Author Topic: Working on cleaning up an eyesore. Before & After pix (Read 3055 times)

Jerry · « **on:** March 09, 2008, 11:47:22 AM »

I had Mother-in-Law's Tounge here, but too much sun. These aloes (all prpogated by themselves)
seem to handle sun & shade. They don't need much water either. Time will tell if I made a good choice.
Sorry bout no "after" pic. It just won't go. I have posted other pics since. I will try again

maryvonne · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2008, 01:35:24 PM »

Looks good Jerry. Hope it works out for you.

tranquility · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2008, 06:55:53 PM »

Wow you are soo lucky Jerry---I sure wish I could have those sort of plants out all year long...not to mention those scrumptious lemons you grow

....
Lawanna

Jerry · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2008, 10:54:53 PM »

Thanks girls! I know the one photo is on it's side, so help me I corrected it a few times, but it stays the same...Honest!
MAdE IT THIS TIME!

tinkster · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2008, 05:41:33 AM »

looks great...

My brother was kidding around before he married with his fiance and her mother and she had a huge mother in law plant in their living room and he crawled over to it and put his mouth on one of the leaves like he was gonna eat it and told her thats what hed do to his motherinlaw if she wasnt nice... welll within a half hour his mouth and lips where so swollen he couldnd even swallow.. on the way to the er his mother in law to be told him yeah and that is what I would do to you

Guess they are poinsionous huh.. good thing he only mocked eating a leaf and not really leating it

tinkster

Jerry · « **Reply #5 on:** March 10, 2008, 08:18:20 AM »

Wow Tink!
We all know about Diffenbachia, Dumb Cane don't we?
How about ths for a dumb stunt:
I got some tiny cactus thorns in my hand, I put my hand to my mouth, now they were in my tounge! never again!

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #6 on:** March 10, 2008, 08:25:14 PM »

You do good work Jerry. I like your compact composter.

Jerry · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2008, 07:43:09 PM »

The composter looks good, But poor results. Yes, I know it needs a lot of attention. I just don't do it. :'(

Johns · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2008, 07:43:36 AM »

Jerry,

I noticed your compost container in the first picture. I have two of them. What a waste of money and time. I have composted for 60 years and cannot explain what came over me to buy those worthless pieces of junk. I hope to pass them on at my next garage sale. Best compost container is no container at all, merely a pile that is easy to turn with a pitchfork. Just remember to make a depression in the top to catch rainwater.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2008, 10:02:42 AM »

I couldn't spend the money on composters so I did almost what Johns does except use 4 posts and chicken wire on the ground to hold eveything in place (no room ) and just pile on the greens, dried and fresh. The stuff melts down to pure pleasure! I also dig large 5 gallon size holes next to my fruit trees every year and fill them with kitchen "scraps" instead of fertilizing the trees. Works great for me.

Jerry · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2008, 10:33:52 PM »

The city gave them away, so it's a freebie. You are right Johns. it's a pain in the ass, but impresses the neihbors!

Johns · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2008, 06:02:03 AM »

miguynmkoi

When I was a kid, my father, who was raised in Missouri and was transferred to Charlotte by Shell Oil Company, decided the best way to combat the impenitrable red clay of North Carolina was to dig holes 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep and we put all our table scraps in them (Covering them with round marine plywood covers) and then in the spring he'd stir in some dirt and plant tomatoes in the holes. Worked pretty good. I bet your trees are thankfull for your efforts.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2008, 12:59:08 PM »

Jerry it always impresses me to see people compost or recycle. It's just too easy and unfortunately not enough people do it. Going green slowly but surely!

Johns I'm glad to know I'm not the only person using this method of composting. I know my trees and surrounding plants really appreciate it too from all the wonderful fruits and flowers I have been enjoying over the years. And the holes I dig are constantly replenished with the trees own fruit peels or unused fruits too. Sort of take and give back

Joyce · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2008, 04:16:20 AM »

I have the tumbling composters and I love them!
Started off with 1, now I have 2, plus a big standing one that I use for grass clippings.
I have a small 2 gallon trash bin on my countertop which I use for organic green kitchen scraps.
It has a lid that flips up and an inside bin with handle that can be lifted out and dumped in the big composter outside.
Found it at Target.
I also put in chicken eggshells into this because they add a bit of calcium to the mix.

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 29, 2008, 03:11:01 PM »

I have two of the freebies from the city like Jerry's. I like them because they keep the stuff contained and I can't afford the tumblers. I have a small yard. We buy composted yard debris for fifteen bucks a pick up load, I don't rely on the composters other than to reduce what I have to pay to have hauled off. The levels in them do go down fairly quickly so I can add stuff often. When I have big jobs we use a 32 gal can that the garbage hauler takes for free every other week and big paper bags that they'll take for a dollar.

mcp · « **Reply #15 on:** April 05, 2008, 07:53:36 AM »

Jerry I recieved the same compost bin free at a compost seminar. I got 2 free. Only reason I went was to receive the free bins. I am with you they are a PIA. I will get rid of them and go back to my tried and true method of having an open arrangement. thanks for sharing photos.

