Winter Mulching at the Farm
In the new March issue of Martha Stewart Living, I have written a column, complete with photos, about the rather large-scale composting cycle at my Bedford farm. I find composting to be very gratifying because almost nothing goes to waste at the farm, since anything compostable is added to the pile. My wonderful farm crew is such an integral part of why things look so good on the property. They’ve been working tirelessly, cutting, chipping, and removing hundreds of storm-toppled trees in the woods. It’s still so sad to see how many trees have been destroyed. However, none of that wood is going to waste. Selected tree trunks are being turned into lumber. Limbs, roots, leaves, and needles are being chipped or ground to speed up decomposition. The final product, rich compost, is used generously all around the farm. Before our recent blizzard, the guys spread a thick layer of that black gold over all of the gardens, tucking them snuggly away until spring.
1 Believe it or not, this is one of the most important areas of the farm.
2 As you know from reading this blog, I am a very serious gardener and I am very serious about my compost yard.
3 In the course of the year, my ground's crew amasses quite a large pile of organic debris from the farm including stumps, logs, and brush.
4 You may recall a blog about when the tub grinder was here, grinding all of that large organic matter up into wood chips, which greatly speeds up the decomposition period.
5 This steamy dark pile of compost is what I call, 'black gold'.
6 The compost pile is heated gradually from about 50- to about 113-Fahrenheit, which is the temperature at which compost microorganisms begin the decomposition of the material.
7 The 'cooking' process begins, and a second set of 'heat-loving' bacteria take over.
8 The temperature in the pile will soar to about 158-degrees - and that's cooked!
9 Some people can sense this stage by feel, but most of us will benefit with the help of a compost thermometer.
10 A compost thermometer resembles an instant-read meat thermometer, except for the shaft, which measures about 20-inches long, for measuring the temperature in the middle of the compost pile.
11 With a rather mild winter thus far, many spring bulbs have begun sprouting.
12 This is a brand new narcissus bed, planted with 3,000 bulbs, all arranged in individual groupings. It will be spectacular come spring!
13 I'm always instructing the crew to spread this gorgeous fluffy, organic material over the garden beds.
14 By spreading mulch in winter, you help to insulate and protect those early spring bulbs and perennials from fluctuating temperatures.
15 This garden is near the greenhouse parking area and this is the European hornbeam hedge with strawberries planted beneath.
16 A thick layer of mulch will help to discourage weeds from growing by depriving them of sunlight and air.
17 You'll also spend less time watering because the mulch helps to keep the soil beneath moist and cool.
18 Cooler soil temperature allows your plants to have healthier root growth.
19 And if all of this weren't enough, by mulching, you are adding humus to the soil, enriching it beyond measure!
20 If you don't have a compost pile, there are several types of mulch from which to choose.
21 In my opinion, a brown, shredded bark, stripped from fallen trees and run through a shredder provides and elegant decorative finish, like my mulch.
22 Buckwheat and cocoa hulls are another good choice, and even grass clippings or shredded fallen leaves will do nicely.
23 What's important is to make your gardening easier and your garden time more enjoyable by mulching!
Martha Pins
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Martha, you sure do have a big mulch pile!!!!!! The guys are working so hard to keep things beautiful. I'm glad you give them credit for all their hard work in your Blog.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | January 22nd, 2013 at 12:11 am
Hi, Martha,
That was interesting. I had no idea....lots of scientific knowlege needed to really get the best results.
Thank you!
Posted by: Bobbie | January 22nd, 2013 at 3:26 am
Good morning Martha, I enjoyed the mulching blog. Besides all the good it
does, it looks so neat. I look forward to mulching each year. Mine is on a
much smaller scale of course. Compared to your world mine is so small
but I love my home, my backyard, which is a bird sanctuary, and I love taking care of and decorating my interior. I owe so much to you for all that you've taught me over the years and all the inspiration you give me. My precious
family has been the recipient of the knowledge I've gained from you. They
thank you too! I live in the great state of Alabama and we love you down here
in the beautiful South too! Have a wonderful week. Love, Patsy
Posted by: Patsy Posey | January 22nd, 2013 at 5:24 am
Well, this must be a re-run because I've already made a comment, but...I'll make another one about today. I was working in the yard today, and uncoverd an old wood pile from years ago, and some of it had deteriated to the point I could almost use it in flower pots.
And, under all those leaves I removed, the soil was black as coal. I just wish I could compost on the level you do, Martha. Well, not quite that big
, but bigger than I'm able to here.
