quote:Originally posted by SuzyQ: Oh, just one more question... I hope! (for now at anyway.) When we're talking about ratios, is it 3:1 by weight?... or is it by mass? It seems like there'd be quite a difference between the two.
I'm really sorry if I'm being a pain in the arse.
Mega Bunches of Appreciation, ~Suze~
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
quote: I'm really sorry if I'm being a pain in the arse.
First off, I want you to know, that never happens around here... You're never being a pain, anywhere's.. when asking a question...
Someone will always be around with a helpin' hand.. anddddddddd, we alllllll started out somewhere's somehow in composting asking questions.. and if you don't ask them, how will you ever know. Or learn...??? And our main goal here also, is not only that you learn, but you then turn around and help others in the spot you are in, once you feel comfortable doing what you've learned, and enough to help others..
And you can add your tips and techniques's if you figure out something that may be easier, faster, etc.. in the process and help us learn...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
SuzyQ it's by mass not weight. Your right it would make a huge difference depending on which scale you were using. Green grass clipping are so much heavier than dry fallen leaves. I think although I could be wrong that it's the amount of moisture the grass is retaining that makes the difference.
I am having the hardest time not getting out and playing in my compost bin. I know most of the material is decomposed and I want to spread it in the garden and mix it with the clay and plant things in it now!!!!!! I have these childish moments from time to time please excuse me.
Hope you are having fun with your compost.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.153.17
quote:I read on a different site yesterday that it's like baking a cake. You don't add the flour one day, and the eggs a few days later, etc.
Great analogy! Only, I do keep adding for a few days. Most of it gets built in a day (unlike Rome) but I do add to it for a few days (even a week or more?) afterwards. At some point I just decide it's time to start a new pile. BUT I would think in winter in Alberta the cake thing would definitely come into play - otherwise you won't get the combo right for it to heat up before it freezes.
quote:So now I'm wondering about all the Greens that come out of my kitchen regularly. Would I be able to freeze them? Then when I have enough to build an entire pile, I could thaw them out and build it with the browns all at once? I guess I'm wondering if freezing the greens would significantly reduce the microbe action or something like that.
That's a really, really great question. I remember having a conversation with one of my health freak friends once about frozen veggies having less nutrients than canned veggies - or something along those lines...I'm guessing that freezing (or thawing out, I'm not sure which) breaks some of the chemical bonds which may deteriorate the quality of the green...but hey, if it's the only way to do it, I'd say go for it. Anyone else have thoughts on froze greens?
quote:PS: I can't believe how much I've reduced my garbage (and the smell) by starting this. What a huge bonus it's turned out to be!
Ain' it the coolest? I know, I know, I keep saying that...but it's true!
quote:I am having the hardest time not getting out and playing in my compost bin.
ME TOO!!!!
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.75
quote:Ain' it the coolest? I know, I know, I keep saying that...but it's true!
lol, Mary!! I LOVE your enthusiastic responses! Hub and kids think I've lost it. But that's okay. It hasn't even snowed yet, and here I'm waiting impatiently for spring already. lol.
quote: I am having the hardest time not getting out and playing in my compost bin.
TK!! That is toooo funny! I jammed a steel rod through the centre of mine to make a hole and tried to talk my 18-yr-old son into sticking his arm in to feel the heat. lol. He gave me one of these... then ran away really fast. I think he's hunting down a straight jacket right now actually.
Perhaps I'll try to get him to read some of these posts so he knows I'm not alone in all this. Plants: 107 | From: Sherwood Park, Alberta | Registered: Jun 2005
| Seeded: 207.35.167.121
posted
Hey Thanks for considering them enthusiastic -- that sounds SO much better than wacko! (Though I'm well aware of the fine line)
Geesh I made a hole in the middle of mine today to feed it some yucky lettuce and man it was steamin like blazes. Woohoo!!! Course it was just 3pm when I was out there - so now all the school kids know which one is the crazy lady their parents told them to stay away from I oughta invite the science class over for a lesson!
Nope, Suze, you're definitely not alone in the crazy exciting world of composting...Tell him to be sure that straight jacket isn't synthetic or it won't break down!
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.75
posted
Can I borrow the straight jacket until Sunday morning sunup? I am having such a hard time not turning the pile mid week. I got the dusty millers and they can be planted in fall in the south so you know I'm going to try some and save some for an indoor start come January and then a few more for a spring start just encase the others don't survive. Well back on topic I'm trying to get enough compost out of the bin this Sunday that it will give me a total of 5 inches of compost for the top of the bulb bed. That will make the allium and the glads very happy and hopefully that means that I will have a really healthy display of flowers next year. And then there is the compost I want to put on top of the fall bed where I want to put the other fall winter and self sowing seeds I have coming. And did I mention wanting to have some for the bed where I had the tomatoes this year.
Ok definitely wacko here too. Just wait until I lift the canna and steal about half of the contain soil and replace it with compost hehehehe.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.51.84
posted
it's Sunday can I turn my compost now? ... 6 more hours!!!!!!! Awwwwwwwwww, in that case I'm going to bed. See you all after I turn the compost lol.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.75.34
posted
Guess what I did this morning. You guessed it. I turned the compost pile. I was a little disappointed. I got 10 gallons of finished compost when I was expecting more like 40 gallons. But what is, is. It was enough to finished the bulb bed so I can plant the dusty millers and the allium when they get here. The others are just going to have to wait a little longer. Fortunately it's early enough that I have lots of time. And if I gather up all the leaves that are falling between now and midweek I'll have a really good excuse for doing a midweek turn lol. I know I am so bad.
