10 San Diego Uptown News | Jan. 21-Feb. 3, 2011


HOME IMPROVEMENT


Columnist Joel Berlin gives his personal tips for creating and using your own compost. (Joel Berlin/SDUN) Got Dirt? Most of us throw away about


30 percent of raw materials that can be composted and combined to form rich, organic compost. Compost is a great way to reduce our landfills and add rich nutrients to your organic garden. Organic compost is ideal for use in both flower and vegetable gardens, especially during the spring and fall months. When processed cor- rectly, compost is odorless and can be added to your garden and pots to be used as topsoil too.


Here is a To Do List for those looking to make great compost: First, create a list of raw materi- als you can use from your home or yard. For example, collect plant ma- terial from around your yard such as leaves and lawn clippings. These are rich in trace minerals. Avoid weeds, since their seeds may not be destroyed in the composting pro- cess. Add straw or sawdust to help slow down decomposition. Throw in your unprocessed vegetables and fruit peels, coffee grounds, nutshells, rinsed egg shells and egg cartons, even old but clean 100 percent cotton T-Shirts and numer- ous other forms of organic material around your home.


Timeshares Vacation


Next, select a location on your property to create a large pile of


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Improvement


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(619) 519.7775 ext 108 or 105 Wanted


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Hardwood Flooring Mobile Showroom (858) 354-3142 topflooring.com Top Flooring is a revolutionary company specializing in installations, sales and repairs of


UrbanGarden Joel Berlin


Vermicomposting, or compost- ing with earthworms, is a fun and easy way to recycle your food scraps. It takes up less space than regular composting, and can work


Warning:


Never use any type of meat products, dairy products, cat litter, cat and dog manure, fish scraps, bones or other animal parts when composting.


these materials or purchase a com- posting container. It’s recommend- ed you pick a location that won’t obstruct a driveway or become an obstacle in the future. As you build your pile, try to create a pile which doesn’t exceed 5’ in height or 8’ in diameter. I like my piles to be about 4’ by 4’.


If you have more materials than you need for a pile, simply build two or more separate compost piles. I use a pitchfork to help mix up the materials thoroughly. Make a small indention or concave bowl shape at the top of the pile to catch any rainwater as it is important to add water. A moist compost pile will heat up, not only helping the decomposing process but will kill any accidental plant seeds.


hardwood and laminate flooring. What makes Top Flooring stand out is its unique “Store to Your Door” concept that has customers lining up to enter its one-of-a-kind mobile showroom.


The not-to-be-missed bright


green 26-foot shuttle bus outfitted by a wood flooring vehicle wrap houses hundreds of wood flooring samples and gives people the feeling they have just boarded a complete flooring showroom. “We wanted to make choosing a wood floor convenient and fun,” said Owner/Operator Chuck Nettnin. “Our low overhead allows us to continue to bring amazing products and custom installations into your home while keeping our prices


in an apartment setting. The City of San Diego has an excellent PDF guide on Composting and Vermi- composting located at sandiego. gov/environmental-services/recy- cling/composting.shtml. Also, for a schedule of free com- posting seminars visit, solanacen- ter.org/1workshops.html. It is my hope through this se- ries of Urban Garden articles that you will be inspired to look in new directions for sustainable garden- ing and landscaping practices. The face of San Diego is changing as water diminishes and urban spall continues to grow. Be inspired and make a change.u


Joel Berlin owns AnandaScapes in North Park.


affordable.” Chuck has been in the


construction industry for almost 20 years, specializing in wood flooring for more than 10. His knowledge of the product and attention to detail ensure complete satisfaction on every project. The mobile showroom is available for free estimates and operates in San Diego with an emphasis in the Uptown community. Top Flooring offers a wide range of wood flooring choices and will work with customers to find the right product for their application and budget. Top Flooring even offers pet-friendly flooring options. Furry friends are welcome to board the mobile showroom while customers shop!


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