Thanks for the reminder.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | February 19th, 2013 at 12:28 am
Martha,
I'm so spoiled by this blog. I forgot President's day and was sulking all day yesterday because there was no blog. Thanks for sharing this blog I enjoyed it.
Posted by: KLBrown | February 19th, 2013 at 12:57 am
I'm also a firm believer in mulch Martha, it makes the life of a gardener so much easier! I can't wait to see the new narcissus bed blooming in the spring!
Posted by: Cindy F | February 19th, 2013 at 7:32 am
Love stories about your farm. At my little place I call Sea Petal Manor in southern New Brunswick....for my garden I am still working on structures, like the porch, deck and picket fence.... that I had built in the fall...and I will be putting in an area first thing this spring for compost.. a year ago last fall I collected people's bags of leaves in town and now they are in a big pile that I need to stir up...
I have one section of fence to fix and then a big arbor to build this summer.. then get it all painted.... and then dig flower beds and a vegetable garden....it is very satisfying to create your own garden....your own beauty..
I love learning how you do things.... very inspiring.
Oh and those winter shots.... if you learn to embrace winter.... it is stunningly beautiful...your farm photos were gorgeous.... I love the early morning light too... some of my best photos are taken then.... we just got another foot of snow... but it is sunny and going above zero during the day.... excellent snow shoe weather..
Thanks so much for sharing..best wishes to your family.
Posted by: Rachel | February 19th, 2013 at 8:09 am
Embracing winter is easy but icy roads, poor visibility, and bitter cold gets me in a mood of longing for spring. Dakota will know it is here at the end of May so still a couple of months to go. The light is good in these mornings on the prairies and somehow I can't seem to find my snowshoes to get out and photograph but sitting here on this contraption, enjoying morning coffee, and learning about composting from Martha Stewart is enough. LIVING magazine also great.
Posted by: ann | February 19th, 2013 at 8:37 am
Hell-o: May I just say Ms. Stewart, you and your crew are good stewards, just as all who own or rent should be to thier properties. Thank you for you valued information and photos.
Posted by: c | February 19th, 2013 at 8:45 am
Hi Martha,
I just read that article in the magazine last night under Life and Wisdom from Martha! Yep, you were the first person to introduce me to mulch and I can still see you in that particular television episode filmed from Turkey Hill. You had a compost pile there and you stood in the middle of it with a big pitch fork turning it over and over while explaining the usefulness of it. I was getting tired just watching you yet you kept on talking and flipping those forkfuls of mulch without even panting. I thought wow, I can't even tie my shoes and talk at the same time! It would be nice to see a clip from that again and maybe I can find it in my old tapes of your shows.
~
To give you an idea of how ignorant I used to be of mulch, I always wondered what happened to the decorative wood chip mulch I put down every spring or fall or whenever I put it down. I didn't realize it was composting into the ground - I actually thought it was being blown away. Duh! All I can say is, I don't know how I ever survived without you, seriously, and I'm still learning from you. I'm never going to have a big mulch pile like yours but I guess I could try making a smaller one to use on some of my plants. It might be fun to do and the things we should use in the mix are listed right there in the magazine. Good article by the way.
~
You have a busy day today coming up and I'll be thinking about you and sending my best wishes your way. I'm looking forward to buying your products at JCP. Trish
Posted by: Trish | February 19th, 2013 at 9:19 am
Hi Martha, Thanks again for sharing this fantastic blog about the outstanding, important part of your farm which is the beautiful black gold in your compost area! I recall seeing this blog the night before January 22nd and I was going to comment on it early the next morning, but it was missing and I couldn't find it all day! Was that when you were sick and probably couldn't even read our comments that day?! All of these photos and information about producing the fabulous black gold at your farm is awesome! You do have a superior group of farm workers who do everything better that I've ever seen before to make your farm look so beautiful! Thank God your great farm workers had spread that black gold over the gardens before that snow blizzard recently! I know you are a serious gardener and you do have a marvelous farm! I do recall seeing the blog about the tub grinder and that was great, also! Oh, how I wish I had such a marvelous farm as you have and I wouldn't mind working there with your outstanding crew! Can't wait to hear you and Alexis on Sirius 107 today! Off to see the Daily Wag with Francesca and Sharking being together in the hoophouse at your farm! Sure hope you have another great day! Jan PS-Was great to see Ambers beautiful photos with her comment on your Feb. 15th blog!
Posted by: Jan Erickson | February 19th, 2013 at 9:21 am
Mulch is so so important, I have a small garden and a small home and I save my food scraps/egg shells. I learned about composting in Europe, it is gold to them. I wish all households would take it seriously.
