How To Build A Compost Pile for an Organic Garden

How to Build A Compost Pile for an Organic Garden

Now is the perfect time to gather all the falling leaves in your yard and prepare to build a compost pile for an organic garden. Not only is it easy to do, but you can have your entire family spend a day outdoors raking the leaves and having a great old time. Kids usually love to play with leaves, especially when the leaves are piled high enough for them to jump into.

More importantly, however, your own compost pile for your organic garden will be rich in nutrients for the soil, and it acts as a catalyst to fertilize your soil using organic materials.

What materials are required to create the compost pile? While there is no hard and fast rule, there are three ingredients to create a compost pile… and if you can remember “brown, green, and water,” according to the EPA, you are ready to begin.

Let’s look at the brown material first. It would consist of dead leaves, branches, and twigs, bathroom tissue, cardboard rolls, coffee grounds, hair and fur, nut shells, and wood chips, to name a few. The green material would consist of grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds. The water is essential to keep the compost from drying out.

Therefore, with the right combination of all three elements and an equal amount of brown and green material, you can easily layer the material in an alternating fashion.

According to the EPA, “the water will keep the pile moist and break down the organic material.” Also, the brown material is important because it emits carbon while the green material provides nitrogen. This perfect blend is necessary to produce compost that will enrich your soil when you prepare your organic garden for planting.

Where should you place the compost pile? Well, it is recommended that you choose a dry area in your yard that is near a water source, and in a shady area. After you and your family have raked the leaves and piled them to the spot you have chosen, you can then begin to add the other brown and green materials mentioned above. It is also recommended that you lightly water the materials as you add them to the pile. Finally, cover the compost so that you can keep all contents moist.

How do you know when the compost is ready for use? Look under the covered compost and reach under the bottom of the pile. If the material is dark in color, it is ready for use.

According to the EPA, compost usually takes anywhere from two months to two years to fully develop.

You now have the information to build a compost pile for an organic garden. If you begin now, the compost will be more than ready for spring planting.

** Note that there are some things that you should not put into your compost pile. Here is a list of them, and the reason why they should be left out:

* Black walnut tree leaves or twigs – Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
* Coal or charcoal ash- Might contain substances harmful to plants
* Dairy products (e.g., butter, egg yolks, milk, sour cream, yogurt) – Creates odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
* Diseased or insect-ridden plants- Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
* Fats, grease, lard, or oils – Creates odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
* Meat or fish bones and scraps – Creates odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
* Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter) – Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
* Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides – Might kill beneficial composting organisms

Have fun composting!

Tips To Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels can greatly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. What makes cholesterol so important? It gives your body the ability to repair cell membranes, creates vitamin D and helps to produce necessary hormones. When cholesterol levels become too high they interfere with these critical body functions and put you at risk for heart complications.

What do the numbers mean? Total cholesterol is the sum of three main factors. Theses are LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol (bad kind), HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol (good kind) and blood triglycerides. Healthy total cholesterol is under 200mg/dL with 180 mg/dL being optimal. LDL cholesterol should be under 100 mg/dL, HDL should be over 40 mg/dL and blood triglyceride levels under 150 mg/dL. When is cholesterol considered too high? When total cholesterol is over 240mg/dL with LDL levels over 160 mg/dL, HDL levels under 40 mg/dL and blood triglycerides 200 mg/dL you are at risk.

There are plenty of ways to help reduce cholesterol levels naturally. Medications are widely available but have been known to cause muscle pains and inflict damage on the liver. Lowering levels naturally is a much safer alternative. Natural remedies can also save you money on your prescriptions.

It is important to note that roughly 20% of cholesterol comes from your diet while nearly 80% comes from your liver. So changes in your diet may need to be taken further by adding nutritional supplements to your daily regimen. Cholesterol levels should be checked at least once every five years for people aged 20 or older. Use the following tips to help maintain healthy levels.

- Cut back on consuming sugar, white flower, rich desserts and fried foods.
- Switch to using healthy oils such as olive or walnut oil.
- Eat baked or poached fish a few nights a week.
- Consume more soluble fiber such as apples, barley, oats, psyllium, kidney beans and pears.
- Eat more nuts such as pecans, hazelnuts, peanuts, pistachios and walnuts.
- Load up on leafy and green vegetables during mealtimes. These include lettuce, broccoli, spinach and green beans.
- Switch to eating whole grain foods instead of starchy white bread and pastas.
- Eat more fruits and berries. These are high in antioxidants and phytonutrients.
- Soy can lower bad cholesterol by three percent.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes on most or all days of the week.

When an altered diet is not enough to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, you may want to consider taking some nutritional supplements. Always follow directions specified on labels and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Below are some natural supplements that can help you achieve your goals.

- Octacosanol is derived from wheat germ oil. It is proven to reduce total cholesterol levels.

- Omega 3 Fatty Acids come from fish oil and flax seed oil. These not only help lower cholesterol but also reduce inflammation, a common risk factor associated with cardiovascular disease.

- Garlic can lower total levels.

- Niacin is a B vitamin that can help decrease cholesterol when used in larger doses. It lowers bad cholesterol and raises good cholesterol.

- Chromium (GTF) which aids in metabolizing sugars can help lower overall cholesterol.

- Guggul which is made from herbs is a medicine to help rid the body of bad cholesterol.

Always follow your doctors advice before starting any natural supplement regimen.