Jerry · « **Reply #16 on:** April 05, 2008, 09:04:34 AM »

I see a guy on Craig's List selling them! I have 3 one was given to me by a friend who never used it, Not a gardner. It was free, so she got it LOL !

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #17 on:** April 05, 2008, 09:32:58 AM »

I just saw similar composters like your Jerry at Costco. Can't remember the price but it was under $100 I think.

I have a large compost tumbler (gift from friend) which I think took too long to do its job. Now it's all rusted and the trash collectors are picking it up Tuesday. More room!!

Joyce · « **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2008, 11:25:04 AM »

My tumblers are all heavyduty plastic or vinyl, or something synthetic.
Doesn't rust!

Jerry · « **Reply #19 on:** April 05, 2008, 11:47:25 AM »

I get mail on the TUMBLERS, but it always seemed a gimmick. But Joyce loves hers. I will reconsider.

Joyce · « **Reply #20 on:** April 05, 2008, 12:13:38 PM »

Jerry,
The first one Bill bought me as a Mother's Day (or was it birthday?) gift.

I had to get another cuz I liked it so much,
and so I could have one batch 'green' and one batch 'Brown' and ready to use.

It's in the 60's here today and I was JUST outside wandering around my gardens,
noting everything that will be moved with us, and everything that is in bud.
And guess what made it through the winter?????????????????
(Jerry you'll know this one cuz its native where you live)

MY MATILIJA POPPY!

AKA Romneya coulteri.
It's supposed to be a tender perennial here, not quite hardy.

I didn't mulch it or ANYTHING and it's up about 3" already!

Here is a link for those who would like to learn more....

http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/matilijapoppy.html

Jerry · « **Reply #21 on:** April 05, 2008, 02:40:00 PM »

I sure do, but not common, seems to grow in one county. I have seen them while fishing in Mattilja Creek. Maybe even endangered

Joyce · « **Reply #22 on:** April 06, 2008, 07:28:55 AM »

I bought it on eBay, wasn't that cheap either.

The seller was originally from CT, been in CA now for most of his life.

I have to find him somehow to tell him it survived, cuz he said he would like to put the info on his eBay auctions.
Very cool guy, emailed back and forth a lot about gardens, plants and zone denial.

Lost his email between computers.

I don't think it's endangered because it is horribly invasive.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #23 on:** April 06, 2008, 08:03:35 AM »

I had my tumbler for probably 15 years. It's bigger than a wine barrel! Wine barrel my DH doesn't mind having around but he absolutely does not like to see the tumbler especially since I've stopped using it. Difficult to turn with the cracked rolling track made of a tough plastic and rusted areas growing around all the dinged areas. And the shade of green...

It's just an eyesore now.

Love the poppies. I will check to see if it needs constant watering. If not it, I just have to get me one

Joyce · « **Reply #24 on:** April 06, 2008, 08:26:45 AM »

Here's a photo of my first tumbler.
No crank, it easily rolls on runners on its base.
Also the base is a reservoir for the compost tea that leaks from the barrel.
Has a hookup for a hose...so you can get tea whenever you want.
I use the tea very diluted for my orchids and other house plants now instead of storebought fertilizer.
As you can see, it is VERY low profile and right now is hidden behind 2 holly bushes behind my garage.

In the summer I tumble it about 2-3x per week, and in the winter, maybe once a week.

If you want to move it, just simply roll it off its base, and then roll it to wherever you want it.

I have 2 of them now, the other one I ordered in dark hunter green, to be for my 'grren' batch. (not composted yet)
The black one is not for my ready to use batch.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #25 on:** April 06, 2008, 03:51:33 PM »

Those are very nice tumblers Joyce. You have a nice system going.

I'm embarrassed

to show my soon to be gone tumbler but it had a crank handle to turn the monster around. I remember now why I hated it so much. If the greens and things I put inside the tumbler was heavy it meant I had to be very careful to not let the handle go while turning the barrel. The flying handle smacked

the side of my head or chin a few times. It didn't knock any sense into me to get rid of it until it rusted. How sad is that. Anyhow the system I have now of digging holes for compost works well as do the "bins" I created for garden and kitchen waste.

Joyce · « **Reply #26 on:** April 06, 2008, 04:15:41 PM »

Annette, my dd had one of those he made from a DIY kit back when I was a kid.
The crank handle smacked me in the head more than a few times too.

If you do a Google search the classic DIY kit is still out there to be printed out for free.
It's something like: one steel drum, copper plumbing pipes and elbows, screws, washers and basic tools.
I think you can use the plastic drums now too.