Clearing my woods for the tub grinder!
As many of you know, I feel very strongly about composting. In fact, an entire corner of my property is devoted to that process. I just love the fact that all of my garden beds are top-dressed and enriched with gorgeous compost made right here on the farm. I like to think of it as black gold - the nutrient-rich result of an ageless ecological process.
One large pile in my compost area is devoted to brush, branches, logs, and stumps. All of this matter will eventually decompose, however, to speed things up considerably, we bring in a machine called a tub grinder. This grinding apparatus is scheduled to arrive within the next week or two and I cannot wait to show you what a fantastic job it does. In the meantime, my grounds crew has been busy clearing the woods of all the fallen braches and other debris and adding that to the pile.
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A 'well oiled machine' Martha - I love how organized and efficient your farm team is - and how beautiful your property is as a result!
Posted by: Donna Olson | October 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 am
we so need a tub grinder as well. during a recent storm a birch on our property fell down (on power lines, no damage there) and left a 5m stub standing. the birch was very tall, falling branches caused lot of damage, several smaller trees fell as well. there are piles and piles of branches we intend to chop up and use in the garden. not to mention a mountain of firewood!
we have a biolan composter for organic waste, it's great and works also in the winter. as it doesn't smell we can have conviniently close to the house. you might opt for their bigger model, though...
Posted by: liisamarja | October 22nd, 2009 at 4:15 am
Hi Martha,
I'm very interested about the argument. A few weeks ago I read an article on the New York Magazine about composting and I thought how this process could be good and favorable for the environment!
Unfortunalety, the italian newspapers make little mention of this technique but I've found a lot of informations on web.
I appreciate you very much for all interesting things you share with us!
Daniela
Posted by: Daniela | October 22nd, 2009 at 5:35 am
The bracket fungus looks like nature's artwork. Love the fungus that looks like your Mom's pierogies.
You could donate the chunks of logs to a local organization. My husband had cut a lot of trees in our backyard earlier this year and our neighbor was so appreciative to have them. He said it was enough wood to heat his entire home for the next three winters.
I've never seen jaws on a bucket loader and thought it was a good idea.
Great photos!
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, ME | October 22nd, 2009 at 6:17 am
Martha, looking forward 2 the next installment of this process...thanks 4 all the info. u provide
Posted by: Pauline | October 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 am
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Well, good morning as I pull on my orange sweatshirt to do the very same task!
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Our Norfolk Corrections System will be my grounds crew for trail cleaning and compost building today. We are also mulching much of the oak leaves into lawns by mowing rather than raking.
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Skidders and trucks will then come and create new crown space above by removing chosen pine, shagbark and other trees at the end of their cycles. This space opens forested areas to more sunlight and encourages a new stand of trees to grow.
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We then will host nature walks where our state forester guides visitors toward everything from teaberries to ironwood trees. I will also teach a course for families--to philosophically and scientifically relate to nature around them.
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Would you like to join us?! You'd need to hug trees blindfolded and be willing to bury yourself under leaves, becoming the eyes of a centipede, observing... observing.
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The Weimaraner Family
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Posted by: andreaandweims on Twitter | October 22nd, 2009 at 9:18 am
Please don't forget to leave some branches all piled up for animals for shelter this winter.
Posted by: Pam from Indiana | October 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 am
There are several companies with tub grinders in our area. They are always busy, but for another reason, grinding hay for feeding.
Congratulations to the individual who invented it. It must and still does take a mechanical mind to keep the grinder working smoothly.
Posted by: Margie | October 22nd, 2009 at 10:22 am
Awesome! We use a rotary digester to make our compost. You've gotta love compost!
Posted by: C Bell | October 22nd, 2009 at 10:26 am
That loader would really come in handy around here after a hurricane hits. Instead, a couple of guys go around the neighborhood with their power saws and cut up tree trunks for the trash company to pick up. I wonder if they make compost heaps with all that wood. Hmmm, I think I will call and ask.
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You do a great job keeping on top of projects on your farm Martha. I know you have a lot of help but you are the one who has to know what needs to be done and when, and you do this for 3 humongous homes and an apartment I think! Then there’s the TV show and the magazines and…well, amazing is close but I think super woman fits better! Seriously.
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If I may say something to Celia Stock - your poems are beautiful and moving! I think it is wonderful that you are so inspired by Martha. I always go back to read later comments from the previous blog so of course if you post late in the day, I see it the next day. Keep those poems coming! Trish
Posted by: Trish | October 22nd, 2009 at 10:29 am
Well you have inspired me to carve out a little corner of my property and get to composting. It's the only type of 'recycling' that I'm not already doing....
Posted by: Morgan | October 22nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
Love the loader !
My 93 year old father harvested two 100 ft. white pines this fall, sawed them into 8 ft. logs and then he and I cross hauled them into a beautiful pile to await for the mill to be brought in to do it's work.
Working in the forest is so gratifying.
Looking forward to viewing your tub grinder. This work is so vital for proper reforestation.
Posted by: Becky HK | October 22nd, 2009 at 11:20 am
I know what it's like just keeping the little twiggy branches cleaned up on my lawn, let alone maintaining the forest's floor in the understory in the woods! Man! This is an on-going process, I'm sure! Gee whiz, with ANY breezes, trees naturally thin out and rid themselves of any dead or loose matter up in their crown spread (and sometimes their bark, too!) Your trusty crew could perform this task one week and have to return the next, dependant on what Mother Nature dishes out, how 'bout it?!
