Compost 101

One common piece of advice that many new gardeners get is to start a compost pile. However, there are many different types to choose from. Here is a list of the three basic forms and their structure. If you would rather watch a Youtube Videos on the subject scroll down for some that I found on the subject.

1. Vermicomposting: It's actually much simpler than it sounds. The worms break down the food scraps, eat their own weight in food every day. The end product are worm castings and 'worm tea.' The worms need a well ventilated container along with damp bedding (coconut coir, newspaper, cardboard, etc.). The worms will gradually eat the food scraps.

2. Anaerobic Composting: (a.k.a. fermenting compost) This is simply composting with out the need for air. This is relatively low maintenance in that it doesn't need to be regularly turned over, but the smell can get pretty bad. However, with the right container there should not be a problem unless opened. This type of system will gradually kill off any parasites and uses bacteria to break down the materials.


3. Aerobic Composting: This is method is commonly used. It is basically composting with air. The oxygen levels allow bacteria that create heat to thrive which gradually breaks down the organic material. This method can create a bad smell and look unattractive. Some areas, especially if you live in an HOA, may not allow these types of composting. This is usually the method used in 'backyard composting.'


YouTube Links:

Vermicomposting:









Anaerobic:







Aerobic:
















Recommendations & Resources:

Benefits of Recycling: Anaerobic Composting

Sometimes It's Okay to Give Up On Your Soil

When starting late on amending soil, a lot can go wrong. Recently, I have come to the conclusion that sometimes it's ok to give up on the soil you're working with.

With three demanding small children I really didn't get to do that much to try to improve my nutrient barren backyard. I was led into this newbie move by being impatient, which isn't the best attribute for a gardener. I hoped that the soil wasn't as bad as I thought and just mixed in some rabbit manure into the ground and planted my seeds. Well ... in short I had mixed results. In one area where I had actually did some soil amendment the Kentucky Wonder Beans are growing strong. The other three beds have stunted growth or didn't grow at all. Which could partly be because of the weeds galore

So what DO you do when you through your hands up and curse the ground you plant on? Easy, you make a lasagna garden. No, not like the Italian dish but a layered soil where you can start fresh. In a lasagna garden you cover the soil with either cardboard or blank & white newspaper. This stuffs out the weeds and grass. I suggest you wet the paper down while covering the ground or placing rocks on top so it doesn't fly away with a gust of wind. Then alternate layers of organic matter (compost, manure, etc.) and coir, or a peat alternative (Top soil from garden centers work ok). And that's it! Then once your plants start sprouting spread a nice layer of mulch.

So if you feel like you are a horrible gardener, don't. Learn from your mistakes like I'm still learning now. Patience is the key to success in the gardening world.

Why I am Against "Redshirting"

This is more of a personal opinion but I do not believe in holding back preschoolers from entering kindergarten simply for the sake of them being "bigger", "smarter", "more ready", and many (in my opinion) other non-legit excuses. I will admit that there are many other situations were it IS a smart move to hold back a child a year and I totally support those situations.
 To elaborate on the issue a bit, it will not help the child by being held back and may cause problems. Were I live it is unfortunately popular for hold back kids from entering kindergarten with no real excuse other than the fact that parents are mislead into thinking that some how their kids will excel.



Pro Redshirting Parents say:
Theses are popular reasons many parents use to hold back their kids.

Having kids a year older will help them excel in sport in high school and college.
I want my kid to be an athlete and this will give him/her an edge over other kids.
My child will be bullied.
My kid is too small.
By being older my child will be bigger than the rest of the kids.
By being older my child will be smarter than the rest of the kids.
My kid doesn't like sitting still.
My child doesn't like to listen.
My child is too immature for school.
I think my child will fail.
He/She just isn't ready.
Boys don't learn as fast as girls.
I don't want my kid to be the smallest/youngest in the class.



My personal experience: In my daughter's class she is the youngest child being born in September with most of her class actually being a year or two older from being purposely held back a year by their parents. So far from what I have seen in her class is that none seemed to have 'gained' anything from being red-shirted. My daughter started the year with a speech and some mild developmental delays and considered immature. Yet with in the first 3 months of school she was already the top of her class and still is. To make things worse the 6 to 7 years old the held back children are often hero-worshiped for their age and often take advantage of the younger more naive 5 year old. In my kid's class the oldest being seven - eight causes the most problems knowing that they can out smart their younger classmates into doing bad or embarrassing things. There have been situations wear the older children convinces a younger boy to eat their boogers.