Posted by: ga447 | February 19th, 2013 at 9:35 am
I am wondering if spreading this wonderful mulch in the winter is a good idea. It is so hot (temperature wise) that would the heat not encourage early plant growth ? thanks wondering because of my own garden. I have often thought of supplementing my vegetable garden in the winter because the thawing will help bring the nutrients down into the soil, but adding mulch in the winter to plants......Please help me with this question. Thank you. BTW the pile is a place of beauty to me I would love to get my hands into it.
Posted by: barbara bade | February 19th, 2013 at 10:03 am
Hi Martha,
Always enjoy your blog, especially your home and garden. We have quite a good size back yard and work the beds every year but we don't do a lot of mulching.
If anything, we will buy some topsoil to put over the beds. With mulch, can we just buy bags of it at a garden store and if so, what would be the best mulch to buy?
Thanks again. Martha.
Susie - Pacific Northwest
Posted by: Susie | February 19th, 2013 at 10:07 am
Thank you for encouraging proper mulching of
Ordinary garden and house waste. I'm sorry for
The loss of your trees though. We have a fairly
Large plot of land here in NM and mulch is
So important. With hard work, help, and manna
From heaven, I am hoping to create a large
Farm co-op to provide food for our local food
Pantries. Your blog is inspirational.
Posted by: Carolyn Petree | February 19th, 2013 at 10:26 am
Now that's a pile of compost!
Posted by: Holiday Baker Man | February 19th, 2013 at 10:34 am
That mulch does look like gold, oh my I think I might be getting the gardening bug already and its just February! Any advice for starting a compost pile?
3,000 bulbs wow that is impressive, I planted 100 around our property in the fall and am so excited to see it all in the spring.
Posted by: Kristina | February 19th, 2013 at 10:38 am
Martha,
I'm listening to you and Alexis on XM107 right now. Totally loving the show! Alexis is such a fun person I never listened to Whatever so this is my first time hearing her this up close and personal. Love her!
Posted by: KLBrown | February 19th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Hi Martha,
Listening to you and Alexis LIVE on Mostly Martha on Sirius radio!! Love your new show. I'd ask questions but don't have children. But I love listening and tuning in anyway. Thanks for today's post too! Like so many, I didn't know so much work went into winter mulching. And it is today's black gold as you so brilliantly describe. Congrats on your new show. Loved it!!
xo
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa Gordon-Miller | February 19th, 2013 at 1:09 pm
That looks like a ton of work, but I bet the results are worth it all spring and summer long!
Posted by: Laura Dembowski | February 19th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Dear Martha
I am in total shock! What happened to the Martha Stewart's programs on Sirius channel 110? The message on Sirius 110 indicates you will be on Sirius from noon to 2 P.M. What about all the other Martha Stewart programming, have they all been cancelled?
Anna
Posted by: Anna | February 19th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
Dear Martha: I am a dedicated blog fan. I especially enjoy your pictures and commentary from the farm. Why not detail the layout of the farm for us with a map so we can get a sense of how buildings and gardens and paddocks exist in relation to one another? It would make a beautiful book, actually. Of course we admire the layout on Google earth, but a map highlighting features of the physical plant would delight us in the details. Yours, CJT
Posted by: CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD | February 19th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Martha I really like the information on composting. I am envious of the huge pile you have to work with. I did have an "ahaa" moment when you mentioned compost thermometers. My compost piles never seem to heat up enough. I think I need to invest in a thermometer to keep track of how it is (or not) heating. My Dad has been a gardener all his life and has a thermometer stuck in his raised beds. guess I know what my first garden purchases will be this year. Now if it would just stop snowing.....
PS what is your opinion on compost activator?
Posted by: Diane P | February 19th, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Hi Martha
I am a long time fan and get "Living " every month. I have a question why do you mulch the fallen trees in the woods rather than just leave them to naturally decompose? As they did this they would be homes to insects and fungi. Just curious ?
Erica
Posted by: Erica Hanwright | February 23rd, 2013 at 5:04 am
Hi Martha,
Have a great day.... Can't wait till more pictures get here....
This blog is just so interesting. I love it! I really like your sharing all the photo's of your farm. It takes me to your farm for a little while and I really do enjoy it. Your new mulch around the trees and flower beds look great. I really do learn alot from you and I really do thank you so much for sharing all that you do.. Well back to work now... again thank you
Ramona
(North Carolina)
Posted by: Ramona | February 24th, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Wow, that is a giant mulch pile Martha! I agree that mulch is extremely important. I've posted some other mulch information in my mulch site (linked).
Posted by: Jason | March 22nd, 2013 at 12:59 pm