Goin' Underground...

My profile says it all. 

I'm trapped in suburbia. 

An HOA-restrictive community, specifically. 

The main lesson we've learned

since moving here is that

it's not for us...

I long for property

where I can do what I want without

asking "permission" from any Board.

Growing things organically, especially veggies,

is something that I feel strongly about.

We've already had several citations

regarding things around our property

relating to our landscaping.  Using rain barrels,

the unwillingness to spray pesticides to

control weeds or feed our lawn, and

reducing the size of the turf area

are all issues we've had to defend

here on our humble 1/4 acre of land.

Clouding my thoughts and vision with those

who don't agree or appreciate what I'm trying to do

is not the way I choose to spend my time or energy.

Until we are able to sell our house and move,

I'm trying to work within the rules of

the community.  It ain't easy...

One dilemma that I've

been pondering for a while now is how to keep a

compost pile without offending any of

my less open-minded neighbors.

I've come up with something.

It's not ideal, but it'll do for now.

A gardener's gotta do what a gardener's gotta do.

=

I dug out a hole in one of the back beds.

I placed a leftover plastic pot (a not-too-pretty one)

in the hole.

 I filled it with about a week's worth of food scraps,

newspaper and a little dirt.

I covered it with pine straw mulch. 

Unless you're looking for it, it's not easy to find.

At first I thought about just adding the pots 
to the garden bed, but I thought they might look funny 
with nothing ever growing out of them.  I haven't figured it all out yet, 
but I'm just trying to make do with what I can.  
It really bothers me to throw out scraps 
that I know can feed the earth.  

Part of

becoming more self-sustaining is taking care of the soil.

I know how valuable compost is and I feel the need to

make an attempt at making our own.

An added bonus is that we cut down our bags

of trash per week from 3 to 2 or maybe even one!

Life is about balance.  The beginning of that balance

is staying true to what you believe.  It's not always

been easy to do here in suburbia.  But until
we can move on to "greener" pastures, we make do.
One thing I know for sure is...

~Going against the grain has made me one strong chick.~