do better.
A possible third strategy for some of the raised beds will be to make a frame for a polyethylene tunnel that will extend the growing season and cover it with bird netting in the warm season. This should work for small plants. It won’t help as the plants grow. I also intend to plant some very attractive deer food outside of the garden. Maybe corn and soybeans will work. The deer have to eat too.
An interesting development for this late in the year has occurred. The deer ate even the hot pepper plants. They left the peppers which I picked on Friday. I intended to pull the plants on Sunday and put them in the compost pile. On Sunday they had some new foliage and blossoms. I decided to leave them. I cannot imagine getting new peppers this late in the season; but hope is free.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
A friend of mine is a beautician and he has volunteered to supply the hair. Rags could be sewn together for the bags; but being lazy, I have decided to staple them. They will be scattered throughout the garden on poles. Last year I tried hanging some smelly work clothes in the garden. The smell of them horrified my wife; but did not seem to bother the deer. I hope the hair will do better.
A possible third strategy for some of the raised beds will be to make a frame for a polyethylene tunnel that will extend the growing season and cover it with bird netting in the warm season. This should work for small plants. It won’t help as the plants grow. I also intend to plant some very attractive deer food outside of the garden. Maybe corn and soybeans will work. The deer have to eat too.
An interesting development for this late in the year has occurred. The deer ate even the hot pepper plants. They left the peppers which I picked on Friday. I intended to pull the plants on Sunday and put them in the compost pile. On Sunday they had some new foliage and blossoms. I decided to leave them. I cannot imagine getting new peppers this late in the season; but hope is free.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wonderful Weeds
Looking in the herb book by Maria Treben for cures for a friend's migraines, I found two fantastic “weeds”. Organic gardening used to define weeds as useful plants in the wrong place. These two weed are cowslip and yarrow. They do so much more than just cure migraines. I have decided to plant them in my flower beds and in the garden.
Yarrow, in addition to curing almost everything, is said to repel bugs and enrich the soil and enhance the action of the compost pile. It is a wonderful companion plant as well; but the research completed so far doesn’t say what to plant it with. One cup of yarrow tea each day will prevent migraines. It is also great for stopping bleeding or increasing blood flow. (Figure that one out.) It is good for soldiers (to treat wounds) and women (to aid in the discomforts of menstruation). The stems are used in divination in the I Ching.
Cowslip is a protected plant in England where it has almost been eliminated by the use of herbicides. A cup of cowslip tea is a fast cure for a headache. Chewing the root relieves a toothache. A poultice made from the leaves is good for bruises. Either plant is good to treat high blood pressure. Wow!!!
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Yarrow, in addition to curing almost everything, is said to repel bugs and enrich the soil and enhance the action of the compost pile. It is a wonderful companion plant as well; but the research completed so far doesn’t say what to plant it with. One cup of yarrow tea each day will prevent migraines. It is also great for stopping bleeding or increasing blood flow. (Figure that one out.) It is good for soldiers (to treat wounds) and women (to aid in the discomforts of menstruation). The stems are used in divination in the I Ching.
Cowslip is a protected plant in England where it has almost been eliminated by the use of herbicides. A cup of cowslip tea is a fast cure for a headache. Chewing the root relieves a toothache. A poultice made from the leaves is good for bruises. Either plant is good to treat high blood pressure. Wow!!!
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com/ , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Magic in the Garden
Science has an explanation for the way plants make something from nothing. The idea of photosynthesis seems to depend on the conservation of mass & energy. If E=mc2, how much sunshine does it take to make a cornstalk or a squash vine? It can’t be much. Where does the mass of mushrooms originate?
Many years ago spontaneous generation was disproved. We know that maggots make flies. Earthworms are hermaphrodites; but it still takes 2 to tango. They lay big eggs that make a lot of little earthworms. Their manure is the richest natural fertilizer one can obtain that doesn’t have weed seeds. I still like to think of these things as magic, or at the very least divine. I know the way that the growing garden makes me feel is magic; or is that just a chemical/electrical reaction in my nervous system?
