04 April 2008

From time to time, plants simply sprout up in various places in the garden, and many of our “accidental” plants start life sprouting from the compost pile. Avocados, apricots, loquats, peaches, potatoes, and date palms sprout from discarded pits and other kitchen waste in the compost pile behind the garage. Most of these plants are simply turned under to become more compost, but a few can be saved and added to the garden.

The photo shows potatoes sprouting from the compost pile. I know, I KNOW – ‘tis time to turn the compost pile. (Other activities have been taking time from my gardening chores.)

Speaking of compost, most of the garden trimmings, and the kitchen vegetable scraps (no animal waste) go into a compost pile in back of the garage. The pile hosts a variety of crawling things, including pill bugs, centipedes, spiders, worms, and, of course, millions of microbes as well as various fungi. On rare occasions I see a toad, and one time a turtle visited the compost pile while wandering across the property from somewhere, on its way to somewhere else. Lizards burrow into the pile around the edges to feast on yummy bugs they find there.

Compost is wonderful stuff. In addition to providing “accidental” plants, it can transform ordinary dirt into productive garden soil.