~ Composting on the Cheap ~

I would like to add one more idea for composting (part two of Composting 101) for those who don't have a lot of cash to spend on a composter, are not handy with wood and big power tools, and/or don't have the space. A plastic storage bin composter!

1. Go to your local discount/home improvement store and ask if they have any large bins that have cracks or defects that they are going to throw away. Make sure it has a lid. You want something that is at least 32 gallon size so that your compost will heat up and break down.
2. Take a drill and drill lots of holes all over the bin, sides and bottom. It doesn't matter what size holes, you just want to have good air flow. Space them about 2" apart. If you would like worms to get in on the action, cut the bottom completely out of your bin. The worms will help break down your scraps faster and will leave castings (poop) that your garden and plants will love.
3. Find out were you would like to put it. Do you have enough room to place it by the back door so that it is convenient to dump your kitchen scraps in? Or do you want it near you plants and garden? If you don't cut the bottom out, there is always the possibility of moving it later.
4. Following the 1/3 green to 2/3 brown and kitchen scraps to fill your bin. You don't want it so be soggy. If it looks too wet or is starting to smell, add a handful of leaves or shredded newspaper to absorb some of the moisture. On the flip side, you don't want it to get to dry. Either add some water or if you have moisture rich fruits or veggies that are past their prime, add those. Remember: the smaller you cut/crush your kitchen scraps the faster they are going to break down.
5. You will want to give your bin a shake or turn the contents with a garden fork about every other day or when you add your kitchen scraps. This will help with the breakdown process. When you want to harvest your compost, run it through a sifter, which can simply be a piece of 1/2" hardware cloth. The usable compost will fall through the holes and the larger chunks can go back into the bin for further breakdown. Put the usable compost in a different container to be used later.

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~ Rock'in Protein Smoothies ~

The kids and I have been enjoying smoothies in the morning. Smoothies are super easy and super nutritious. This is our basic recipe, we often throw in fruit that needs to be used up so it doesn't go to waste.

Basic Protein Smoothie

2 frozen bananas

1/3 cup frozen blueberries

1/3 cup frozen raspberries

few chunks of frozen pineapple

1 tbsp extra - virgin coconut oil for healthy fats

1 tbsp of flax oil or ground flax seed

1 - 2 tbsp of raw honey

1 pasture raise high omega egg, whole

4 to 6 ounces if kefir for probiotic

enough raw milk to get it all moving in the blender

if we have it, we add a splash of carrot-orange juice, but we want to keep the sugar content low

Peanut Butter Banana Shake

3 frozen bananas
2-3 tbsp homemade soaked peanut butter

1 tbsp carob powder

1 tbsp raw honey

1 tsp real vanilla

1 pasture raise high omega egg, whole

enough raw whole milk to get it all moving in the blender

We haven't tried any other flavors. My kids find something they like and stick with it. Really the possibilities are endless, strawberry-kiwi, peaches n' cream, cherry vanilla, creamscicle, apple pie, banana coconut cream. I would really love a juicer so that we can add carrot and beet juices to our daily smoothie, but the wallet has yet to okay that purchase.

Another really great idea for your smoothie mix is to make popsicles. I love to add some chunks of fruit, like strawberries or raspberries before freezing. Use yogurt instead of milk so that your mix doesn't get to thin. Less liquid in your original mix equals less drips while you eat them. I think the frozen bananas lend a hand in providing that smooth, creamy texture that you get in a smoothie shop smoothie.

For those worried about the raw egg, check out my post on homemade mayo and using raw eggs. Salmonella is found on the outside of an egg, so I wash my egg with a little soap and water prior to putting it in the shake.

Do you have any recipes or flavors that you really love? If you are not a "fly by the seat of your pants person" and would like an exact recipe to one of the flavor ideas above, just let me know.

~ Composting 101 ~

We are not fancy composters in this house. At the moment we have a pile on the edge of the back yard. I would love it if it was a three sided bin, like the ones at the landscape store that hold rock and mulch so I could turn it with the forks on the tractor. It will be someday, but we have way to many other important projects to finish before we worry about a "pretty" compost pile. We try and follow the recommendation of 1/3 green to 2/3 brown. We compost all of our table and kitchen scraps, egg shells, chicken manure, straw, leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, etc. Benefits of Composted Soil:

• Improvement of soil structure
• Soil with hold moisture evenly
• Modifies and Stabilizes Ph
• Holds nutrients longer
• Provides nutrient to garden plants eliminating the use for synthetic fertilizers
• Provides healthy bacteria
• Healthy bacteria suppress plant disease
• Binds lethal soil contaminants
• Bacteria in soil can break down some toxic contaminants
• Erosion and weed control
• Helps reduce household waste

There are lots of different composters out there encompassing a wide range of needs. There are small kitchen models that do all the composting in one machine under your kitchen sink to barrels and bins that would fit in your back yard. If you live in a rural area the easiest way to compost is just a big pile.
This model fits under your kitchen sink, empty draw on the bottom after a few weeks.



Compostable materials go in the top and fresh compost comes out the bottom.
We have a enameled bucket that my sister picked up at a thrift shop for food scraps. There are fancy buckets that you can buy with charcoal filters and biobags, but trust me, you don't need fancy. Depending on the size of your family you will take the bucket to the compost pile every other day, hardly enough time for it to get stinky. Composting is really easy and I hope that this small amount of info will get your interest peaked enough to check into it for your own family. You get great soil for free, reduce your household waste, and save some money. Build Your Own Compost Bin Plans Composting 101

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