Yesterday I went to a third grade class to talk about composting. They seemed very excited to think that they could layer their scarps of healthy foods and debris from the garden into a bin and turn it into soil.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Make layers of ingredients. BE SURE to put regular layers of garden soil in to introduce microorganisms that help the compost break down and keep down the smell. 

YOU WILL NEED some BROWN ( dried leaves . dead plants, sawdust. pine needles and some shredded newspaper. 

Some GREEN (grass clippings and kitchen vegetable scraps) 

Some SPRINKLES OF WATER to keep it damp

Some AIR CIRCULATION to help decomposition

A great website for kids to get more details

www.aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/kindergarten/kidscompost/compostingforkids.pdf

This is a great summer recycling project for families to start and it will encourage all to eat more of the fruits and veggies that can go into the compost pile. 

DO NOT USE: meat, fat, pet droppings,bones,milk products, diseased plants , oils, or wheat products.

unpruned forsythia

Who would want to prune the forsythia in a tight ball when its natural beauty is so alluring.  An unpruned hedge like this is the greatest place for the kids to hide.  The children have already created their own forsythia house. 

When the forsythia blooms it is time to fertilize your lawn for the first time.

Wow! The rainbow color selection of pansies at Broadway Gardens was breathtaking.  Of course I had to buy more to plant in several extra containers.  It certainly gives a gardener a real boost.  The blooms last well into June.  The wood violets are spreading everywhere.