Composting

A good way to create fertilizer from items in your house and garden is to start a compost pile. I've read up on this and you don't have to have a compost bin. You can clear a small area in the shade away from a large tree and surround it with movable fencing. If you want to buy a bin, I'm sure all big box home improvement stores sell them. But you could make your own. Go to www.recyclesaintlouis.com for information on how to build a compost bin.

Here's how to make a compost pile:

1.Select a level area in your backyard with good water drainage-partially shaded is best.
2. Once your bin is in place (if you choose to use one), put a 4"to 6" layer dead plants, twigs or small branches on the bottom. (I have extra if you need them :) Remember, organic materials decompose without human intervention (great for lazy people like me), but to speed up the process, it is best to layer materials with equal amounts of greens (materials high in nitrogen such as grass clippings, non-woody plant trimming, and the remains of garden plants and browns (materials high in carbon such as dry brown weeds, dry brush or sawdust)

Maintaining your compost pile:

Keep your pile as damp as a well-wrung sponge. Add air to your pile every two to three weeks by poking holes through the compost pile with a broom handle or by loosening and turning it with a garden fork.
Following this instructions will yield a pile of rich compost in three to six months.

Pristine Planet Helps with Bike to Work Day

We stopped by for a few hours to help our good friend KC, a bike advocate, organize the aid stations today. Jack in the Box (headquartered in San Diego) let the Bike to Work organizers use their corporate parking lot to coordinate the aid station handouts. (JBX also catered lunch. No sign of Jack though. Is he still in the hospital?) Aid Station volunteers picked up the necessities today so they will be prepared to man over 50 aid stations throughout San Diego county on Friday. Cliff Bar donated several boxes of organic energy bars.

Bike to work day is a great event and if you’re in San Diego and can ride on Friday be sure and check out the aid stations. There is lots of great schwag.

http://www.ridelink.org/EventsPromo/BiketoWorkDay.aspx