SOME THINGS CAN’T BE COMPOSTED, I was explaining to Andre the Doodler the other day on a Skype call–you know, like meat and bone and fats, I said. “I see,” said Andre, as if he was taking it all in and making notes. “That would make a good doodle.” I am here to report that I never mentioned two of the four items in his handy “List of Things Suitable for Compost Heap.” You can try to guess which ones are Andre’s suggestions versus mine. Ah, the minds of men–or one British man turned South Dakotan, particularly!
FROM THE WEEKLY PODCAST
smarter fall (and spring) cleanup, with doug tallamy
WHEN I TALKED to Doug Tallamy in February around the publication date of his latest book, “Nature’s Best Hope,” I didn’t want to go on and on about the advice in it regarding smart fall cleanup, which is one of the ways I know I’ve dramatically shifted the way I manage my own garden compared to 10 or even five years ago. But we were looking ahead to spring then, not fall.
I’m grateful that Doug returned to the podcast in autumn to do just that. Want to plan your most ecologically minded garden cleanup ever, and understand the consequences of each potential action you can take—including next spring?
The subtitle of University of Delaware professor Doug Tallamy’s recent book, “Nature’s Best Hope,” is “A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard.” Meaning: The choices we make all year-round, including the very important one of how we clean up, can help counteract an overdeveloped, fragmented landscape that puts the food web to the test. You and I are nature’s best hope, and I’m glad Doug joined me again to help us learn to support it.
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.
I like the “facelift”! ;-0
New site arrangement looks great. Sorry for all the fuss to get kinks out of my old version browser.
No worry, Stephanie. And thanks, Steve Ambruzs. How kind of you!
I compost meat! But there are no raccoons or rats where I live.
I’m a little silly about my composter and composting in general. I plunge my gloved hands into its depth regularly to “bond” and make sure my fat juicy worms get access to all the decomposing glop. One site I read says you can and should use dryer lint screen offerings, and they seem to work just fine.
Randy has no taste.
Anyone else see the humor in the idea of a Brit named Andre living in SD having an American Idol rejection letter (and a scary bug in an acrylic box)?
Hi, Rachelle. He is one-of-a-kind, our Andre. Even though I am US born and bred, I often have to ask him what in the world he is talking about. :) Love Andre.
I like the new format. It seems a little more user friendly and cleaner now that I have something to compare the old one too that is! I love your blog so whatever you do I will like. I really like that I can see several posts on the page. I’m so happy that spring is almost here in Nebraska!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Andre’s doodle. Hilarious.
Isn’t he mental (in the very best way), Maddybee? I adore him. So glad you said hello today and that you enjoyed the doodle. I guess composting will never be the same if we follow his tips… :)
Makes me want to start composting (In 3 story townhomes with no yard and a 6′ x 8′ 2nd story deck reserved for herbs and veggies you just can’t) and go on a treasure hunt to find things to compost (and things for Andre to draw!)
Reading the new site on IPhone, I have to say this is one of the best mobile sites I have ever seen. super fast loading, clear, and comprehensive. May I ask which Mobile plugin you’re using? I’m also on the Genesis framework. Love the Andre doodles too, and never thought about composting paper, although I can imagine wind would likely be a problem keeping the contents of my shredder there. Congrats all round!
Hi, Joanna. I think we simply built off the “responsive design” features in Genesis and went from there. Genesis 1.8 has this functionality. I don’t do the dev work myself, but I can ask if you need more detail.
I stick a couple of cylindrical tomato cages in my compost pile toward the end of leaf season with pots at the base to harden the sides, then put my kitchen scraps into the resulting 4′-5′ deep pits throughout winter, and this would include the mice that perish in the kitchen traps. Putting their remains to good use, haven’t had a problem.
Love the technique, James — good plan! Mickey Compost. :)
Of course you can compost meat & bones! And you’ll get better compost.
Hi, Francie. Here in the woods we just get wild animals fighting over the discarded body parts. :) I don’t put anything with grease/fat/oil in the heap; strictly plant matter (whether pre-digested by an animal, as manure, or “fresh”). The only animal product I do add here is eggshells.