I just cut back the Mexican sunflower next to my pottery studio.

I’ve been posting about my #permaculture challenges lately and this is a good example. Hearing experienced gardeners refer to this plant as a manure equivalent led me to believe that it is a more potent soil amendment than it actually is. So, my attempts at growing veggies in this soil often left me with small, stunted plants.

Now, I understand that I need a hybrid approach. My veggie #compost can be a good moisture-retaining substrate but it needs additional help from organic fertilizers.

When my husband was deep in his #permaculture gardening phase he asked for one of these SunJoe mulching machines for his birthday. Since then, he’s largely abandoned #gardening—and who can blame him? It’s been tough! So now, I use it to break down the Mexican sunflower so that it’s easier to #compost. It’s a very sweet-smelling plant.

When my husband was deep in his #permaculture gardening phase he asked for one of these SunJoe mulching machines for his birthday. Since then, he’s largely abandoned #gardening—and who can blame him? It’s been tough! So now, I use it to break down the Mexican sunflower so that it’s easier to #compost. It’s a very sweet-smelling plant.

To me, buying a new machine didn’t seem very #permacultutre-y but now that we have it, may as well use it.

I’m going to continue posting about what I’ve learned about the limitations of practicing permaculture in an urban setting. First of all, look how much all of that plant material condenses when mulched. And as you know, the resulting amount of #compost will be even smaller…

@PermaSolarPotter ive read that some of these smaller electric mulchers aren't very resilient (ive been considering one for a while). How does your SunJoe fare? does it clog or bog down much at all (gi ven that thats a function of what you feed it I suppose)

When my husband was deep in his #permaculture gardening phase he asked for one of these SunJoe mulching machines for his birthday. Since then, he’s largely abandoned #gardening—and who can blame him? It’s been tough! So now, I use it to break down the Mexican sunflower so that it’s easier to #compost. It’s a very sweet-smelling plant.

I’ve mixed the sunflower mulch with sawdust from a local wood shop that uses untreated wood. We also add Starbucks used coffee grinds in there (they’ll save them for you to pick up in the evening), our kitchen scraps plus bone & wood ash (I save our bones and burn them in our fireplace.)

All of this does not produce enough in terms of amount or nutrition to feed our garden. IMO, this makes my attempts at #permaculture feel more like a hobby than an actual environmental solution. #gardening

@PermaSolarPotter You may not produce enough of what you need right now but making some home made compost is always better than making none.

@Broadfork I agree. And also, I love the process. I enjoy turning waste into soil and witnessing the cycle of life. It’s fascinating to watch it heat up and generate energy. And I would much rather turn a pile than go the gym.

@PermaSolarPotter Agreed, what’s not to like? It’s a wonderful cycle of life and regeneration. The end of one bit of the process is the start of the next.

@Broadfork I think the average person can find a lot to dislike about composting lol! The effort alone would be off-putting to most. You seem to have a passion for it and that is a lovely thing, but rare.

I’ve mixed the sunflower mulch with sawdust from a local wood shop that uses untreated wood. We also add Starbucks used coffee grinds in there (they’ll save them for you to pick up in the evening), our kitchen scraps plus bone & wood ash (I save our bones and burn them in our fireplace.)

All of this does not produce enough in terms of amount or nutrition to feed our garden. IMO, this makes my attempts at #permaculture feel more like a hobby than an actual environmental solution. #gardening