Scientists really like to spoil all the fun. Where do scientists come from anyway? Is that spontaneous generation or photosynthesis?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Many years ago spontaneous generation was disproved. We know that maggots make flies. Earthworms are hermaphrodites; but it still takes 2 to tango. They lay big eggs that make a lot of little earthworms. Their manure is the richest natural fertilizer one can obtain that doesn’t have weed seeds. I still like to think of these things as magic, or at the very least divine. I know the way that the growing garden makes me feel is magic; or is that just a chemical/electrical reaction in my nervous system?
Scientists really like to spoil all the fun. Where do scientists come from anyway? Is that spontaneous generation or photosynthesis?
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Monday, October 12, 2009
New Raised Beds
This long weekend saw some progress in the garden. The lumber has been identified for 4 new raised beds. One which was built this morning is 3’ X 8’. Two of the others will be 4’ X 12’ and will be used for squash. The other one will be 3’ X 12’. There may be another bed 4’ X 4’ to accommodate a stump. The stump is too much trouble to get out; but it can be worked around.
Most of the fallow part of the garden was tilled this weekend. That is needed before the beds can be built. The soil is tilled as deep as the tiller will go. The box is built on top of the ground and filled with compost and the loose dirt around the bed. The bed can then be planted or left for the spring. The beds that are left for spring get a layer of mulch. The spaces between the beds (30”) is mulched as well. In the spring the mulch will be pulled off of the beds and left in the paths to conserve moisture, prevent weeds and provide a home for earthworms.
The new compost system works great. There won’t be enough compost for all of the new raised beds so “black gold” will be purchased from compost central. A pickup truck full is $24.90. This is really beautiful compost and well worth the money.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Most of the fallow part of the garden was tilled this weekend. That is needed before the beds can be built. The soil is tilled as deep as the tiller will go. The box is built on top of the ground and filled with compost and the loose dirt around the bed. The bed can then be planted or left for the spring. The beds that are left for spring get a layer of mulch. The spaces between the beds (30”) is mulched as well. In the spring the mulch will be pulled off of the beds and left in the paths to conserve moisture, prevent weeds and provide a home for earthworms.
The new compost system works great. There won’t be enough compost for all of the new raised beds so “black gold” will be purchased from compost central. A pickup truck full is $24.90. This is really beautiful compost and well worth the money.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 9, 2009
Planning for the Greenhouse Season
The greenhouse is ready for the season. All of the pots and trays have been washed with Clorox. All of the benches have been painted. The rain barrels were emptied and washed with Clorox. Sanitation in a greenhouse environment is important; because the optimum growing conditions for plants are the same as those for fungus and bacteria.
The next task is to determine what will be planted and buy some seeds. 6 tomato plants have already been started. They will go in the raised bed at the back of the greenhouse. A white panel has been placed on the wall to reflect light. A timer has been set up and is being tested now. The idea is to have 18 hours of light. Sunset is in the 7 o’clock range right now so the light is set to come on at 6 and go off at 1 o’clock AM. As the season progresses the start time will be earlier.
So…what to plant? Eggplant, tomatoes and peppers will be planted for sure. Every herb for which seeds can be found will be planted as well. Last years plants may have been overwatered causing a heavy loss. There was also a bird in the greenhouse. This year the greenhouse is tighter and the watering will be handled differently. The gas heat could have also been a problem. It was definitely expensive. This year there will be more bottom heating pads. I may even buy a soil heater for the raised bed.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
The next task is to determine what will be planted and buy some seeds. 6 tomato plants have already been started. They will go in the raised bed at the back of the greenhouse. A white panel has been placed on the wall to reflect light. A timer has been set up and is being tested now. The idea is to have 18 hours of light. Sunset is in the 7 o’clock range right now so the light is set to come on at 6 and go off at 1 o’clock AM. As the season progresses the start time will be earlier.
