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Vegetable Garden Preparation Recipe

Ingredients

  • This year I found a great tool, a wide mouth leaf shredder. I wasn’t sure it would take care of the Plain tree leaves, it worked well. I found it on Amazon for $149.00, no tax, no shipping. Three weeks later it is now $199.00. How can they justify $50 increase in this economy? Maybe if enough people complain they will get the price back to where it should be for a weed eater turned upside down. shopping list
  • It is easier to till leaves in the soil if the leaves are shredded. Once tilled in, the trillions of microbes in my soil (I don’t have dirt) will turn them into fine compost ready for this spring planting. As you can see the rows are straight and deep beckoning for plants. In the spring I will spread fertilizer on the rolls and till once more. There isn’t much that feels better than in the spring to walk bare foot behind the tiller in warm soil that is like fluff and feel the earth that will give life to succulent vegetables. shopping list
  • The tiller is a Mary Tiller purchased 37 years ago, has it third transmission and third engine. It also has the second set of tines which had its edges protected from wear by welding carbide to the tines. I hadn’t realized I had actually worn off 2 inches of steel over the years. My neighbor whom I garden with calls it the beast as it has 2 extra sets of tines and cuts a 36 inch path. Put the drag bar as low as possible and hang on. shopping list

How to make it

  • As a designer of products this shredder is not a bad item, it serves the purpose. You will find many comments on the assembly and it was an interesting item to figure out how it went together. I just wasn’t sure it would handle the large 6 inch Plains tree leaves. On the coarse setting it operated well. On smaller leaves it works well, it will not eat branches. It cuts with .80 plastic line and comes with 24 extra lines. The line held up reasonable well for the leather leaves it was subjected to. I found it worked best if leaves were floated in, not crammed.
  • Spread a large cloth on the grass and let it work. For the 149.00 it was a great deal, for 199.00, it is still the best shredder for “LEAVES” I have found. My machinist friend and I will try and build the commercial model. Bigger motor and heavier line as I like things that rips it up. For most anyone with a lot leaves this unit will be just fine. Shred on.
The shredder   Close
The box   Close
Another side of box   Close
Ready   Close
Inside   Close
Small piece setting   Close
Large setting   Close
Small pieces   Close
Big pieces   Close
The shredder   Close
Shredded   Close
Big leaf pile   Close
Shredded   Close
Ready to turn   Close
The beast   Close
Tiller tines   Close
Beast teeth   Close
Turned   Close
Nice   Close
Feet print-Final   Close

Reviews & Comments 5

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  • thegoldminer 15 years ago
    Hi Holly, yes you can turn leaves directly into the soil. I have done it 37 years. I use to go around with my pickup and gather bags of leaves and grass to turn in. Leaves will lay on the ground and no about nothing, once turn in soil, the microbes in the soil just love being served dinner. Some nitrogen is lost in the process and I make up for that by applying fertilizer in the spring. I use a lawn type fertilizer, it works wonders. I have dumped hundreds of pounds of turkey and chicken poop in the garden over the years. DO NOT USE STEER MANURE!!!!!!! It has no value, stinks, is so processed it is just smelly nothing and is loaded with salt which will sterilize your soil. Chicken manure in the bag is a better choice although it is mostly compost. So I would still add a fertilizer. One of the things to do is to make sure and put some fertilizer in the hole, not to much or you will burn the roots, mix it in well, and once the plant is in, compost around the plant to hold in moisture.

    If you have bins, throw in some dirt and turn it often. I wouldn't sift anything, it will all break down, well branches will take a few years. Last summer, 20 pounds of cukes every two days from 3 plants, let them go 4 days and there was over 100 pounds! My Roma tomatoes were 4 inches long, tons of Ace tomatoes, so I guess I am doing something right. Hope this helped, any other questions on gardening, just ask, always here to help. Best. JJ

    Yes I had it tested. Good stuff. Yep same fertilizer. Started gathering bunny berries this year (rabbit poop) and put it on the compost so each time I fertilized some leach down into the soil.
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  • lumpy1 15 years ago
    jj, good post on the shredder. i didnt know you can turn the leaves directly into the garden. i have two bins and i dont turn it at all, just leave it longer. this spring i thought id try sifting some of it through a screen over the wheelbarrow. do you get your soil tested, or do you use the same fertilizer every year? holly
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  • thegoldminer 15 years ago
    I know many are deep in snow, we are in a drought out here in Sacramento, so I was lucky to be able to till. This was a info post about how to improve the soil and to let others know a independent view of the product. I was hesitant when first ordering the shredder, in fact I found the company and talked with their engineer. My comments on the pricing still stand. I hope many complain to Amazon about the $50 price increase. JJ
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    " It was excellent "
    pat2me ate it and said...
    JJ....have pity on those of us that are under 2 feet of snow, will ya?

    I can't wait until I can't get my hands dirty in the warm earth again!!!

    Great post. BTW!
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    " It was excellent "
    momo_55grandma ate it and said...
    Sounds good goldminer {Someone else has garden fever. Wish it was spring so I could plant tomatoes corn ect. cant wait. thanks for the info great post.
    Was this review helpful? Yes Flag

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thegoldminer Sacramento, CA

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