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I'm always reiterating how you're such a good steward of the land, Martha - ecologically, and your grounds crew are worth their weight in that black gold that they're so integral in creating! I consider them just as important parts of your extended family as much as others with less strenuous tasks who might get to be in the spotlight a little more than they. Your grounds are simply gorgeous (ALL THE TIME!) thanks to your groundsmen!
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You have been blessed, basically, with living in, of sorts, a park-like setting - like the DuPonts at Longwood Gardens, or Winterthur!
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=^..^=
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"I have often thought that if Heaven had given me a choice of my position and calling, it should have been on a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near a good market for the productions of the garden. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden."--Thomas Jefferson
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(...yes, I remain [still!] hopelessly in love with 'Th. Jefferson' !...my husband IS in-the-know! [giggle] )
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | October 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Wonderful process and the gardens will be so nourished.
Posted by: sherey | October 22nd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Hi Martha, we have woods all around our property. We own almost 9 acres .Last years ice storms did a lot of damage,some big oak trees came down roots and all, luckily not on to our home. we are in our 70's so we have not repaired all the damage yet, but my 2 cats Brennan and Yumyum love to walk with me in the woods, running along the fallen trees, and chasing chipmunks. Thanks for your informative shows, I'm an avid viewer. Ila Frampton.
Posted by: Ila M Frampton | October 22nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
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From one of your many 'accompanists'....
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..... who breathes love of your photography with our word and rhyme throughout your blog. There are Cindy and Celia and Pam, then Trish and Jan...and more and more, so many.
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I think it's time for an anthology of 'audience words' to be strummed along with your 'mud-luscious wonderful' portraits of... wet morning willows walking... fences in splayed finger handlock... trees tiptoeing toward twilight. Oh, the meadows and crannies our imaginations are breathing as viewing your camerawork pasted to blog!
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What better way to multiply the excellence of this blog's material than to transpose it to book print! With your worldwide theatre of fan writers' literary and heartfelt words in print beside your work, everyone would prosper!
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Until we go to press, I'll take to my pencil lead, now a mass of words unwritten, and envision deer fluff ruffling in the leaves and families of animal faces settling into the clouds, all of us watching for the next day's blog your camera and hand are preparing to design!
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Design that book! Or I will!!
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Inspired, As Always,
AJS and the Weimaraners
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Posted by: andreaandweims on Twitter | October 22nd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Love the loader !
My 93 year old father harvested two 100 ft. white pines this fall. He sawed them into 8 ft. logs and then we cross hauled them into a beautiful pile. They now await the mill to be brought in to do it's work.
Looking forward to viewing your tub grinder.
Working in the forest is so gratifying, and each project done no matter how small or large, should be considered as a major contribution for proper reforestation, and earth friendly for our gardens, our fields, our woods, our waters and the over all future of our planet
Posted by: Becky HK | October 22nd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Is wood good in compost there? We have heard that it uses up available nitrogen in decomposition. I hope there will still be fallen wood on which to propagate those charming fungi and help maintain the chemical interdependencies of the flora.
The organization and self-sufficiency of your farm is so interesting and vicariously comforting. It seems that there is always something new. Terrific that you can custom groom your Christmas trees and if they will stump-sprout after cutting perhaps they will get to a mature size more quickly next time around. What types have you planted?
Posted by: jw | October 22nd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
i couldn't agree with you more on the composting issue martha. it breaks my heart that manhattan does not have something set up to facilitate this process for new yorkers! seeing all those scraps swept into the hefty bag after dinner... ouch.
on a different note, did you get a chance to open the gift bag i gave you at your paramus book signing? if so, i hope you liked your leoan goodies. i am really interested in appearing on one of your shows... i think your audience would enjoy a lesson on how to mix astrology-themed cocktails. maybe we can set something up? i hope to hear from you soon...
cheers, gwen
Posted by: gwen sutherland kaiser | October 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Dear Ms.Stewart,
I used to watch your show on our channel 4,CBS,WHBF Iowa. For what ever reason I can no longer get your show, I check our tv program weekly and do not find a listing for you day or evening. Your show was on until what I am guessing would be the start of a new season. Please advise as to where I can find your show. I have watched it for years and have quite a few of your books, dishes, towels etc.
Sincerely,
Susan Tennant
Posted by: Susan Tennant | October 22nd, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Hi Martha, This was another cool blog. Your grounds crew look like the happiest workers I've seen in quite a while. I can understand their happy faces, because I would love to do that kind of work anytime, especially on your property. These photos are really great and the weather looks similar to what it's like here. Sure would love to have some sunshine. Loved your show again today. Was fun seeing Lucinda's youngest son Luca (sp). I remember him on an earlier show where he was planting tomatoes in galvanized containers to put on his family's patio. What handsome fellows both of those young men are. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | October 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Martha,
Good on you for composting, but do you realise that your forest floor needs those rotting branches to remain healthy? It's called coarse woody debris. Check out an ecoforestry site on the web - it will explain everything.
cheers
Heidi
Posted by: Heidi Jungwirth | October 23rd, 2009 at 1:14 am
Wonderful process and the gardens will be so nourished.
Posted by: auckland escort | October 23rd, 2009 at 6:43 am
Maine had fierce winds and heavy rain last night also.We live on Red Bridge Road Old Branch Pond Road and there were downed trees and branches all over the road.A few more good windstorms and the beautiful Autumn Foliage will be gone! We are still enjoying Fall Leaf Peeping Season in The Beautiful State Of Maine I Know You Love So Much.
Posted by: June Days | October 25th, 2009 at 9:37 pm