We are now a TWO COMPOSTER family...

I am sorry for the delay in updating but work has been all consuming for a while. I also tend to shut down a little bit when the weather turns cold and the sun doesn’t shine as much as I would like.

I have been using my Envirocycler Composter for a few months. I have decided that to get the most out of my composting experiences I needed to get a second composter. Since it takes about 3 to weeks after putting food scraps in I either was running into storage issues. I was also over-filling the composter and making it hard to tumble. The hoarder in me is having a hard time letting the smallest scrap of vegetable scraps going into the garbage.

I was at COSTCO recently and saw a composter tumbler that just seemed to have everything going for it. It was on sale and reasonably price thru Costco on line. The cost was 199.99 plus tax for a final total of $217.49.

The Envirocycler and the ECOmposter do have different compost volumes, 52 gallons for the Envirocycler and 71 gallons for the ECOmposter. The BIGGEST difference was that the Envirocycler is basically ready to go out of the box and the ECOmposter with base has 586 pieces that need to be assembled. It took me three nights to put it together but on a scale of 1 (EASY) to 10 (DIFFICULT) this would be a 3. The directions are very easy to follow, the tools needed are minimal, and a lot of the steps are repetitive. The hardest step for me was putting the two halves together due to the 32 tabs that need to line up. I must say that it did give me a very good sense of accomplishment to get it completed without having to ask for help.

I have been using the Envirocycler a little over 6 months now and I have found a few issues with it. (1) The door/hatch will let some compost leak out when I am rotating it. I don’t know if it is due to the way it connects to the drum or the fact that it is a single point attachment and a single point hook. I would like to see a better hinge design. (2) If I do over fill it the compost becomes hard to keep centered when tumbling, likes to drift to one side or the other and then the rollers get a little clogged with the compost that leaks out from the door. (3) The final issue I have is with the compost tea part of the build. The cap for the tank is very poorly fitted. The cap is very loose and the thread that are supposed to hold the cap are not very precise. This in conjunction with the way the tank is formed makes it a little hard to empty the tank without having a lot of the compost tea sloshing around when I try to pour it out.

With all of these faults that I have pointed out ( and I have to admit that these are just issues that I have encountered) I would still say that the Envirocycler is a very good product. Would I purchase it again… I think that I will see how the ECOmposter works and then I would make a final decision.

I did buy another tumble composter in the past. It was made out of a recycled 55-gallon plastic drum and tumbled on a horizontal axel. It was just one step up from homemade and I feel that technology has come a long way. I look forward to being able to give an informed review on my new composter soon.

This looks like it is going to be a good year for my avocado tree this year. Lots of small fruit and the fruit seem to be staying on the tree this year. Also have fruit setting on my orange and lemon trees.

In the garden plot itself are zucchini, garlic and tomatoes. This year I am mainly growing tomatoes grown from seeds collected from COSTCO tomatoes. May have a little bit of fusarium/verticillium wilt. I guess that next year I will getting plants labeled VF at the nursery to overcome this issue. I did grow a type of tomato last year called Juliette (a grape tomato) but was unable to find it this year in the nursery.

I have been going on line and saw directions for an upside-down hanging planter. I know have another tomato plant growing in the back yard and we will see how it does. I kept seeing the ads on late-night television for a very similar product and I kept debating about buying the product but just couldn’t bring myself to order it and pay SHIPPING & HANDLING. That phrase always bothers me, S&H.

Ron is getting ready to get out of school for Summer Break and his band is getting a few gigs so he is having fun. BubbaJam is the band and I go along and help hump some of the equipment… just call me a roady. Nobody in the group really drinks but they usually get a meal as part of the deal and I have a habit of going anywhere for free food.

We have been doing our part to bring clutter under control at the homestead… freecycler and Craigslist are getting a lot of use. Ron still get a thrill every time he puts a listing on Craigslist… it is almost like he clicks the stopwatch and sees how long it takes to get a reply. The one thing we have found out is that if something doesn’t sell on line the first time you list it you need to have patience and repost it again, and again as needed. Some stuff has lasted 15 minutes before a buyer was found and other things have take a couple of weeks to a month but eventually stuff sells.