Also, this may serve as a humiliation for the older kids and they may take it out on their younger peers. For example, one of the oldest girls in my daughter's class cornered and hit a younger student for getting a star in class for getting questions correct. That girl then later took the younger one's jacket and stuffed it into a kid's backpack and threatened her. This same girl has also been known to take money and food from other kids.

Not all held back kids are mean and fall behind. On the other hand some older kids in the class are so smart and ahead that they get easily bored and long to play with the other 'big kids' in 1st grade. These kids are not being challenged enough and should be in 1st grade were they can be properly challenged.

In my experience you should be careful what you say and the excuses anyone uses for a child. There are also possible negative consequences involving the youngest children in a class that should also be considered. I've seen the negative effects of 'labeled excuses' for children born late in the year. When they do poorly in school they are often excused for being 'young'. While this is a legitimate excuse in kindergarten some people and children carry this excuse well beyond kindergarten. I believe that in some case it can become a self-fulfilling prophesy were poor marks in school is excusable because of being younger giving the child an excuse for not trying hard enough. I do think that this is rare but I have personally seen this excuse used well into Jr. High for one person that I knew when in reality the kid never actually tried to excel. She was nearly held back every year and her mother used the "she's younger than the rest of the kids" excuse.

What the Experts Say: According to Darren Lubotsky, of University of Illinois, older children do rate high test scores in kindergarten but the advantage quickly vanishes and almost nonexistent by the 8th grade (average 4% higher scores). After school starts the older children will learn at the same pace as everyone else in their class. Being held back will eventually catch up with the children as they will graduate, enter college, and start working a year later compared to others their own age. On average they will lose an entire years wages by being held back a year. It also affects the parents by having to pay an extra year worth of childcare costs.

With increasing numbers of older children in the class room it also causes teachers to compare younger students to the older ones. This causes younger students to be more likely to held back or diagnosed with a learning disability.

UW-Madison Education Professor Elizabeth Graue and Lehigh University’s James DiPerna in a study say that "some children who are “held out” miss receiving needed attention in areas of learning disabilities, cognitive disabilities, and emotional disabilities." They also found that children held back do not benefit socially and shows that some do less well in measurement of behavioral problems. While they don't believe redshirting causes the problems, it is suggested that being held back doesn't help preexisting behavioral issues.

In a 2010, a published study in the journal Economics of Education Review, found no difference between age at kindergarten entry and the effect on salaries, employment, homeownership, or marital status later in life as an adult. In fact, it found that children who entered kindergarten at a younger age were on average about 1% more likely to graduate high school than their older peers. It is theorized that it could be because older kids reach the age at which they can legally drop out of school earlier that younger students.



Final Word: If you are considering holding back your preschooler, don't. I went through the same decision and came up the conclusion that even if she was immature and had a speech delay; going to kindergarten will not hurt her and she will get the social classroom experience she needs. Even if she got held back by the teacher then she will have a head start for the next year. I had faith in my child and I am asking you to do the same with yours. The bottom line is the earlier a child starts school, the better.


As for legitimate reasons for holding back a child? Ask your child's doctor. Diagnosed developmental delays may or may not benefit from a late start in school. Further discussing this with your child’s doctor will give you the answers you need or send you to a specialist you can give you the proper guidance to help you and your child. Depending on where you live testing for learning disabilities may be available to you for free or provided by your pediatrician.



Resources:
Science Daily: Starting Kindergarten Later Only Gives Students A Fleeting Edge, Study Finds
WCER: The Pros and Cons of "Holding Out"
UCLA Today: Redshirting: Is This The Path To Success In Kindergarten?

Mommy, what does counterproductive mean?

Child: Mommy, what does counterproductive mean?

Mommy: Well, it's like when your being a good girl and some random person says "Wow, your lucky to get such a well behaved child." and I think "Ya, because it as nothing to do with my parenting skills" but instead of just thinking it I say it out loud. You see then she'll definitively think that you were born well behaved because I was being so rude and you defiantly didn't get it from me even though that wasn't the message I actually wanted to convey. THAT is counterproductive!

