I love compost.
I love that, right in the middle of winter when the ground is covered in snow, I can be caring for my garden by throwing scraps of food in a bucket while I make dinner.
And I love what Jesse decides to take pictures of when he plays with my phone, ’cause it actually gives me a photo with which to illustrate this post! LOL (see his little pigs?)
The only problem with composting in the winter is taking out the bucket.
I always procrastinate about this, for two reasons. 1) My children are of the ages (1,3, and 5) and temperament that it is unwise to leave them alone in the house for even two seconds. And 2) it requires getting all dressed up just to run 70 feet out the back door. It feels like a ridiculous waste of time.
I have come up with a solution for #2:
It’s now my habit to empty the compost barefoot, no matter the weather. I’ve heard we need to ‘ground’ ourselves by going barefoot regularly. Something to do with electricity. Don’t ask me for research or links to validate this – as far as I know it could be an old wives tale, but it is added incentive to empty my compost.
I charge out, sleet, snow, or ice (I admit, I avoid mud) and empty the bucket into the bin at the end of my garden, sending loving thoughts to my garlic bed as I race past. I always feel exhilarated and a little younger after I complete the task.
Now I just have to figure out a solution for keeping the monkeys out of trouble while I’m gone.
(For the curious. Yes, I have enormous feet. 11-12)
this post made me smile. I recently had to find a new compost bucket because the old one disintegrated due to little people smashing it on the edge of the garden box to get every last banana peel and coffee ground out. My only problem with compost currently is that the dog eats it and then sometimes pukes. gross.
I’m too remembering my cold days in IN compared to now in CA. It’s funny what motivates and encourages us isn’t it. 🙂
Dear Trina,
You are very brave.
Sincerely, Rachel
HAhaha! LoVE IT!
During the summer I go barefoot constantly…now winter would be something else to try.
I feel a strange kinship with you, Trina… even 3500 miles away… I, too, ran out in the snow the other day in my bare feet. In Arctic temperatures, mind you. You know, somewhere around 10-20 below. Liberating! 🙂
Go, Erin!!!
You inspire me. I should carry my compost out more often. Instead of just, ahem, letting my husband do it when he has his boots on. 😉
I gasped when I saw your bare feet in the snow. (Not because of the size- I would have never suspected if you didn’t say anything!) But I’m sitting here in the desert where currently, it’s a balmy 72 in my apartment and my feet are COLD! I can’t imagine. I don’t think I would EVER leave the house. As it is, I don’t leave unless it’s absolutely necessary (like grocery trips, church services) I just don’t look for reasons to go outside (partly because I’m pregnant w/#3 right now). You are brave! 🙂
Becky – more like desperate to get out of the house. LOL I’ve not been hardly anywhere beyond the grocery store myself this month.
This made me laugh.
I should probably start a compost by my house somewhere. But we usually have pigs in the barn and I *should* take it to them… Mostly we raise our pigs on sour milk though because I forget to bring the bucket over. It’s a bit far to run barefoot in the winter. (I think I’m just making excuses. I should just get my rear-in-gear.)
Mmmm…pigs. pork. do you sell pork? 🙂