Hey everyone! Elias here.
This year, I’ve really focused on deepening my connection with my backyard, not just as a place to grow vegetables, but as a small ecosystem that can provide for us in wonderful ways. Two practices have really transformed my gardening and my kitchen table: composting and keeping backyard chickens.
Turning Waste into Garden Gold: Composting
I used to think of kitchen scraps and yard trimmings as just ‘trash.’ Now, I see them as valuable resources. Composting is a simple process, and it’s made a huge difference in the health and richness of my garden soil. It’s honestly one of the most rewarding things I do.
How it works: You essentially create the right conditions for organic materials to break down. Think of it as nature’s recycling program. I have a simple three-bin system in a corner of my yard. I toss in vegetable peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, leaves, grass clippings, and even shredded newspaper. The key is to balance ‘greens’ (like kitchen scraps and grass clippings, which provide nitrogen) and ‘browns’ (like dead leaves and cardboard, which provide carbon).
The magic: Over time, with a little turning to add air, these materials decompose into a dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich material – compost! My plants absolutely love it. I’ve noticed better water retention in the soil, fewer weeds, and more vigorous growth since I started amending my beds with compost regularly.
It’s not about perfection. If you forget to turn it for a bit, it’ll still break down, just maybe a little slower. The goal is to keep it moist, like a wrung-out sponge, and to have a good mix of greens and browns.
Fresh Eggs and Happy Hens: Backyard Chickens
Beyond the soil, I’ve also welcomed a small flock of backyard chickens into my life. If you’re thinking about it, let me tell you, the rewards are fantastic – and it’s more practical than you might think.
The practicalities: Getting started involves a coop for shelter and protection, a nesting box for laying eggs, and a safe place for them to roam. I chose a breed known for being friendly and good layers, which makes them great companions. Daily care involves providing them with fresh water, food (a good quality layer feed, supplemented with kitchen scraps – they love my compost-ready veggie peels!), and checking on their well-being.
The rewards: The most obvious reward is the freshest eggs you can imagine. The taste is incredible, and knowing exactly what your chickens eat (and don’t eat) is a wonderful feeling. Beyond the eggs, they’re also great at pest control in the garden, gobbling up slugs and bugs. Plus, watching them scratch and peck is surprisingly relaxing!
It’s a learning process, for sure. There are always new things to discover about caring for them. But the connection to where our food comes from, the joy of fresh eggs, and the added fertility they bring to the garden through their droppings (which I compost too!) makes it all incredibly worthwhile.
This year, my backyard feels more alive than ever, buzzing with both beneficial insects and happy hens, all fueled by the cycle of compost and fresh produce. It’s a simple way to live a little more sustainably and enjoy the bounty right outside my door.