Child: Oh ...

Sincerely yours forever,


Vanna <3

Stop Bullying Now, Pt 1: Statistics

With another school year coming to a close it's time for students to look back on their school year. With the statistics above it's likely that your child has been bullied, bullied others, or witnessed bullying at school.

I'll be posting a series of posts and links on the topic of harassment from both sides. The victim and the aggressor.


This post is meant as food for thought. Here are some additional statistics on the topic of bulling.

Bullying occurs at the same rate among special needs students as with regular students.

Only 36% of students will notify a teacher or adult of being bullied.

According to Professor Jamie M. Ostrov, "... frequent relational and physical aggression can begin as early as two and a half years of age and may be a relativity stable behavior during early childhood." 


Psychologist Dan Olweus of the University of Bergen in 1993 found that 60% of children in grades 6-9 that have regularly bullied others ended up having at least one criminal conviction by age 24.


Chronic child bullies are likely to maintain their behaviors into adulthood and diminish their ability to sustain positive relationships.


160,000 children skip school every day in the U.S. in fear of bulling according to the National Education Association.


20% of students are victims of chronic bulling from kindergarten through 6th grade.


According to Mark Dombeck, Ph. D. the effect of bulling include:

   "In the short term:

• Anger
• Depression
• Anxious avoidance of settings in which bullying may occur.
• Greater incidence of illness
• Lower grades than non-bullied peers
• Suicidal thoughts and feelings (In one British retrospective bullying experiences survey I came across (of unknown scientific value), 20% of the sample attempted suicide secondary to having been bullied, whereas only 3% of participants who were not bullied attempted suicide).

   In the long term:

• Reduced occupational opportunities
• Lingering feelings of anger and bitterness, desire for revenge.
• Difficulty trusting people
• Interpersonal difficulties, including fear and avoidance of new social situations
• Increased tendency to be a loner
• Perception of self as easy to victimize, overly sensitive, and thin-skinned
• Self-esteem problems (don't think well of self)
• Increased incidence of continued bullying and victimization"

References & Recommendations:

http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/ 

National Association of African American Studies

Child-Psych: Effects of Bulling on Children with Special Needs

University at Buffalo: Effects of Bulling Behavior Serious for Both Parties, UB Psychologist Says,

MentalHelp.net: The Long Term Effects of Bulling

How To Get Free or Almost Free Manure

Traditionally, manure is added in the fall so it has the time to break down over the winter. Now of course not all of us get to do this for one reason or another. Or maybe the soil just needs more.

Any hooo.... about the free or super cheap animal poop. Where can you get it?


Alright here are some places to get your hands on some manure ;)

Rabbit and Farm Animal Rescues: Ok ... I'm big on helping and supporting rescues so NEVER just ask for free manure. These people work hard and many rescues are barely surviving. Offer to spend a whole day helping clean cages, offices, ect. in exchange for some manure for your garden. It's better to call ahead and let them know your intentions. Many rescues may need you to go through a type of orientation and/or training to become a volunteer. Every single rescue I have worked with also keeps records so don't freak if they ask for your address and phone number. It's just to keep in touch with all volunteers and just in case something happens to you they know who to call. There may be some who sell their manure but I don't know of any that do (I mainly worked with dog & cat rescues).

Livestock Breeders: Look up local breeders of rabbit, chickens, horses, llamas, ect. You'll have a better chance with small independent/family breeders than a company. Plus you'll more likely get a faster and friendlier response. Offer to shovel it yourself with a small donation. I know of one breeder who only asks for a minimum $10 for as much manure as you want and even encourages taking a truck bed full. A truck bed full of already aged manure for $10? Can't beat that!

Friendly Neighbors: First of all, remember to be friendly and as non creepy as possible. It isn't everyday that a stranger asks for your pet;s poop and it might freak some people out. If you're not on at least 'hello neighbor' biases then ask those you are with first for an introduction. It'll be easier to get a yes if you have one of their friends introduce you first. And as always offer to shovel it yourself. If you don't have any neighbors with livestock ask your family and friends if they know someone with chickens, rabbits, horses, ect. and plenty of extra poop laying around.

