On Mon, 1 Jan 2007 12:19:38 +0000, Raving Monkey
wrote:


Hello Gardening Experts!

I am new to gardening and am aiming to try and turn my garden into a
little more ecologically friendly. So I have a couple of questions:

1) I am looking for the contaption I can put food waste into and it
naturally degrades into the garden soil, does anyone know what I am
talking about?
2) I am looking at getting a small green house and want to grow some
'easy' veg/fruit, please can you give me some suggestions as to what
and when I should be planting? I am trying to get my kids involved as
much as I can

Thanks in advance

RM

Happy New Year, RM, and welcome to the wonderful world of gardening.

First, let me compliment you on wanting to involve your children in
this most healthful, most "spiritual" of activities! Plus, you get to
eat real food that has not sat in a truck or train for 'n' period.

Now:

1. The "contraption" is a composter. You put leaves, grass, any
garden waste into it, as well as table scraps EXCLUDING meat, fat,
grease, bones. You cover the composter so the contents will "cook",
and keep it moist. After several months, you scoop out of the bottom
the most wonderful black, crumbly stuff that you mix with garden soil
when transplanting, and/or put around your existing plants.

There are many models of composters, ranging from fancy rotating drums
to simple heaps. You can get tons of info on the Web, and also at
your neighborhood garden nursery or big box homeowners store.

2. To get input on this question, you need to say where you are
located. On most garden groups, people put their "zone"; for example
I am in So.Calif coastal, USDA (dept of agriculture) Zone 8, and
Western Garden Book Zone 24.

We look forward to heating about your location.

(Remember that even in the most extreme climates, your greenhouse idea
can be made to work. Even with little to no sunshine, grow-lights can
be used.)

Persephone