cidster, the very first thing you're going to want to do is start your compost pile. What kind of a spot do you have for it?

thx annpat for the post--i have a good sized yard and a spot that may work for my needs--will build a bin of wire and plastic --is there anything else i need to do/know to get started??

You can start the composting tomorrow morning, cid. (May I call you cid?) Your coffee basket or your teabag can be thrown in the corner of your yard where you intend to start your pile. Tomorrow night, you can toss your carrot peelings and your potato peelings and the tops off your strawberries that went in your desert (You're in Zone 10, so you're eating strawberries already, right dammit?) Maybe you'll mow your lawn this week? Get junk mail? Find a bale of hay on the side of the road?

Mulch? We'll talk about that tomorrow. It's 11:33 here in Maine. I'll tell you this, though, 'cause it's confusing. Mulch always goes on top and mulching is a wonderful thing to do---and the best mulch is not purchased.

Cid,
I made a list of 201 things to compost - see link below - may get you started thinkin'!
All the Best, Tree

Here is a link that might be useful: 201 Compost ingredients

I always start new compost piles with a loaf of moldy bread....

coffee grinds and some old burger rolls will be in the pile this am-- thanks all again for the great info

melonhedd, you're making all of us sick, man! And look how you've undone all my good! I quote: "old burger rolls will be in the pile this am!!"
Is that some sick joke, cid? (May I call you cid?)

to annpat---feel free to call me cid any time..me and my new pile enjoy the tender care that we both get on here..does it matter if the rolls and bagels were placed in my food processor first or do you think the solid roll would have been better??

tongue firmly imPLANTed in cheek

cid, cid, cid (I'm shaking my head), you aren't going to be a bad influence, are you? A bad seed? A rotten apple? A rebel, an upstart, a rabble rouser? A troublemaker? You aren't going to set a bad example, are you? Lead others down the garden path?

I hope I'm not going to have to report you and melonhedd for making people sick.