You are so nice to comment on my posts regularly, and I've not done as good a job. 

Gardening and composting are not my strong suits.  But I do appreciate those that have moved beyond the "anti-growth" "anti-everything" movements and are offering some constructive ways that we can recycle and clean up our environment.  In Northwest Indiana that's a big deal, we've got some serious clean up don't we?

Hi Rhonda - great tips for composting.  I just heard of another great additive to help amend the soil.  Ground oyster shells I hear tell do wonders.  They can be found at feed stores as they are used as grit for poultry.  I'm headed to the store tomorrow to stock up after seeing my friends soil.  What a difference it makes.

Steve,

 That's why I like the compost tumbler.  You put the compost material in and add the activator.  Turn it a few times to mix the compost.  Then everyday for a week turn the compost one revolution.  I usually put a bucket under the tumbler to catch the water that drips out since it is full of nutrients it's like a liquid fertilizer.  Where I live there is a lot of things to compost.  Thanks for the comment.

Linda,

I'll have to look into this at the local feed store.  Thanks for the tip.

Appreciate your comments about composting.  Glad to hear that people with small gardens are going in for the tumblers.  At my place, unfortunately, the tumblers are just too small.  My compost area, three major bins, covers about 600 square feet. Turning this much space takes some work.

David,

I like the idea of the tumbler.  We throw our lawn clippings, weeds, vegetable and fruit peels in there and in about 2 weeks we have nice rich dirt.  I'm glad I don't have to turn all the compost that you have.

Thanks for the comment.

Ronda, It's all about choices. When it's your choice to grow a lot of food, it is no longer onerous work. With the size of our vegetable garden, we know exactly where our food comes from.  We've been eating organic for over 25 years.  It's a healthy lifestyle.

David,

My son and I have just planted a garden with tomatoes, Green Peppers, Cukes and Cantaloupe.

Thanks for the comment

When I lived in Germany we had a compost for the garden. A compost is a wonderful thing! The veggies and flowers all do so well then they receive a rich compost diet! We used to have wonderful cukes and giant tomatoes! I owe it all to the compost!

Ronda, I just joined the group and have to say I love to compost. I keep an old, covered enameled tin near the sink for veggie scraps and the morning coffee grounds. We have a compost bin in the yard and I'm surprised at how much we 'recycle' over the winter. I can't wait for spring.