Craigslist: Now there are people selling high-priced 'organic' manure on craigslist but there are also just as many begging people to just take it. If you don't see any ads for free manure in your area  then post up your own ad stating that you are willing to shovel up some free manure. Just as a friendly warning please always be careful on craigslist or anytime you are dealing with strangers. Remember to bring a friend with you just to be safe.

Yahoo Groups: Yahoo groups are a great place to ask. Ask a local gardening or livestock enthusiast group that you are willing to clean up manure from their yard.

Social Network: Already on a social platform of some sort? Then post an update letting everyone know you're looking for some manure for your garden. Who knows maybe that girl you haven spoken to since the 7th grade has small mountain of manure with your name on it.



Animal Manure to use in the Garden:
Horse
Cow/Bull
Chicken
Rabbit
Chinchilla
Llama
Sheep
Turkey
*Do NOT use poop from meat-eating animals.*

Quick Manure Tips: Ok I just want to remind you that 'hot' manure needs to be composted first so it doesn't burn the plants. This is why it's added to the garden in fall so it gives it time to age. Aged manure can be added directly to the soil. 'Cold' manure (rabbit pellets) are considered safe and compost quickly so it won't burn the plants. However, like anything else (and it IS poop after all) many recommend to compost the rabbit manure and let it age.

Warning: Why compost manure? Manure that is considered 'hot' can contain pathogens that can spread disease such as e. coli. The risk is small, but it is still a risk none the less. The soluble nitrogen and ammonia in the fresh manure will also burn the plants and can interfere with seed germination. Plus fresh manure stinks.




Recommended Readings:

Washington State University: Composting Livestock Manure

WSU: A Guide to Composting Horse Manure

Plant Profile: Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe

Name: Hale's Best Jumbo Cantaloupe

Botanical Name: Cucumis melo

Zone: 3 to 9

When to Plant: 2 to 3 weeks after last frost date

Sun: Full Sun

Sow: direct sow or transplants

Planting Depth: 1/2 inch

Spacing: 4 feet between each plant

Germination: 5 to 10 days

Maturity: 80 days

Height: 15 to 18 inches

Spread: 3 to 6 feet

pH Range: 6.0 to 8.0

Yield: 5 to 7 per vine

Description: This melon has a firm but thin rind (skin) that is slightly ridged. It is mostly flesh with a small seed cavity. The flesh itself is salmon colored that is fine textured. It is very sweet with a nice tasty flavor. The vines are compact and can be trained if needed.

Harvest: Grow to 4 pounds or more. Ready to harvest when the rind (skin) has a sweet smell.

Seed Saving: Allow the melon to fully ripen. Scoop out the seeds and remove any pulp. Rinse the seeds and remove any floating seeds. Turn the water on high in the sink and rinse the seeds in a colander forcefully to remove any thing that may still be on the seeds. Place the seeds on a paper towel and allow them to fully dry. Once completely dry place in a clean glass jar or zip lock bag.

Growing Tips: Take great care if planning on pre-starting since it will not transplant well if roots are disturbed. This plant does exceptionally well with high potassium and nitrogen.

Problems: Cucumber beetle, mildew

Author's Notes: If there was one reason why I love this plant is that it's Drought Tolerant! Not that many fruit and vegetable plants can say that! The first time I grew this plant I didn't take great care of it and didn't add anything to the soil until the vines started spreading; but like the trooper it is, it marched on and produced the tastiest melons I have ever eaten. This one is defiantly worth a try and is very easy to grow. This is a must have for new gardeners.

While often called a cantaloupe it is actually a muskmelon.

If you can resist eating it right away after picking; wait until the next day. Letting it sit on your counter will actually make it a little sweeter. The first time I tried it I was skeptical but it actually seems to be true.

Recipes:



Measurements for above recipe @ http://divascancook.blogspot.com/2011/06/vodka-drunken-melon-balls.html




Very simple recipe @ 3:48




1 Cantaloupe, 1/2 tsp Curry powder, 1/2 tsp ground Nutmeg, 1/2 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp Garam or Cholle Masala




References/Recommended Sites:

Burpee.com: Hale's Best Jumbo

Gardens Alive: Organic Hale's Best Jumbo Melon

Washington State University, Skagit County Extension: Seed Saving (pdf file)

University of Arizona, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences: Saving Melon Seeds

University of Illinois Extension: Muskmelon