compost 101 - Page 4

[LambQueen]

This is a great thread, I am so glad that I found it. I have been doing research in general on the web and haven't found other discussions likes this. And I didn't really realize about keeping the kitchen scraps covered all the time with leaves, grass, etc. I was about to go out and do it the cheap way with the Rubbermaid garbage can (and drill some holes) and just throw in the scraps with some twigs on the bottom, but now I realize I need to think about this more seriously. I dont' want the possibility of flies, as we have a small back yard that I hope to have a baby blow up pool in this summer.

I was curious about what thoughts are on garbage disposals - I know it's not composting, but what are the composter who can't currently compost thoughts on these appliciances (the ones installed in your sink).

I hate throwing away all of those organic kitchen wastes, and I have 3 ziplock bags full in the freezer I have been saving for the week - but seeing that I'm expecting in about a month, I don't think I am going to be able to go out and do this project. Also I don't know how the landlord would feel. Also, we don't have any lawn scraps! I'm so sad I am realizing that composting right now isn't in the cards for us...

[Alvie]

hey there...also new to this thread...
we just built a great 3 bin wooden compost pile, and everythings going well (apart from some flies, but I'll start using the covering method)

I was just wondering, we don't use all organic produce at home (cost prohibitive) and we do throw our conventionally farmed peels on the pile. Would this just add all those pesticides and nasty sprays back into our veggie garden? Is this a no-no if you want healthier organic veggies?
Do the pesticides break down or dissipate with time?

I reckoned that as long as we don't spray our veggies directly then they should be okay...what do you all think?

[Rach]

We're new to composting.
My boyfriend actually grew up with a compost pile, but they lived up in the middle of nowhere, so the compost was just a big pile away from the house.
We live in the city, and the houses are built rather close to the neighbor's houses.
We've started a compost using the outside stuff and kitchen scraps. We are using a rubbermaid trashcan w/ holes in it : and so far, it's looking quite good, everything seems to be breaking down nicely and the smell isn't bad at all.

[zaftigmama]

Hi! I'm a new composter - I've been interested in starting since we moved back into our house (after a house fire last year) and have been following this thread with great interest.

I found that our DPW sells earth machine compost bins for about $20 and got one yesterday. I have been saving veggie and fruit scraps for a month and have plenty of yard waste, so I'm hoping it won't be too hard to get a nice pile going.

Hopfully next year I'll have a good amount of compost and can start gardening with it - we need some new landscaping around here.

Thanks for all of the information!
Take care,

[eilonwy]

Wow, a compost thread!

I've got some questions. I started composting with a pile in the yard: old horse manure (we have friends who keep horses) and apple peels. I covered it with a little bit of dirt and just left it.

1. Are the wooden pallets/plastic containers really necessary for a fairly small pile? I don't think I have space for the shipping pallet composter (though if I can get some I will certainly try gardening with them as raised beds ).

2. My pile is very small and when we had a few cold days it froze straight through. It was also covered in snow for a while (we got about 8 inches, and will probably get more in Jan & Feb). How do you turn it when it's frozen? Is that necessary?

3. When you say "green" vs. "brown," what do you mean? How about "hot" vs. "really hot?" How hot does a compost pile ideally need to be?

4. What do you do if you can't get sawdust, wood chips, or anything like that for your pile? Are those things necessary?

5. I've always been told that you *shouldn't* put eggshells into a compost pile. Can I do this?!

[Michelle Leigh]

Originally Posted by Chanley

Here is an article I wrote on the subject, hope this helps.



The Dirt on Composting
My favorite way of constructing a compost pile is to use pallets. Shipping pallets are made of untreated lumber (it is important NOT to use treated lumber, it can leach harmful chemicals into your compost pile). Rather than nail them together, take some bungee cords and hold the 4 pallets together. Then add a bottom made of chicken wire OR line the bottom of the pile with twigs.

Thanks for the info., as I moved to the city and needed a way to compost! I cannot stand putting kitchen scraps in the garbage. (Such a waste.) This is very helpful!

