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January 26, 2009
Hack, Slash, Recycle.
So Nathan's never really gardened before. I've been subtly encouraging him to take an interest in it in the way of remarking loudly and often how lovely it would be to have a huge patch of mint somewhere, and by reading Beverly Nichols aloud.
He can't tell a Pieris japonica from a Malus sylvestris, but he has so far shown great enthusiasm for uprooting shrubbery, mowing and edging the lawn, and tearing down unsightly fences.
No, really. Remember that godawful fence? Here it is, once more. The xylosmas from hell are still there, and you can see the poor scraggly tree by the chimney, as well as part of the horrible juniper hedge.
Yeah, fear Destructo Man.
No more xylosma, no more fence. Rest in peace, sad scraggly tree that should not have been planted there, and GOOD RIDDANCE, junipers. Their carcasses will be gone when we get an empty yard waste bin.
But it gets better. So Nathan was gamely digging up xylosma stumps yesterday (he had to borrow an axe from Tom), when I mentioned that it would be cool if he built me a compost bin. "Well, go find me some plans for one on the Internets," he said. I did, and within a few hours he'd made me a compost bin out of the slats from the old fence.
It isn't the Taj Mahal, but I love it. We will make a gardener out of this man yet.
Comments
Aw shucks . . .
Posted by: Nathan at January 26, 2009 3:57 PM
Hurray for Destructo/Constructo Man!
You might find you need two compost bins eventually. Unless you have a mechanism for getting the stuff on the bottom out when it's become lovely compost, it's easiest to move the top layers into a second bin to get down to the stuff that's ready.
(Our compost bin has a little sliding door down at the bottom, but it doesn't work all that well, and the bin is kinda ugly brown plastic. I will have to find something nicer for the new house.)
Posted by: Margar at January 26, 2009 7:33 PM
That is a pretty, pretty compost bin. So lovely and square.
JUNIPER IS THE ENEMY
Posted by: Big Alice at January 30, 2009 6:48 PM