Oak leaves are actually the fall season's gift to the composter. The mineral rich organic matter that trees shed to give us an all natural effective mulch in the winter and, once decomposed, extremely benefit to the soil. Shredding of the leaves adds to their decomposition and grass clippings mixed in adds nitrogen to help in the process of breaking the leaves down.  Leaves by themselves do not make the rich soil but they make leaf mold, a great soil addition. Leaf mold is a step past leaf mulch, leaves left in contact with the earth and its all natural microbes will slowly turn to leaf mold. Leaves vary in the amount of acidity that they add to the soil. Make sure to test your soil for the proper Ph before planting and add lime or other alkaline substances to make it correct. Leaves contain twice the mineral content of manure. Being they are a form of organic roughage, they improve drainage and aeration of the soil. Leaves provide nutrition for beneficial microbes making the soil come alive and thrive. An efficient way is to put all of the shredded leaves directly on the garden add a little chicken shit will help the carbon to nitrogen balance. Yeaaa to the chickens..the leaves could also be covered which conserves heat and moisture but they should be uncovered and turned to reduce matting of the leaves..in the spring it will all be a part of the soil, nutrient rich ,and ready for planting. 

Greenhouse beds using all natural earth worms

  When I put into place the beds in my greenhouse I used a combination of sphagnum peat moss and topsoil. I sent away to Uncle Jims Worm farm for red wiggler worms to add to the soil for the all natural fertilizer that these dynamic worms will produce upon composting. The results of using all natural is so beneficial to the plants and the soil. I have also added a small lily pond to keep the humidity as well as provide a habitat for the frogs that have arrived from outside. My next step in the Greenhouse is to start the seeds for the Carnivorous plants. I am also working on the irrigation system using the pond water that provides all natural emulsions that act as fertilizers. The all natural approach to growing plants and farming is also tied into our Earth that can provide resources that if balanced can sustain a beautiful all natural environment. Thank you to Uncle Jim's worm farm the red wigglers and for all of the great information that is on their website.www.unclejimswormfarm.com

  Inside the Greenhouse I have made one of the wooden framed beds into a bog garden to raise Carnivorous plants. The center is a pond area that serves the frogs well and they are free range frogs so they travel throughout the greenhouse eating bugs and are very happy. The bog is lined with pond liner to keep the sphagnum peat moss moist and it absorbs water from under as I pour pond water into the sides of the beds. Avoiding potting mixes with added fertilizers greatly increases the chances of Carnivorous plants surviving as well as not handling the plants. My next step is to build a cover for the entire bed suspended with the ability to move since the constant direct sunlight on terraria can produce high temperatures capable of killing the plants.

    I have always loved carnivorous plants ever since I first saw the beauty of a Venus trap in full bloom. The Carnivorous plants are very beneficial to natural gardens as well as the perfect houseplant in the right conditions. Conditions to raising a Carnivorous plant include one common mistake that a simple rain catcher can eliminate. Carnivorous plant thrive well in sphagnum peat moss with rainwater applied to the bottom of the plants, and never to the tops. I have made a bog garden in my Greenhouse and I am currently starting a few Carnivorous plants from seeds. In preparation of the bed, I put in a pond liner to keep the pond water in and filled the area with sphagnum pea moss. In the center I put a small plastic tub to fill with pond water and lilly pads as I love to have frogs too in my greenhouse and this set up houses the frogs and helps with bug control inside my greenhouse.       In my home I have a garden window with a beautiful Pitcher plant and another container with Sundews. The inside plants do well in indirect sunlight and the containers are terra cotta, the containers are set in plastic trays that I keep full of rainwater or pond water for self absorption. I have a separate small glass behind the plants that I put in a small portion of fruit to attract a small amount of fruit flies, they tend to multiply in their food source so it does not look well but is beneficial to the Carnivorous plants.