For garden 'gold,' pile compost on

How can you improve your soil condition, improve its drainage, feed plants organically, recycle landscape and garden debris, turn kitchen scraps into plant nutrients and create one heck of a soil to plant your container gardens in this year? With compost.

Compost is simply an end product to the process by which billions of microbes work to decompose and recycle grass clippings, plant debris, small twigs, thatch, leaves, various kitchen scraps , pine needles, manure, sawdust, straw , wood chips or old mulch into usable organic matter. It's a dark, nutrient-rich, organically plant-friendly fertilizer that is often referred to as "black gold."

There are two categories of recyclable debris, "greens" and "browns." The greens include fresh kitchen scraps such as vegetable/fruit peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, green plant debris, manure, old flower bouquets, grass clippings, etc. The greens basically provide nitrogen.

The browns tend to be dry and bulkier and as a result provide air passages throughout the pile for the microbes to breathe: autumn leaves, straw, wood chips, broken up branches, sawdust, egg shells, dryer lint, old mulch, etc. Browns'provide a food/energy source for microbes. A well- balanced compost pile is roughly a 50-50 combination of each. What you want to steer away from adding is diseased plants, meat scraps, bones, human waste, cat litter, dog feces, chemically treated wood, invasive weeds, weeds that have gone to seed and hay.

As for the worker microbes, they are living organisms; thus they require both air and moisture. A well-balanced mix that is turned several times while it's breaking down ensures good air circulation. The needed moisture comes from the moist greens and supplemental water that you or the skies provide; the rule of thumb is your pile should be "as wet as a wrung-out sponge."

What you decide to use to make your compost in is up to you. You can buy a pre-made bin or box, construct your own (there are many design ideas on the web) or go simple like me and just make a pile. A properly maintained and functioning compost pile does not smell, so don't be afraid to locate it where it's convenient to get to; otherwise, you'll end up not utilizing it. As for sun or shade, that makes no difference at all.

To get started, layer your materials; starting with a 6-inch or so layer of browns, preferably small broken twigs or wood chips to allow good air circulation along the bottom, then any browns will do in subsequent layers. Next, layer 6 inches of greens. Remember, these should be "sponge moist." For the next layer, add about 1 inch of garden soil. This introduces microbes to your pile. If adding manure, add it as the next layer, 3 inches deep. Repeat layers until bin is full or pile is at least 4 feet high and wide.

A working pile is one that begins to settle or collapse down in about a week and with an internal temperature around 140 to 160 degrees. This temperature range is optimum for microbe activity. In about 4 weeks, turn the pile with a pitchfork, adding water if needed. Check temperature weekly, turn again when it falls below 140 degrees (composting thermometers are available at garden centers). Piles high in grass and leaves tend to compact and slow down decomposition. so keep tabs on the temperature and mix weekly. Your compost should be ready in about 2-4 months; winter slows the decay process; summer quickens it.

Uses for your homemade black gold include tilling or mixing it into your soil to improve drainage in clay soil and water retention in sandy soil. If you have a few bare spots in your lawn, before seeding mix a generous amount of compost into the soil, level it off and then seed. Once you get a sizable amount made, use it as mulch to help retain soil moisture and prevent weeds from growing. Even try mixing it with an equal part of water, then allow it to set a few hours; the "tea" that results is outstanding when used in place of water-soluble fertilizers and the "sludge" that's left at the bottom of the bucket is great for working into the soil around the base of your plants.

Burn pile caused 2011 Ruth fire

Investigators looking into the damaging Sept. 23, 2011, Ruth fire have concluded that the blaze was caused by an escaped fire from a debris pile burn on private property.

The U.S. Forest Service recently released the heavily redacted investigative report, in which all names are blacked out.

The Ruth fire burned 1,452 acres of national forestland and private property, four residences and 27 outbuildings, and caused evacuations of the area. The fire was contained Sept. 29 and controlled Oct. 3.

“The Ruth fire cost approximately four and one half million dollars to suppress and rehabilitate,” the report states.

The Forest Service and Cal Fire investigated the blaze.

“Investigators determined the cause of the Ruth fire to be an escaped debris pile burning on private property adjacent to National Forest lands,” the report states.

The investigative team determined the fire originated on private property on Upriver Road. Likely using fuel and stick matches, the property owner had lit debris piles on his property that day, which, it was noted, was not an authorized allowable burn day in Ruth or the surrounding area. The property owner had been trying to clean his property, which the report described as well kept. However, the report stated, he “burned debris piles during a period of high fire danger and hot dry weather conditions.”

