Cleaning up the garden to build another compost heap.

When we just arrived here there was no garden at all. Only a thin layer of sand upon a vast layer of clay. One of the first thing I did was to build this compost heap. Back then it was it was more than big enough to handle all the garden and kitchen waste. But not anymore.

The compost heap also doesn’t function that well. I thought it was a good idea back then to make sure that there was enough ventilation because of the heavy rains that we have here. And although that might be true, all the material next to chicken wire doesn’t compost. Another disadvantage of building it like this is that weeds and grasses grow out of it.

I’m going to build a second compost heap and close up the old one. I’m also going to provide both of them with a removable panel at the front for easy access.

I’ve got a lot of old wood left over that I’m going to use for that. I also have this rabbit hutch that I build and I’m going to reuse all the materials from that as well. The rabbits unfortunately died. They escaped one night and were chased and killed by the dogs. Yes, I take full responsibility. But I still don’t understand how they were able to push away that heavy brick that closed the door to their outer confinement.

But first I have to clear this corner of the garden. It is a big mess, it’s time to clean it up.

I deliberately let the weeds take over here. It attracts a lot of insect life which gave me some nice photographs like these.

It even gave me this beautiful picture of this hummingbird.

Blue-tailed Emerald (Chlorostilbon mellisugus)

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But now it’s time to clean this mess up and make room for the second compost heap.

During the weeding this little fellow showed up. I thought it would be angry by destroying its cover and hunting grounds. But it took advantage of the situation and devoured some exposed bugs while I was busy.

Unfortunately these guys showed up as well. Red ants are extremely annoying. They bite and although their bites are not that painful, you keep feeling that itchy burning sensation for at least 10 minutes. During that time you never know whether you’re still being bitten or not. It feels the same.

So it was time for me to call it a day. I will not exterminate the ants. They play a very important role in the garden as well. These ants clean out a dead bird or lizard within an hour. I will disturb them again and again and they will move.

It already looks much better. I’ll leave the weeds in the corner for the bugs. Not much grows there in that shady corner anyway.

Thanks for reading and I hope you’ll join me next time as well. Then I’ll show you the build and give a few garden updates.

Much love,

Gardenbsquared