Perhaps one of the more common puzzlers encountered with composting is the management of compost materials when one only has a single compost tumbler. Although single compost tumblers are cheaper, buyers often face the problem of what to do or how to manage the incoming organic waste while the tumbler is busy cooking the present batch.
What the Manuals Say
Adding to the dilemma is what most compost tumblers’ manuals recommend: fully loading the composter and not adding additional compostable wastes once the lid has been closed.
Most composters can finish the whole process and make good, rich compost in 6 weeks or so. Until then you would have to find a way to manage the everyday turnout of organic wastes within those 6 weeks. So what can be done that’s both practical and effective?
Well, what you can do is leave space for the fresh trash on top, letting it rest while becoming rich. You can then mix it in with the old by turning. Another idea is to throw in some fresh worms to speed up the process and let the new compost catch up.
RT Essential Guide to Organic Gardening – How to Plan, Grow …: Product DescriptionWhy garden organically? By ga……
All of the steps you listed will help restore the soil. If the car parts leaked petroleum products into the soil you may have to remove and replace the soil. I would probably double dig the area and try to reintroduce more microbes into the soil.
Wow. Are you kidding me?
A way to detect disease is by planting a quinoa plant in your vegetables. It is called an indicator and can tell you what's going on in the midst of your garden. To see what insects are there, both beneficial and those that "bug" you, put out some insect traps and identify the bugs. This should be done each spring and summer to see the changes in insect life.
Compost tea is a great way for helping out plants in teh way of diesease and preventing insects from thinking they are yummy. It can be used foliarly and is not difficult to make.
I like these links for bug identification:
(includes a "helpful bug" category)
(lays out the process nicely)
(my personal favorite, choose what the bug looks like from the graphic list on the left)
I like your idea of companion planting, it has not only saved me much heartache from chewed up vegetation but some have helped others to grow better! Here are a few sites I like to go to (books are available too) :
(alphabetical listings of plants)
only lists companion plants, but also a good insect resource!)
(good listing of insects/plantings/fertilizers for organics)