recycling
This is what 3 cubic metres of compost looks like

I recently ordered a large delivery of compost, to be mainly used in the guerrilla gardened space behind our house. Much of that soil is heavily depleted, and I wanted to give our fruit trees the fastest rate of growth this year.
Why order such a big pile? For the simple reason that it cost $51/m3 to buy in bulk (plus a delivery charge), compared to $9 (or more) per 40L bag if purchased at a garden centre (or Bunnings for that matter). And a it takes a lot of 40L bags to make up a cubic metre of compost. That’s a big saving!
This time around, I purchased the compost from Australian Native Landscapes, who have a nice range of recycled products.
We ordered “RE-CARB® ESSENSE”, which is described as:
Humus rich, 100% organic compost is specifically designed to build soild carbon levels and soil microbial activity. Apply 75mm and dig into tired, nutrient poor soils. Suitable for all plants, this compost is particulary beneficial for phosphorous sensitive Australian natives.
That matched exactly what we needed! In general, I really like the idea of using recycled coffee grounds, Sydney sewage, wood chips, etc to make compost. Much better than going into a tip…
Tea infusers good for the garden
As seen on the Madame Flavour teas website, describing how their special tea bags (“infuser pods”) can be recycled:
Put several used infuser pods in the bottom of a hanging basket or pot, then put the soil over them. When you water the plant, the water is stored in the pods, a natural form of water-storing granule, reducing the need to water.
The same thing for new garden beds – perfect for water restrictions. And the tea puts minerals back into the soil as it breaks down.
Use infuser pods to plant seeds in. It saves on compost and you can plant straight into the ground.
I usually chuck our used tea bags into the compost, but these ideas sound much more creative!