Frugal Mom Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Frugal Gardening’

Hi there. This is Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man.” Composting is a great way to reduce what heads to the landfill and also the amount of fertilizer you need to buy for your garden. You can turn just about any table scraps or cooking leftovers into compost, but remember not to add in any meat products (it will make your compost stink and could attract rodents!).

I am a fan of the rotating bin style of composter, which resembles a barrel on a stand.  You open the lid and insert your scraps and then rotate it to help it all meld together.  Banana peels, coffee grounds, and leftover cereal — all make a great foundation for your new super fertilizer.  After about a month you can open up your composter and dump the contents into a wheelbarrow or buckets.  Use this in your vegetable garden or flower garden and mix in with the top 4-6” of soil.  There will be an odor for about a day or so but once you water it and give it some time your plants will be smiling. It’s a great way to save green by going green!

About the Author

Lou Manfredini is a nationally recognized DIY expert, sought after both for his expertise and his energetic, entertaining style. In an extension of his ongoing effort to help people maximize the value and enjoyment of their homes, he is also Ace Hardware’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and editorial media spokesperson. Along with his wife and four children, Manfredini lives in Chicago, where they also own and operate a neighborhood Ace Hardware store.