Xylem & Phloem

A responsible graduate student would immediately finish her homework for Operations Management class. However, a graduate student with a passion for gardening can successfully find one hundred garden tasks that must be accomplished BEFORE she finishes her Operations Management homework.

This evening, my procrastination reached such a high level that I was willing to do the most banal of garden chores instead of sitting down to study. With gusto, I grabbed my garden tools and attacked the compost pile, giving it such a good turning that I nearly threw my back out in the process

Continue reading "Organics In Action: Uncovering Three Feet of Finished Compost" »

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 Though I'm planning to rip out most of my water-hungry lawn soon, I feel better about having grass when I know that it will eventually produce nutrient-rich compost.

Since the current cold weather has kept much of my gardening activity to a minimum, I've been focusing on maintenance recently. Today I covered my bare vegetable beds with a generous layer of compost and partially decomposed leaves that will enrich the soil for summer planting while inhibiting weed growth over the winter months. If I had the time and forethought, I would have planted a cover crop of hairy vetch or some other nitrogen-fixing legume.

Practicing sustainable gardening activities like composting has really changed the way I see the world these days. For example, I get sick to my stomach when I drive by homes with trash bags full of fall leaves piled up out front for the garbage truck to pick up. To think that these leaves will go straight to a landfill! I wish that Dallas would enact a municipal composting program. It could provide a HUGE revenue stream if they eventually sold the compost back to residents at a discount over retail prices. If only every resident would compost their leaves.. 

Continue reading "Tree Hugging, Dirt Worshipper... (Make That Compost Worshipper)" »

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