Composting and Gardening in Playa

[Michele]

Recently, in a move toward spending more time with my children after school, I have scaled my responsibilities to the company way back. We have moved into a new house on a large lot across the highway, giving me now both the time and the space to try my hand at gardening. I haven't seen too many home vegetable gardens here which I think can be attributed to the transiency of this area and the poor soil quality. The thought of having to jackhammer into the limestone that surrounds our house just to dig in a garden bed is none too appealing. Obviously, raised beds and containers are the way to go and purchasing good soil, what they call "tiera negra" or black earth, is going to be a necessary evil to get started. In order to replenish the soil with the nutrients required to propagate good, healthy vegetable plants, fruit trees and herbs, I have started a small compost project on the side of the house where I plan to put a small kitchen garden. Read more here.

[Libby]

Thanks for writing about this, Michele! John and I have been talking about composting and starting a vegetable garden as well. I feel guilty every time I throw out organic stuff. Even though it theoretically decomposes, it still takes years to do when it's laying in a landfill without any air.

So far, all we have in our vegetable garden is a basil plant. I'd also like to grow tomatoes, peppers, cilantro and mint. Although I've never seen mint plants or seeds here.

What veggies are you planning on growing? Are you started from seeds or using plants from a vivero?

I'm also very interested in plants that naturally repel mosquitoes. I know you've touched on that before in your blog. I've heard that geraniums, marigolds, citronella plants, and rosemary are good for this. I'm pretty sure we can get marigolds and rosemary seeds here, at least. Any others you know of?

[Tony&Cheri]

Thanks for posting this, Michele. I'm looking forward to learning from your experiences. I'd LOVE to have a vegetable garden. So far I have 2 dead basil plants and two packages of tomato seeds. I killed every plant I ever touched in the States, but since everything grows like weeds here, I figure this is probably the place to make it all work, if anywhere.

Keep us all posted on your progress, okay?

~Cheri

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Libby

Thanks for writing about this, Michele! John and I have been talking about composting and starting a vegetable garden as well. I feel guilty every time I throw out organic stuff. Even though it theoretically decomposes, it still takes years to do when it's laying in a landfill without any air.

So far, all we have in our vegetable garden is a basil plant. I'd also like to grow tomatoes, peppers, cilantro and mint. Although I've never seen mint plants or seeds here.

What veggies are you planning on growing? Are you started from seeds or using plants from a vivero?

I'm also very interested in plants that naturally repel mosquitoes. I know you've touched on that before in your blog. I've heard that geraniums, marigolds, citronella plants, and rosemary are good for this. I'm pretty sure we can get marigolds and rosemary seeds here, at least. Any others you know of?

Well, with your basil plant you are ahead of me! I have 3 Mandarine orange trees starting on my kitchen window sill that seem to be doing well. I will keep them in containers I think until they get really big. I've got a long way to go before that is needed

I have a lot of seeds that I brought from the US but who knows if they are still viable. I will do some experiments I think. For now, I may buy a few small plants from the vivero (just to get myself going) but later I would like to try to harvest and propagate seeds. I am going to try heirloom tomatoes, basil, mint (yes, it grows well here) rosemary, sage, peas, beans, local squash and a variety of flowering vines for solor and to attract bees and hummingbirds. All of the insect repellect plants you mentioned above should work here. Apparently lemongrass is also good. I am going to try them on my back porch and around the pool. There is also a tree they grow in Sacbe that supposedly repels mosquitos too. Can't hurt to try, right?

Where you guys are living (for now), you might want to investigate the innumerable apartment composting techniques. I've got enough room outside to have an open heap. We have the chicken coop left from Escuela Ak Lu'um so we may even give that a go! Organic eggs...yummo! Our landlord is obviously very cool so I am only limited by my imagination, motivation and the environment. I am going to pick up some fresh seeds in September while I am up in NY. Any requests?

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Tony&Cheri

but since everything grows like weeds here, I figure this is probably the place to make it all work, if anywhere.

This is what I am counting on too!!

[Libby]

So, we started our composting last Monday. I bought a big plastic garbage can with a lid, and John drilled holes in it. We propped it up on some old citronella candles holders so any excess liquid can drain out the bottom. I keep looking at it expectantly, but so far it just stinks and has attracted a bunch of fruit flies. I know it takes a while. I'm impatient though. How's yours looking so far, Michele?

[Libby]

Also wanted to ask you how you explained the composting to your gardener? I'll need to explain it to our cleaning lady tomorrow. My dictionary says the translation for compost is organicos, but I know that's not quite right. I've also found the words "compostador" and "abono" online as possible translations.

[Michele]

OK...I guess. I have gone with traditional heap method that worked so well for my parents The ants are gone and it is not attracting anything but the occassional bird picking off fresh scraps. When I have the beds made, in a few weeks, we will dig in and see what it looks like below. I am being patient.


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[Michele]

Originally Posted by Libby

Also wanted to ask you how you explained the composting to your gardener? I'll need to explain it to our cleaning lady tomorrow. My dictionary says the translation for compost is organicos, but I know that's not quite right. I've also found the words "compostador" and "abono" online as possible translations.

Edgar, our gardener got it right away...even how to do it. The verb "to compost" is (easily enough) compostar. Residuos organicos is what goes in the compost. Our housekeeper doesn't prepare any meals for us but she understands what the bowl on the counter is for. She sees Cole empty it onto the heap everyday. That is his special household chore