This is a cooperative blog: a co/blog. We've really just started this experiment, so give a few months to get some momentum. Each of the five charter authors involved are responsible for a different set of topics, and each will post on their own schedule. We hope you enjoy the content provided here, and find it useful. The information provided is meant as opinion and editorial purposes only, and should never be taken as professional advice.

Composting - Part 2 - What?

Archived in Landscape, Outdoors, Compost | 1 Comment

AS I NOTED in Part 1, a compost lets you get all sorts of functionality out of your organic matter. Sure, it seems like it’s abundant now. But in the vast, sterile confines of an infinite universe, organic matter is more precious than gold. Okay, so maybe not. But why throw away millions of years of evolution when your plants will love it. Yum.

What can I compost?

Yard clippings, dead weeds, and mulch. You are looking to form “layers” in your compost pile. The rule of thumb is GREEN and BROWN with scattered household organics. Green yard wastes are fresh lawn clippings, trimmed plants or weeds, etc. Brown yard wastes are fallen leaves, dried weeds, or small twigs.

Household organics. You know you have this. You make a salad and there are some stems and brown bits left over, you eat an apple and there sits the core, or you peel some fruit and the rind is left behind. The rule of thumb is that as long as it came from the soil it can go back. IF it grew from the ground somewhere, chances are you can compost it. This, of course, included coffee grounds and tea bags, but in moderation.

What can’t I compost?

Animal wastes of any kind. This includes not only feces and litter, but waste matter from food that had an animal origin. No, we’re not being vegetarian here, but don’t you dare chuck your trimmings or bones into a compost unless you want rodents and skunks rummaging through it. (By the way, cleaned egg shells are okay to compost.)

Large organics. Chunks of sod, wood, or thick branches will break down eventually (emphasis on EVENTUALLY) but we’d like to use this compost in, you know, our lifetime.

REMEMBER…

Your compost needs water to survive. The composting is happening because micro-organisms are breaking down the organic matter as food, and turning it into rich, useful soil. Your pile should be roughly as wet as a squeezed sponge: damp, but not sopping, dry but not parched.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Read more posts by Gary W (About the Author)

del.icio.us Digg it Earthlink Furl iFeedReaders ma.gnolia Maple.nu Netvouz Netscape RawSugar reddit Scuttle Shadows Simpy Spurl StumbleUpon Wink Yahoo MyWeb

Posts that might have similar content:

Gary’s Construction Anecdotes >> For your convenience, here are some of the articles I've written on my landscaping and contruction experiences. As usual remember: I’m just a guy who has done this work for myself, once. This is just my experience, so do more research

Composting - Part 1 - Why? >> One of the more annoying things I've noticed since a number of houses on our street have put down sod and begun the never-ending process of mowing the grass is the exponential increase in yard waste sitting by the curb on garbage

Deck Construction: Part 3

Archived in Landscape, Construction, Do-it-Yourself | 1 Comment

The best advice I can offer on finishing your new deck stairs and railings is to PLAN. And, whatever you do, wherever you start, whoever you manage to have help you, do not underestimate the power of:

(A) Shopping Around

Not all steps and railings are created equal, and not all packages are going to work with your deck, for your needs, in your municipality. Go look at some samples and try out a few tests of durability, wobble, rust resistance, heat resistance (barbecue anyone?), and safety.

(B) Sitting Around

That’s what you are going to use it for, after all. How will you use your new deck space? Where do you want to sit and relax? On a long step in the sun or tucked into a shady corner? Do you want to feel open and breezy, or closed in and private? Try it out on a friend’s deck and see what you prefer. Plan from there.

The rest of this is based on my experience:

HANGING STRINGERS

Depending on the material you use for your steps, you should have your stringers spaced roughly two-foot on center. This means for a single staircase, you need two stringers, but for a longer (perhaps full-length) set of steps, you’ll need more. Stringer should be hung using brackets along the facing board, nailed with joist hanger nails (not screwed) and supported at the bottom with wood or preferably a concrete stone to reduce vertical movement into the ground.

STEPS

This may seem obvious, but use the best wood you can find, in the fewest pieces you can find. This is going to take a lot of abuse over the life of your deck, and you want quality here (even if you cheaped-out elsewhere!) Fasten securely with long screws, at least three per stringer for a solid base.

POSTS

Some places will try to sell you a closed-bottom railing with no posts. Avoid it. Use posts whenever possible BOLTED to the frame of your deck for maximum stability. These go on first, and the rest of the build should be straightforward around them. Remember: measure twice, cut once!

Please remember: I’m just a guy who has done this work for myself, once. This is just my experience, so do more research before you start. I welcome any comments or updates that anyone with more experience might provide. Cheers!

Popularity: 4% [?]

Read more posts by Gary W (About the Author)

del.icio.us Digg it Earthlink Furl iFeedReaders ma.gnolia Maple.nu Netvouz Netscape RawSugar reddit Scuttle Shadows Simpy Spurl StumbleUpon Wink Yahoo MyWeb

Posts that might have similar content:

Gary’s Construction Anecdotes >> For your convenience, here are some of the articles I've written on my landscaping and contruction experiences. As usual remember: I’m just a guy who has done this work for myself, once. This is just my experience, so do more research

Deck Construction: Part 1 >> As the spring blossoms here in Western Canada, young homeowner's thoughts turn to landscaping and backyard construction. Yes, it's time to build a deck onto that new house to increase both the functionality of your backyard and the value of your

Powered by WordPress with Pool theme design by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds. Valid XHTML and CSS. ^Top^