We don’t have travel plans for this year… staying close to home, garden and band gigs. Our household is very happy with Obama and even with everything that is going on with the economy we still feel better and happier than we were at this time last year… what a difference a day can make and a President… so much for my political rant.

REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE

Comments are always welcome.

The Next Step...

It has been a cold and rainy start to 2009 in San Diego. I have lost a lot of interest in working outside in general and my energy projects specifically. Well, the weather has changed and with the help of Craigslist and SDFREECYCLE I have been re-energized and think it is time to move on to the next step.

I was very excited about the California bill AB 811 and the possibility of working on getting solar panels for the homestead but as of now the bill has been passed but nothing has gone forward with the implementation.

Well, changing into my inventor/re-inventor mode. I have been waiting on an unnamed source to get me a cordless circular saw but delivery has been an issue. I was rummaging around in my storage shed and found this as an alternative to the final project. This is hopefully going to be a prototype for a wind turbine that will generate a usable amount of power.

I started by disassembling the saw. This particular saw used two of the Black & Decker 3.6 volt rechargeable batteries. The current batteries that I have are getting to the point that they will not hold a charge and it is more economical to buy a newer saw than purchasing replacement batteries.

With the plastic housing removed (and deposited in the recycle bin) I was able to get a better idea of what I was going to be able to work with. The shoe appears that with some slight modification will work as a great mounting bracket for the finished project. The two roll pins should keep the gearbox and the motor solidly in place.

Due to the length of the spindle assembly I may be limited to the thickness and size of the finished blades. The other nice feature on these types of equipment is that they have a built in gear box that is tied in with the motor

I am currently looking at various options for blade design and may use either an all-metal blade with bent leading edges, a combination of metal and flat wood blades with tilt wedges. I may also go for something completely different if I get any viable options from my blog readers.

Another mini-project I am working on it to see if I can convert a Dish Network satellite antenna receiver dish into a solar cooker. I will be updating on that as it succeeds or fails.

Remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Belated Happy New Year

I am sorry that I haven't updated this in a while. The weather in San Diego has been a little cold (I know, it is SAN DIEGO COLD (60s) and not NORMAL COLD (like the rest of the normal world). I have been working long hours and traveling over the holidays so BEING GREEN has taken a backseat.

The biggest thing that I notice with the new year is that our trash bin isn't getting as much activity as the recycling bin. I am trying to follow the directions to the letter of the law but I still feel that some of what I am recycling may not fit the requirements. MY question is... Is it better to err on the side of trash or recycle? My answer has been, when in doubt RECYCLE. Is this causing problems at the other end of the recycling process? I hope not.

I do have a new separate contain for Diet Dr. Pepper cans... we will see how that goes. We seem to drink an awful lot of that particular beverage. Since Ron and I don't drink alcohol, smoke or hit the bars and nightlife I guess it isn't the worse vice.

My Envirocycle is about ready to empty out the first batch of homemade compost. I also have a few weeks worth of green waste in bags in the freezer.

I am starting a new work schedule that has me working Monday through Thursday and I look forward to the free time to devote to my upcoming project for the year. The temps hit mid 80's here today so I am getting excited about the coming year.

Next Tuesday is the Obama Inauguration and I think that is a great step forward for change and hopeful improvements. I have never been a big fan of W but it looks like he is going out with style so I have to give him a thumbs up for that. Hope he doesn't do something dumb to screw things up more in his last few days.

Well. I am going to be heading out for now... let me hear from ya'll and let me know what you are up to.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Wayfaring Wanderer: Share the Love : A "Green" Giveaway

Wayfaring Wanderer: Share the Love : A "Green" Giveaway

I came across this blog while I was searching for like-minded folks and thought I would make another list of my five PROs and five CONs when it comes to being green.

5 things that I do to be greener or eco-friendly:

1: I was a Navy Photographer for 20 years and I saw how many chemicals are use and disposed of during the photographic process and now I am completely digital. I may still do a little photographic printing by I mostly share my images over the internet or in book form.

2: I have started to notice that people in my neighborhood have an abundance of fruit trees growing in their yards and for the most part the production is either allowed to spoil on the limb or rot on the ground. A gentle request goes a long way in being able to pick the excess and share.

