Two weeks in the compost bin

Now I haven't added anything to this bin except water. It was full to the brim two weeks ago. I am surprised how much this is cooking down. It is hard not to add stuff to it but I think if I do it will be hard to tell exactly what is happening.
Here is the picture from last Sunday...


And this one is from this morning...

Two months after the fact but here's blog 1 of 2 about how I plant tomatoes in the desert

This is my method. Don't know if it's right but it is what works for me. I use three things when I plant: root stimulator, a banana peel and coffee grounds. Sounds scary doesn't it?

So first I dig a rectangular shallow trench in the dirt.

Next I fill the hole with water to which I have added root stimulator according to the package directions.


I let that water drain away entirely.

I lay the banana peel down in there toward the side of where the roots are going to go. Then I sprinkle a small handle of coffee grounds in the hole.

And then I get ready to put the tomato plant into it's fruity, caffeinated home.


Banana peels add potash and phosophorous to the soil. Coffee grounds add nitrogen. I often do not fertilize my tomatoes at all during the season but simply bury another rotten banana (or peel) and add another small handful of coffee grounds periodically. I buy packages of rotten bananas at the grocery store for around 25 cents for 7 or 8 of them. It's only my husband and I at home now and it's hard to eat enough banana for the garden.

Next time I'll show you how I actually plant.

Compost update

This has cooked down from a jammed crammed bin in one week. I haven't been able to roll it very well because I need to go buy four bolts and drill holes through the lid and the lip of the bin. The bungee cord didn't work on the handles at all. There is no smell so far.

But there is this black-ish run off on the cement block under the bin. Ewwww....

So I thought I'd show you something prettier after that icky photo of black goop. And these are some of the berries on my brand new brazos blackberries. Yum.

Speaking of yum. My dog must like these Carmello tomatoes (one of my favorites from Tasteful Garden last year) There were four beautiful tomatoes on here yesterday. Sigh. I must have left the garden gates open.

And can you see my first teeny, weeny Zephyr (also from TG's)squash on here? There was a little one a few days ago but ummm, I ate it. Sorry. Although I did NOT eat the green tomatoes no matter what the dog tells you.

Cherry tomatoes and cream

Have you seen this recipe? It is delicious! While you're waiting for fresh tomatoes you might want to give it a try. It's modified from a Paula Deen recipe.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
Fresh basil if you like
Directions
In a heavy skillet, melt the butter with the sugar and salt. Add the tomatoes. Cook stirring until the tomato skins begin to split. At this point, add the cream. Stir gently. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.

Bad, bad Blogger

Things have been crazy busy at our house. I have lots of pictures to share as well as my planting stuff to still show you. But just so you know I haven't round-uped the garden - ha! Here's some pictures to prove I'm still hard at work in it! I love it!