KW-16 Balls of earth

and sustainable compost

This week at the barracks, I have mostly been limping and cursing my wretched big toe. The one on the left foot. I’m not even sure what I did to it, or rather, when I did it. My work boots finally popped their seams and cracked. Maybe a stone got in there and did some damage, I dunno, but, in the words of Mike Wozniak, it’s a bit of a casserole down there.

Cycling back with bags full of moss in a shirt which is two sizes too big and billowing in the wind. It is not my fat which makes me look fat, it’s the shirt. Honest.

As of this morning, though, it seems to be a little less irritating. That said, I’ve not really gotten out of bed yet. Not even to make a cup of tea. That’s how much I want to get this newsletter out and into your inboxes by the self-inflicted time of 7:30. Currently, I’m not convinced I am going to make it. Not with the voice over as well.

Talking of which, somewhere in the background of whirring servers, I think all the old voiceovers are currently syncing with the YouTubes and might appear on the channel as “Podcasts” some time soon. So that’s exciting.

But, not really why we are here today. You want to know about the planting and sowing!

Traditionally, the what I am doing at the barracks this week goes at the end, but seeing as what I am doing at the barracks this week actually started about 18 months ago, and I am a teeny bit pleased with myself for it, let’s get that out of the way first.

A composter and a leaf moulder in beautiful harmony. Since I took this photo, I have cleared up all of the grass clippings which the compost pile appears to be vomiting up. It’s much neater now

I think it was autumn two years ago, I could probably check, but it was definitely not last year, I built a big designed-for-the-purpose leaf moulder. A big special compost bin with a rubber barrier for a floor, and wire mesh walls. I filled it to the brim with leaves; bag after bag after bag of them. Leaves from the garden, leaves from the street, and leaves purloined from the forest. Hundreds of kilos of them. I squished them all down to get more in, and still they came. And now, about 18 months later (I think), they have all compacted and condensed and composted down to about 10cm of beautiful, harvestable leaf mould.

I’ve been saying for 5 years that one day / year, the orchard will have grown enough to be actually photographable. We might still not quite be there yet, but it’s getting closer. Honestly, it’s magical in person. Now, we just have to see when the inevitable April snow comes. Will it kill the blossoms, or are we going to have the best fruit year ever?

The plan is to make barracks potting compost. I have no doubt there are a great many recipes on the internet, and I guarantee they are all different. Mine is planned to look a bit like this (subject to change in the actual production depending on whim-wham, folly and spontaneous exuberance)

• 5 parts compost

• 5 parts leaf mould

• 3 parts sharp sand

• 1 part dried moss

• a generous cup of lime

Ahh yes, I went and collected moss from the forest as well. I tell you, it’s handy having a forest nearby. Or rather, being surrounded on all sides by a vast, healthy and faerie-fillled woodland. Thank you for all your guesses on Instagram to the reason for gathering and drying the soft green carpet - it is not decoration for mouse houses, bedding for pigs or dressing for blueberries, all of which are far more creative and beautiful answers than what I am actually planning.

I have made a bit of a rod for my back, though. The more I think about making my own superawesome potting compost, the more I realise that I want to grow seeds in compacted compost cubes and less in plastic pots. So I am no doubt going to have to make myself an earth blocker. Because I don’t have enough to do already.

So, I’d better go and get on with it. But first, that cup of tea.

Until next time then, be lovely

Your loving Pirate Ben

xoxo

Currently Reading:

I’ve only had the chance to put in one session with this book, and so at 100 pages in and nearly 600 to go, who knows what might happen. But for the moment, it has great potential to be the first book I read by my new absolute favourite science writer. If you are familiar with David Quammen’s work, please have a little rave about him in the comments. Or otherwise. Or tell me who your favourite science writer is.

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