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Blue Butterfly - Composting the Dark side of gardening

Philosophers often ask … if a tree falls in the forest and no-one is
around to hear it, does it make a sound? The question is apparently de-
signed to encourage thought experimentation and challenge conventional
observation and perception. Personally, I think philosophers should get
out of their armchairs and go gardening more often to expand on their
existential thinking… and I can tell you that when a giant Motsaodi Tree
(Garcinia livingstonei, African mangosteen) falls in your garden and hits
your house it certainly does make a noise … and you certainly notice it.

The drought of 2018-2019 killed several large mature trees in our garden and the high gusting
winds in September this year did for us that which we had so far avoided thinking about … it
brought down our beloved garden giant. This tragedy again highlighted the importance of
composting to me … the idea that the products of my garden will end up on my compost heaps,
from the wood of my majestic tree to the common humble fallen leaf, comforts me as we few
tend the dark process that turns horticultural and domestic organics into the black gold that will
feed so many future plants in the light.
Take your pick of most religions or philosophies and somewhere you will find a reference to the
circle of life, the wheel that turns for us all, the dark and the light, the idea that what goes around
comes around and that we are all bound to the earth from dust to dust. Once the tears dried up
and the arborical clean-up operation was over, once the sound of axes and chainsaws faded away
after the dark and gruesome business of cutting up the trunk body and branches, I could console
myself with the thought that a portion of my beloved tree would be added to my compost heap
to participate in a form of resurrection gardening. The process of making your own compost is
not some Jedi mind trick … it is a natural process that we manipulate in our favour to produce
organic rich soil in a relatively short period and in desired quantities.
I think that variety is the spice of life so I add anything and everything that even looks like it will
rot to my compost heaps, except meat and bones … and I have four simple rules for building
effective compost heaps. Situate your compost heaps somewhere with adequate shade, space and
access to moisture. Create a base of rough wood and branches on a well-drained surface for ade-
quate aeration and drainage. Add your desired organic and recyclable material in layers rather than
clumps. And in all things… add everything in moderation.
Goodbye old friend, we’ll see you again in your next life in the compost that will feed the thou-
sands of new shining leaves and bright blooms … and we’ll think of you and remember our be-
loved giant that sheltered us and nurtured our senses for so many years. by Petra Strydom
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