I'm off to find more bungee cords and some pallets. That way my scraps won't be in a pile in the yard (which dh can't stand. He wants them in a container.) Okay.

[sapphire_chan]

I've got my "bin" set up, I'm just using 4 metal stakes and plastic anti-rabbit fencing. Now for the not-so-fun part--hauling all the leaves that were mulching my garden into the pile!

[QueeTheBean]

This is going to be my summer project with the DSs this year.

I have 2 questions, too.

What is the advantage to having a 2- or 3-bin structure, as some have said they have?

I have a gardening book & it shows a picture of a composting bin that has a little plastic roof on it. What's up with that? Is it OK to do? I imagine if it doesn't have a roof, the pile would get hugely wet wet wet during a real spring soaker.

[Mary-Beth]

I'm new to composting and just saw this thread too...
I bought a bin with a lid from the county.

I've been filling it with kitchen scraps (no meat) and also with the bedding to our guinea pig cage. I have a ton of flies and some maggots...when I open the lid the flies are all over. I don't notice any foul smells. The lid doesn't seem to be latching on properly - is that the problem? Are all these flies normal? Anything I can do?
How long does it take before I should see any compost/dirt?


As a side note- my dd1 is so interested in composting! We set it up together and take all the stuff out at the end of the day. She plays a compost game too where she pretends to decompose!! It's so cute!

[GruppieGirl]

New to composting...



A lot of people on this thread have talked about having too much green material.

What about adding newspaper?

I have heard that newspaper is a great brown material. Especially in the summer months when we are knee-deep in grass clippings and old veggies.

[emilys_mom1]

Right now, I buy 1/2 organic and 1/2 not. If I want to have a totally organic veggie garden, should I only compost the organic stuff and put the rest down the sink??????

anyone know???

[Michelle Leigh]

I'd put only organic, as I want the soil to be made up of pure contents.

[jenoline]

My compost bin (an Earth Machine) has been crawling with maggots the last several days, and today there was a roach sitting on top of the pile . I read the rest of the thread, but I'm not completely sure what I need to do. I'm guessing my mistakes are a) getting the pile too wet (I've been watering somewhat frequently), b) adding too many kitchen scraps and not enough "brown" stuff, and c) not turning it enough.

My question though, is Can I fix it??? If I turn it a bunch, and add lots of leaves, pine straw, etc, will the maggots die and the stuff start to compost properly again? Anything I can do to get rid of the bugs and maggots?

Thanks!

[adoremybabe]

I hope there is enough action in this thread for someone to read my post! I was just reading about not using Poo in your composter if you use your compost in a veggie garden. Does that only pertain to humans and animals who eat meat? We live on a tiny hobby farm and my inlaws put the manure from sheep, goats, and rabbits in the veggie garden every year. Its gross to me but they say it is okay. Should we not be doing this????? Its my garden so I have the say so.

[Mary-Beth]

I don't know...I put our guinea pigs droppings ibn ours....I was told that was fine...so rabbit, sheep, etc should be fine too...but I'm new to this as well.

[Nemmer]

From what I understand, poo from herbivores is fine, but carnivores is not. So sheep, goats, chickens, etc manure should be just fine, and quite helpful to the compost, really!

[SweetAfton]

Subbing!

[Brasilmom]

Originally Posted by jenoline

My compost bin (an Earth Machine) has been crawling with maggots the last several days, and today there was a roach sitting on top of the pile . I

I used to have one of those earth machines long ago and had the same problem.I guess that too much water and the opening will do the trick for the little creatures to propagate. I now just finished making a new compost bin from an used plastic bin. We cut a door, put hinges and latches, my husband made a frame with wheels and it will sit against the wheels so I can easily turn it after every load. I guess the earth amchine was bad because of that too. I could not turn the compost unless taking it all out. I will take a picture of our new compost and post it here.

Have fun and best luck.

[Brasilmom]

Here are the pics of our fresh built composter. We just finished yesterday evening, so as soon as dh gets home from work and are putting it out and loading it for the final test.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...s/DSCN2979.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...s/DSCN2977.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...s/DSCN2981.jpg

[mimiharshe]

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