So…what to plant? Eggplant, tomatoes and peppers will be planted for sure. Every herb for which seeds can be found will be planted as well. Last years plants may have been overwatered causing a heavy loss. There was also a bird in the greenhouse. This year the greenhouse is tighter and the watering will be handled differently. The gas heat could have also been a problem. It was definitely expensive. This year there will be more bottom heating pads. I may even buy a soil heater for the raised bed.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Salad from the Garden
Finally the whole salad (except for the dressing) came from the garden. Tomatoes, cucumbers, arugula, mesclun, basil and radishes were fresh from the back yard. It was wonderful. I just hope it lasts for awhile.
The new compost bin arrangement worked out really well. I was concerned that the boards on the front would present a difficulty in forking the compost from bin to bin; but it was easy as pie. The compost that had been in the bins seemed to be hotter than the compost from the wire cages as well; but that could be a factor of the individual pile.
Figs are really getting ripe. They are so sweet and delicious that it is hard to stop eating them. The squirrels and birds seem to have gotten their fill because they are leaving them alone. The tomatoes that were started for the greenhouse raised bed have true leaves on them now. The lights will be rigged this weekend and the tomatoes will be transplanted to larger pots. They should go in the ground by the 1st of November.
The deer must be starving. They are even eating the hot pepper plants now. They ate all the tomatoes and leaves from the upside down tomato. Upside down tomatoes will get another chance next year. They have been a real loser this year; but they did get started late. Next year they will get started in the greenhouse in February to see if they do better.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
The new compost bin arrangement worked out really well. I was concerned that the boards on the front would present a difficulty in forking the compost from bin to bin; but it was easy as pie. The compost that had been in the bins seemed to be hotter than the compost from the wire cages as well; but that could be a factor of the individual pile.
Figs are really getting ripe. They are so sweet and delicious that it is hard to stop eating them. The squirrels and birds seem to have gotten their fill because they are leaving them alone. The tomatoes that were started for the greenhouse raised bed have true leaves on them now. The lights will be rigged this weekend and the tomatoes will be transplanted to larger pots. They should go in the ground by the 1st of November.
The deer must be starving. They are even eating the hot pepper plants now. They ate all the tomatoes and leaves from the upside down tomato. Upside down tomatoes will get another chance next year. They have been a real loser this year; but they did get started late. Next year they will get started in the greenhouse in February to see if they do better.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 2, 2009
New Compost System
A new compost bin system has been rattling around in my head for awhile. It involved a lot of treated lumber and construction and expense and work. The reality finally happened and involved almost none of that. Michael Swol mentioned using pallets for another project. The design using pallets for compost bins jumped into my head.
Michael and I picked up some pallets from Harkey Tile. They were placed together against a fence to make 5 bins that are roughly 3’ by 3’ by 3’. My wife looked out the window and screamed. They are a little bit ugly. She made me move them to a hidden corner of the yard. Even picking up the pallets and doing the construction twice, there is still only about 4 hours and no money except for a few nails and some gas in the project. 2 levels of used 2” X 6”s nail the pallets together on the front and provide a stop for the compost.
The only thing I’m not really sure about is the closure on the front. It works well to keep the compost in the bin. How hard will it be to fork the compost from one bin to the next? The answer to that will come next weekend. Michael still needs pallets for his projects and I will try to get more uniform pallets to replace the odd ones so the effect will be less ugly.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
Michael and I picked up some pallets from Harkey Tile. They were placed together against a fence to make 5 bins that are roughly 3’ by 3’ by 3’. My wife looked out the window and screamed. They are a little bit ugly. She made me move them to a hidden corner of the yard. Even picking up the pallets and doing the construction twice, there is still only about 4 hours and no money except for a few nails and some gas in the project. 2 levels of used 2” X 6”s nail the pallets together on the front and provide a stop for the compost.
The only thing I’m not really sure about is the closure on the front. It works well to keep the compost in the bin. How hard will it be to fork the compost from one bin to the next? The answer to that will come next weekend. Michael still needs pallets for his projects and I will try to get more uniform pallets to replace the odd ones so the effect will be less ugly.
David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://www.segrestrealty.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/
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