Pathway Sheet Composting

by Jacki
(Grand Forks, B.C.)

Raised beds have long been advocated as an economical use of your garden space – but what about the pathways in between them?

You mulch the raised beds once the seedlings are up and growing, and sometimes you have too much mulch to use it all. Sheet composting in the pathways packs a one-two punch – putting the larger compostable scraps such as corn cobs, old hay or straw, chicken pen compost or even wood chips from the highway pruning crew will not only keep weed seeds from germinating, it helps maintain the moisture levels close by the raised bed so that roots can reach it, and walking and wheelbarrowing up and down the pathways helps break down the mulch.

You’ll be amazed at the earthworm activity underneath it when you turn it and put it onto the raised beds at the end of the season, and letting your backyard chickens scratch in it will eliminate any wireworms, slugs or other creepy crawlies.