3: The easy one is working in the garden... it provides exercise, produces a crop and I can control what goes into my food. 

4: Sharing what my garden produces and not asking anything in return. You would be surprised at how good that can make you feel.

5. This year I think the greenest think that I did was voting. Not just for a change in the government but also to voice as part of a nation what IS IMPORTANT!

5 things that I do that aren't so green friendly:

(I am cheating a bit here because I used most of these as part of my comment on the Wayfaring Wanderer blog.)

1. I need to figure out a way to use less paper at work, even with recycling it still seems like a waste.


2: I need to remember to turn off the TV when I am not in the room.
Leaving it on just so I don't feel like I am at home alone is a stupid reason. 

3: I don't need to buy the little individual serving size potato chip packages, a large bag of chips is better for the environment and I can portion out a serving in a reusable container for a lunch or a snack.

4: I can pack myself  a lunch rather than DRIVING to the fast food place for a greasy burger and fries.

5: This is the one that I am guilty of but am trying to CURE myself of this habit. A t-shirt, a pair of underwear and a pair of socks is NOT a load of laundry.

This one falls into both categories... I like buying stuff in bulk (PRO) but if I let it go out of date or spoil before using it is not a great way to safe money or protect the environment.

Remember that we should help our friend and neighbors when we can, use sites like Craigslist and local recycling sites... REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE

Another very good day...

Today is a very good day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and I got my new Envirocycle Composter delivered.

My partner (Ron) and I went out to breakfast and to get gas in the Honda Fit. The Gas light was lit saying I was almost out and to fill up was only $20.25. That is the cost of driving a little over 220 miles and I am still ecstatic about that. In my old Toyota Tundra pick-up I was spending almost $80.00 for the same distance. Funny what lower gas prices and higher MPG does to a person’s outlook.

As we were rounding the corner to the house I was saying, “Please, please, let there be a package on the porch” and there was. The composter was delivered by FedEx Ground and came in one large carton. Unpacking was simple and nothing to assemble. I took one of our weekly throw-away magazines (The San Diego Weekly Reader) and I shredded the black and white pages. I am trying to stay away from the colored ink pages and the glossy pages to keep thing a little healthier for the soon to be garden soil. 

The next addition was my stockpile of kitchen waste that I have been storing in the refrigerator. The majority of the kitchen scraps have been run thru the food processor to speed up the composting process. But things like the apple peels and cores from last night’s home made apple pie went in whole. There seems to be enough liquid in the mix to give the final mass the water consistency of a wrung out sponge. A couple of turns on the built-in rollers of the Enrivocycle and everything was well mixed.

The other think to be happy about today is that I was given permission by the neighbor to pick some fruit some the tangerine tree that overhangs his yard. My neighbor on the other side had a couple of stokes this last year and doesn’t get around as well as he used to. In the past he would be the one picking the fruit and then leaving a bag on my doorstep. Today I was able to return the favor and will try to do again in a few days as well. It is surprising on how a small act of kindness can make you feel inside.

I have yet to add the tangerine peels to the composter, everything I have read says that you have to be careful with the amount of citrus peeling you add to keep from shifting the PH levels to much in the final product.

Reduce, reuse and recycle.

The CRUSH is on...

     Today was end of the season garden clean up day. I decided it was time to trim up the grapevines and was really surprised at the amount of grapes still on the vines. They ranged from very small and hard to basically raisins. Not being one to waste prompted a quick internet search. So today I am making wine.

     As with all of my Internet recipes I only use it as a starting point to get the basics and then go from there. I took all of my grapes and soaked them in a large bowl with cold water to encourage all of the “The Guests” to leave. I am trying to make wine here, not BUG juice. After removing the larger stems I ran the grapes thru the food processor to a course chop. I ended up with almost a quart of  “wine starter”. Next I took 1 cup of water and brought it to a boil along with 2 cups of sugar. When everything was dissolved that was set aside to cool to room temp. Again my impatience raised its head again and a tray of ice cubes hurried that along. In another container I dissolved two teaspoon of dry active yeast in 2 cups of warm water. Everything was loaded into a large glass container along with another 13 cups of water to bring the total water to a gallon. The top was covered with three layers of plastic wrap and tied in place with twine. This was placed in the cabinet about the dryer, a cool dark place and its future home for the next few weeks.