The property owner acknowledged that his debris pile burn could have started the Ruth fire and that a pile he lit in the morning could have reignited around lunch time, according to the report.

The owner said he saw the fire, about the size of a pickup truck, and tried to stop it before it escaped his property, the report states. Furthermore, the report stated that the property owner had experienced a fire escape his control on his property about three years prior to the Ruth fire.

“The investigation team determined (the property owner) made a poor decision to burn debris piles within adverse fire and weather conditions,” the report states. “Specifically, the debris pile of origin, surrounded by continuous low cut dry light vegetation (grass) in contact with a burning wood debris pile.”

The case was referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District, which declined criminal prosecution, citing absence of evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

“We have submitted it to our civil side,” said Daryl Rush, Forest Service assistant special agent in charge of investigations in the North State. “They will be communicating with the person responsible trying to recover restitution costs.”

Corporate cash pile seen as boon for M&A

In a report, Moody’s said cash and liquid investment had risen 3% since 2010 to hit $1.24 trillion by the end of 2011, a 50% rise in just five years.

Moody’s said that spending by companies on capital investment and dividends was steady at between 9% and 10% of aggregate revenues. Spending on share buybacks and acquisitions was far more volatile as they are linked to the macroeconomic environment and business confidence.

Last year companies spent $329bn on acquisitions, 29% more than in 2010 but much less than the record $439bn in 2007, according to the report.

Moody's said: “While subject to opportunistic lumpiness and macro-economic sensitivities, we believe M&A activity will remain a significant use of corporate financial resources as companies look to expand operations, acquire new technologies and better position themselves for global growth opportunities.”

Apple, Microsoft, Cisco, Google and Pfizer are the five US companies that hold the most cash at a combined $276bn, up from $207bn in 2010.

Although the majority of US public companies do not explicitly report the amount of cash they hold overseas, these five companies disclosed that they held $229 billion or more than three-quarters of their cash overseas. Moody’s estimates that nearly $700bn, or 57% of the total cash pile, is held outside the US.

The report said: “These amounts reflect the relative strength of most emerging market economies over the last few years, the negative tax consequences of permanently repatriating money to the US, and the disproportionate consumption of cash for domestic purposes, such as dividends, share buybacks and the majority of acquisitions.

"Unless there is permanent tax reform that lowers taxes on overseas profits, we expect the absolute and proportionate amount of cash held overseas will continue to rise.”

Thanks to their huge piles of cash, companies do not need to issue as much debt to fund acquisitions or they can just their money parked overseas for deals as Microsoft did last year in its $8.5bn purchase of Luxembourg-based internet phone company Skype.

Moody’s said: “As a result, over the last year, there have been many instances where companies made acquisitions and maintained their credit ratings thanks to the high proportion of existing cash (or common stock) they used to fund the acquisition.”

The technology sector has the most cash at $384bn, with approximately $270bn overseas, an amount which Moody’s expects to grow.

US equity strategists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report yesterday that the balance sheets and dividend policies of companies in the US technology sector remain very conservative. They estimated that US tech companies hold $400bn in gross cash, and said it is the only sector holding more cash on its balance sheets than debt.

The BoA report said: “Net cash to market cap for the sector is 7% compared to net debt to market cap of 15% for the non-financials. Meanwhile, tech’s dividend payout ratio of 18% is the lowest of any sector and just over half that of the overall S&P 500. This puts tech in the best position to issue debt at low rates, buy back shares, raise dividends and/or make acquisitions.”

The analysts said many tech companies could increase shareholder value simply by using some of this firepower but that cash levels in this sector have been high for more than a decade.

Schools close or delay opening as March snow returns

Across the region, schools closed or delayed opening Tuesday morning as yet another round of March snowfall coated the Northwest overnight. Late winter storms on March 1 and March 5 also dusted some low-lying areas with a trace or more of snow.

Lincoln County along the coast was hit hard overnight by the snow, which sent cars into ditches and brought down power lines. A check of power utility websites revealed only scattered outages to less than 200 customers around the region early Tuesday following the widespread outages on Monday.

Snow also fell in Portland into the morning Tuesday as the temperature dropped to 35 degrees at 6 a.m. Wet snow continued to fall in many areas around Portland as the morning went on but for the most part, major roads remained clear while side streets saw some light accumulation or were just slushy.

KATU Meteorologist Joe English said snow could continue to fall in showers at lower elevations Tuesday morning but will likely turn to rain after 9 a.m. as temperatures rise. Later in the day, the region could even dry out but unsettled conditions might bring thunderstorms to the coast and inland valleys, English said.

