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Show - Composting Home gardeners in Utah may not be achieving optimum yields from their A Plan For Utah Gardeners In all composting your objective is to arrange organic material in such a way that soil bacteria and fungi can thrive and multiply as they break it down. These microorganisms, like all organisms, need moisture, air and food. The compost serves many useful functions in the home garden including a convenient place to dispose of garden waste, vegetable tops and peelings, grass clippings, leaves and any other organic material that will decompose quickly. This decomposed material re- - gardens, due to poor physical conditions of the soil. This is primarily a result of low organic matter in their garden soils. Garden waste material can be converted in many ways into a black, fragrant, crumbly, partially decomposed organic residue called a compost. A compost is the best way to improve a garden's physical properties by the addition of organic matter. extension cord By Halcyon Robins, USU Extension Home More Tips Next Week But Remember: Never mix chlorine bleach (or any cleaner with chlorine as an ingredient) with ammonia or any other cleaner!! ' Consumers who use a combination of a cold rinse, normal washer spin time and a dryer setting for a normal dryness level pay only has as much to dry clothes (22 cents per load) as those who utilize a warm rinse, half the normal spin time and an extra dry- commercial products. products often are less expensive but require time to prepare. Many cleaning products are basic ingredients that have been perfumed and packaged in bottles or aerosol cans. These products may cost more but take less time to prepare. Read labels of commercial products carefully, since many products are abrasive and damage surfaces.' Try your own home-carproducts. You may like them better! , Home-create- d ness setting (44 cents a load). (Energy costs are based on 7.63 cents per KWH and include cost of pre-mixe- heating water for the warm rinse.) The savings can grow to over $80.00 a year when the cold rinse, normal spin time and normal dryer setting nation is used. This data was collected at Virginia Tech in July and August 1981. The study was designed to determine the effects of washer-rinstemperature, final washer spin time and dryer setting on the energy consumption of a household electric clothes dryer. To test the water temperature of a washing machine, set the machine at the wash cycle and the hot setting. Let the water run until it is hot (about 1 minute). Hold an 8 ounce glass at the source of water as it is entering the washer. Collect a full glass of water, put a candy or meat thermometer in the glass and get the water temperature. Test the wash water temperature also at the warm and cold setting. Many people have turned down their water e e General Household Geaners Try this homemade cleaner: 1 T ammonia, 1 T liquid detergent, 2 C water. Mix and use for general household cleaning. My be put in a spray bottle. Windows and Mirrors Try one of the following solutions: 1. Add 1 T household ammonia to 1 qt. of warm water (for heavy greasy soil inside windows) 2. Add 2 T vinegar to 1 quart warm water (for water spots on outside windows) 3. Use 1 T washing soda to 1 quart of warm water. First remove surface soil with tissue or soft cloth. Then apply cleaning liquid with a soft cloth or sponge. Rub dry and polish with newspaper or cloth. Avoid spilling ammonia on painted or varnished woodwork, as it may injure finish. Weather Geaner a one gallon container: , 1 pint rubbing alcohol 1 T ammonia 1 T liquid detergent Fill container with water. Use as a window spray. This helps steaming and heaters to conserve energy. Wash water that is below 120 deg. wil not give as clean a wash as items washed at 120 degrees or more. 140 deg. is suggested for heavily soiled clothes. Here is an excellent recipe from Evelyn Kerr, our 4 H foods key leader that we thought was excellent! All LICORICE CARAMELS Mix in freezing. For Outside Windows Only: Fill pail 12 full with warm water. ADD: 2-T laundry or dishwasher 3 detergent. 1 T liquid Jet Dry" or other dishwasher wettting agent. Brush or sponge on window. Immediately hose off. Water will sheet off, no drying necessary. Caution: Be sure windows are tightly closed!! ' can Bordens Eagle Brand milk 1 C butter 1 12 C white Karo syrup 2 C sugar 14 tsp. salt Cook and stir constantly in a heavy pan over medium heat to 234 deg. T ake off stove and add: 1 tsp. licorice or anise oil 1 tsp. black paste food coloring Pour into buttered 9x13" pan to cool. Turn out on board and cut and wrap in wax paper squares. 1 must do something" will solve more must be problems than something done." I soil. home owner may consider putting the compost in a screened area. The compost area need not be unattractive and enclosures are often made with railroad ties or constructed of lumber and screening. Gardeners have found the best way to build a compost pile is to put a mixture of green and dry materials together. Grass, clippings, green weeds, lettuce leaves, pea vines and other succulent material provide sugar and protein that are excellent for bacteria. Dry materials such as twigs, leaves, and A . Economist From our Bulletin on Housecleaning on a shoestring by Marilyn Noyes, Family Resource Management Specialist, we have the following information to help you with your "spring" cleaning. Cleaning on a shoestring can be apfrom the stand- proached two ways point of time or money. You can create your own home-car- e products or buy suiting from composting provides an inexpensive way to increase your garden soil fertility. This will serve in many ways the same purpose as peat moss. Composted materials add much to the soil. They improve soil workability, provide nitrogen and other nutrients through decomposition, and also increase the water holding capacity of the sawdust contain very little nitrogen and will decompose very slowly unless mixed with moist material. The best results for a compost pile is to layer the organic material about 6 inches thick. Between the layers sprinkle 12 pound of complete fertilizer such as for every square foot of area. This will increase the microbe 0 activity and hasten decomposition. Also, include a few shovelfulls of garden soil to keep the litter in place and provide additional microorganisms. If your material is dry, add water. The compost should be moist and watered every 4 days. Make additional layers the same way until a height of 3 or 4 feet is reached. The amount of dry woody material will affect the rate of decomposition. However, under normal conditions the composing material would be turned weeks after you start it. This every turning will enhance decomposition. 3-- 4 |