Reclaiming the Dirt

So, today Jonathan taught me about the magic of composting, aka "dirt." Having grown up in a (very) suburban environment, I always thought dirt was something that was just naturally there or, if not, then something one could easily procure at the local garden shop. But, it turns out there is a third method for obtaining dirt: MAKE IT YOURSELF! And, it's easy. Start with dirt, add some stuff, wait a few months, and, viola, MORE DIRT. The "stuff" is "organic material," including food waste, grass clippings, and leaves. All of which mixes together, initiating a chemical process that causes decomposition. Now, if the compost pile is only partially decomposed, then one is faced with some dirt mixed with some stuff. And, as I learned today, one must reclaim the dirt! This involves sifting the whole messy, smelly concoction through a large wire sieve, reserving the dirt part and throwing the stuff part back into the compost pile. It's a physically demanding process, involving shovels, wheelbarrows, buckets, and such. And, it's pretty amazing to see, say, the vibrant, lively zucchini from last year's garden discarded, only to become part of the means to support new growth. I never realized how cool dirt could be.