Locations above 1,500 feet will likely continue to get snow in showers and mountain passes could see 10 inches of snow, English added. Coast Range passes could also see more snow Tuesday.

ODOT and City of Portland road crews were on task overnight keeping roads clear of snow and few delays or problems were reported Tuesday morning. TriMet officials said 10 to 15 buses serving upper elevation routes were chained up.

Early in the evening Monday, snow began to fall on the beach in Seaside and by 11 p.m., two inches had accumulated on the sand. It was still snowing in Lincoln City at 11 p.m., accumulating 1.5 inches. The big winner, however, was Tillamook where four inches of the white stuff had accumulated. Newport had nearly as much snow, as well.

Around the Portland area, lower elevations also had snow on the ground Tuesday morning while upper elevations had 1 to 2 inches. Most major roadways remained only wet while some side streets had slushy conditions. However, coastal roadways were "a mess" according to KATU Traffic reporter Michael Convery.

Low pressure off the Oregon coast moved inland overnight, lowering temperatures and bringing snow to the region. On Tuesday, English said unsettled conditions could bring thunderstorms into the region during the day while snow tails off most places. An avalanche warning is in effect until 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Cascades.

KATU Meteorologist Dave Salesky said Monday’s storm was the strongest since late last fall.

Winds were clocked at about 90 mph on the coast on Monday and up to 55 mph in the Willamette Valley, Salesky said. Winds tapered off into the evening hours Monday.

The winds knocked out power to more than 17,000 PGE customers at one point Monday, with thousands still without power into the early evening. By late evening, crews were still working to restore power to about 800 customers. Only a handful of customers were in the dark Tuesday morning.

At higher elevations above 1,500 feet on Monday, falling snow created slick conditions in mountain passes, including in the Coast Range. More snow fell there overnight and combined with downed trees, closed some roads, including sections of Highway 101 and Highway 20 along the coast, according to ODOT.

Oregon State Police said a trooper was involved in a crash Monday on Highway 26 near Elsie. The trooper was unable to avoid hitting a 1997 Mercedes sedan that was sliding in "heavy snow road conditions." One person in the Mercedes had a minor injury, OSP said.

Another driver escaped injury on Highway 26 when his van slid off a snow-covered road and down an embankment. Photos of the two crashes

“I was slowing down to help another guy that I saw stuck on the side of the road and I lost control,” said Will Diehl. “It didn’t matter if I turned left, right, gas, break – it went that way and then it went down .”

In Salem, a large tree fell on several cars parked outside Saint Paul's Episcopal Church. It did major damage to two cars. Two other cars got banged up. No one was hurt.

The wind brought down a lot of trees and power lines in Beaverton, including one at Southwest Davies and Sorrento that fell on a power line, even breaking the pole.

In Tigard, a tree fell on top of a house. No one was hurt but neighbors said it caused quite a commotion.

“I heard a big crash,” said Brandon Bruce. “It woke me up from sleeping, and I came out and saw the tree on the roof of the house next door – went over and nobody was home.”

SA embassy ready to help blast victims

The South African embassy in the Republic of Congo is ready to help South Africans affected by the recent munitions dump blasts in Brazzaville, the international relations department said on Monday.

“The mission is assisting every South African who needs to come back home as in any country with a disaster of this magnitude,” said spokesman Clayson Monyela.

South Africans can approach the embassy if they need consular assistance after the blasts in the munitions dump on March 4, which killer over 200 people.

An electrical short circuit and fire at the dump, situated close to houses and schools, was powerful enough to destroy nearby buildings.

South African-based organisation Gift of the Givers said the thousands who were wounded sustained severe burns, and major trauma. Some had to have amputations.

“Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, represents a war zone with thousands of homes, businesses and two churches destroyed,” according to a statement posted on the charity's facebook page.

Windows shattered four kilometres away and people were trapped under rubble. An initial aid package including tents, blankets, food, water, medicines, surgical supplies and new clothing was being organised by Gift of the Givers. A team of rescuers and medical trauma experts would accompany the organisation to the site.

The Star reported that South African Judith Obambe had to flee her home with her daughters Genevieh, Kay-Lynne and Shawneleih.

“First the walls caved in around us. Then the roof collapsed,” Obambe told the newspaper.

People were running in the streets screaming “bomb, bomb” and a man on a military bike warned them to run. When they returned to their home it had been destroyed.

They would go back to Cape Town while Obambe's husband Fulgence and their daughter Shawneleih will remain in Brazzaville to rebuild their life.

Associated Press reported that only 159 of the bodies were ready for a mass funeral on Sunday.