     I was surprised to see how quickly everything has started to work. Within 2 hours of combining everything I was able to look at the mixture and watch it churn and bubble. The plastic wrap has extended to a tight skin and now I just wait for the process to continue. I did make sure to inform my partner about “the experiment” so he wouldn’t freak out if he opened the cabinet door and see something growing in there.

      A recap on the recipe is:

1 quart crushed fruit (in my case, end of the season grapes)

2 cups sugar dissolved in 1 cup water (dissolved completely)

2 teaspoon of dry activated yeast in 2 cups of warm water

13 cups of water

     Combine everything in a clean vessel and seal to keep stuff out and fermenting stuff and smells in. Wait until the MAGIC stops and then filter, bottle, let everything settle and then re-bottle.

     As this is my first foray into wine making since I was a kid at home with my mom I will be interested to see how things work. I expect the process to take about 2 to 3 weeks for the MAGIC part and will update from there.

     I have told folks in the past that I grew grapes and they always asked if I made wine. Now I can answer with a resounding YES!

     Other things on the horizon include a new ENVIROCYCLE composting system and work on the garden. I recently celebrated a birthday and received a few books on gardening, Living Like Ed and a couple of windmill books so look for an explosion of activity. 

     Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

CSA's, composting and other things

Here it is the start of November and I realize just how lax I have been in keeping everyone up-to-date with life in San Diego. 

I have recently joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) after hearing about them on Planet Green. 

What is a CSA? In my case it was trying a 4-week trial plan to see if I would like to be a supporter of a local farming co-op and share in the seasonal crops that they produce. When you go pick up your weekly “SHARE” it is like Christmas and opening a present. You don’t know what you are going to be getting but you know it will be fresh, seasonal and organic. I am into the second week of the trail and I will probably not continuing with it. In theory it is a great program, in reality I have gotten a lot of vegetables and fruits that I wouldn’t normally buy. I have had the opportunity to try things that haven’t been in my personal menu before and I doubt that they will make it in the future. 

Some of the things that I have enjoyed are the organic apples and pears. It is surprising to find the different that an apple has when it hasn’t been polished and waxed to shipping to a store. The radishes have been great and the various greens have been an adventure into the salad world. 

On the other side of the coin, the avocados, while very tasty, all seemed to “ripen” on the same day and what do you due when your bounty is over-flowing. My co-workers have reaped those benefits. I am working with a large group of vegan and semi-vegans so that does give me an outlet for unwanted or over-abundance items. Fresh dates and collard greens were a big hit, with the group. Pomegranate was also received well. 

Will all of this new vegetable scraps have come a renewed interest in composting. My ultimate goal would to get a solar powered self rotating compost drum but as of right now I am using an old 55 gallon storage bin or directly burying the scrap into the garden. 

I use a recycled zipper type storage bag and keep the “extras” from trimming veggies in the freezer. Once a week I will run them through the blender to break the pieces up to speed up the breakdown. I also strain the blended mix and use the resulting liquid as a “tonic” for my various potted patio plants. On occasion I will bury the pulp mixture into one corner of my raised bed as a treat for every diligent earthworms, you know you have to keep these little buggers happy. 

 This was a rebuilding year for the garden. I removed a wooden walkway and replaced it with concrete pavers. It is much easier to maintain and I done have to worry about water issues and termites. I have also replaced my raised bed. I am working on enriching my soil so that I can get my garden to be a useful addition to the “homestead”. 

The last thing to mention was the change from a 2001 Toyota Tundra pickup that got a normal 12-14 mpg to a 2008 Honda Fit that gets an average 23 mpg. Short trips and a hill between home and work account for the low mpg rating but I feel so much better. I do occasionally miss having a pickup for getting large items but I can carry 8 foot 2X4 and 2X6 lumber in the car with no trouble. The big items that don’t fit are just things that I guess I really don’t need. 

Well, I will end for now but will try to be better at updates in the future. Reduce, reuse and recycle and have a great day.