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Compost surprises

 
gardener
Posts: 1920
Location: N. California
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hugelkultur kids cat dog fungi trees books chicken cooking medical herbs ungarbage
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I have an old garbage can that has a few cracks and holes. A couple years ago I thought I had the perfect composting solution.  I drilled a bunch of holes in it. Put a PVC pipe full of holes down the center. I filled it and was prepared to have an amazing compost in a year or so. A year later I realized I should have been watering it because it wasn't even close. I tried to water now and again. This spring it was 2 years, and still quite a ways from finished compost.  I decided to put some cardboard down and dump it on the ground. I added a little almost finished compost from my compost bin, and planted pumpkins. It did grow pumpkins.  
It's also growing lots of weeds. Today I noticed some green in the center. I discovered a tomato plant, and a basil. I didn't plant them. I don't even remember throwing any tomatoes, or Basel in it.  It's funny because I always plant Basil by tomatoes.  They probably won't make it. I think I will put them in a pot and put them in the greenhouse . Again they probably won't make it, but it will be fun to try.  
IMG20241116145114.jpg
Volunteer tomato
Volunteer tomato
IMG20241116145118.jpg
Volunteer Basil
Volunteer Basil
 
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Jen, my outdoor compost seldom gets the attention it needs to really heat up, sooooo when I do use it I get lots of green sprouts coming up, mostly in my repotted house plants.

I too have gotten free tomatoes and potatoes from my compost.  I even got a peach tree once, and as far as I know the tree is still living and giving fruit.

So we may not make the fastest or hottest compost, but we get free plants!!!  I'm sure your rescues will love being in your greenhouse.

Peace
 
Jen Fulkerson
gardener
Posts: 1920
Location: N. California
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Wow, now I want to put compost piles in open places and start throwing all our peach pits in it. What a totally permaculture way to grow a tree. Way to go 😃.
 
pollinator
Posts: 1262
Location: Milwaukie Oregon, USA zone 8b
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What fun, I like plant surprises too.
 
Anything worth doing well is worth doing poorly first. Just look at this tiny ad:
The new purple deck of permaculture playing cards
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/garden-cards
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