Well until next time. Keep that compost cooking lol.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.195.22
posted
Well I gathered up the leaves on half the parkinglot and stuff them in the compost bin and what was left over I put on top of the reserve pile that I have and then mixed that up good. No reason it can't be working while it's waiting to go in the other pile lol. there is still 90% more green than brown there so it's not like its going to finish decomposing while it's waiting. lol. But it's still smaller than it was before I filled the bin back up to the 95% mark lol. I had to leave a little room for new leaves. It is also over burdened with grass and I just don't want to have to deal with a smell and the bin keeps the moisture in very well so smell could easily become a problem.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.195.22
posted
Thought I'd check in and let you know how the straw insulation in going so far. It's dropped below freezing at night already a few times and I've even waken to frost on the ground. Oh well, what can ya do? Anyway, I've had one entire compost heap surrounded by the bales and decided to lay two more across the top the other day. Well this morning I lifted them up and WOW! Lots and lots of steam! You should have seen it all!
With those bales on top, my pile is getting toasty warm right up to the top, so maybe this little winter composting experiment might work out. Here's to hoping. I'll let you know as the year rolls on. And if it doesn't, oh well. It's a fun experiment anyway and it'll continue in the spring regardless.
I just started a second pile too, and it's almost the right size now. I even got lucky and gathered enough leaves so I'll leave the straw out of this one... except for the surrounding bales. I'm curious to see how much faster it breaks down with leaves being the main brown. Lots of pulled up annuals for the green in there as well.
My adult daughter is visiting and thinks the whole thing is pretty darn amazing. Yay! I have a convert! She was picking up warm clumps and saying stuff like, "WOW! Check out the heat on this one!" lol. Now she's going to save all her greens and drop them off whenever she visits. Plus she's got a paper shredder at work that actually cuts it into confetti and is going to chop up a humungous stack of newspapers for me. Looks like a third compost heap for me. lol Hey! I just remembered... she grows a lot of flowers on her balcony. Aha! I see an ulterior motive here.
Hope you're all having a great weekend! I'm planting tulip bulbs today.
I can't thank you all enough for this education. It's a real hoot!
Bye for now ~Suze~
Plants: 107 | From: Sherwood Park, Alberta | Registered: Jun 2005
| Seeded: 207.35.167.127
posted
Well, today I went lasagna-ing out in front of the house. Picked up 2 bales of straw yesterday at a local winery for $4 apiece. Good deal for the size -- they're bigger than the normal 'holiday cubes' and stretched a LOT further than I expected. I only used 1 and had more than enough to go around. Now to figure out what I'm going to plant there!
Suzy, glad to hear about your experiment! As soon as I can pick up some post-halloween straw or hay I'm all over that idea! The way the weather has been, I've still got at least 2 full mowings left this season, and plenty of leaves to come. So, I'm looking at 3-4 heaps before frost. Woohoo!
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 69.19.14.21
I have a question you may consider silly about composting, but I am needing to ask it anyhow.
If composting in an area where bears are known to liv, will it attract them to the compost pile?
Thanks in advance for your help
Shirl
* * * * Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson Plants: 493 | From: Washington | Registered: Sep 2005
| Seeded: 67.185.83.253
posted
Hi Shirl! Welcome to the wonderful world of composting! Someone mentioned in another post, somewhere...not sure where it is now... that a bear's nose is like a hundred times more sensitive than peoples so they can smell food for miles...which can be your compost bin. Like Noxzema said, I would definitely not put meat, fat or oil (dairy, etc) in your heap. Not only because of bears, but other pests like mice and even neighborhood pets. Whenever I put any food in my heap, I never leave it sitting right on top -- I always take some soil, finished or semi-finished compost and sprinkle a bit on top, to hold down the smell (even if *I* don't think it smells) That might help keep the bears at bay.
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.48
posted
Bears are not something you want to mess with. So my suggestion would be to keep to grass clippings and leaves that are not edibles. Bears are omnivores and enjoy veggies as well as meat. Just check out the berry bushes in your area if you don't believe me lol.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.153.247
posted
I have a question also....I am moving into my first house. Its a rental for a couple of years while we save to buy one but it won't stop me from planting and I have a huge, tree-ringed back yard and a landlord who said I could plant anything I wanted. (I tested his limits, I said, Raised veg bed? Yep. Garden path? Yep.) My question is this; if I rake up leaves now, can I save them to incorporate into my compost later? I won't get up there until the first week of November and in Zone 5b that means regular frosts already so I don't think I have time to start anything meaningful before winter sets in. I just wondered if I could rake em up and cover them somehow and save them.
Plants: 6 | From: Tioga County, PA | Registered: Aug 2005
| Seeded: 64.12.116.68
posted
Hi Shieldmaden! Welcome to the forum - and to composting!
quote:if I rake up leaves now, can I save them to incorporate into my compost later?
YES!
What some people do is, rake the leaves and mow them or shred them (if possible), and then bag them and store in the shed/garage until spring. You can also leave them piled up in the yard if you don't have storage for them - may be covering with a tarp would be beneficial, but it might be just as well to leave them exposed to the elements. I'm not sure on which would be best, but I'm sure Weezie or Longy will know for sure, and one of em will be along before long!
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.70
posted
Thanks for your replies! I asked the question because something said be careful if you move to bear country with composting! LOL
Their noses are very sensitive to scent for sure! A couple of yrs ago while I was still living in B.C Canada, I had a huge black bear literally rip half of the garage door off, to get into the garbage in there. He was after some KFC bones which I had wrapped in plastic and then tied up in another plastic bag and placed into the garbage. I was just not sure if the composting would attract them or not. Thanks again for your help!
Lol maybe I will try Vermicomposting if we do move to land where bears are ( buying land in the spring). Have any of you tried that out?
Shirl
* * * * Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson Plants: 493 | From: Washington | Registered: Sep 2005
| Seeded: 67.185.83.253
posted
Well I got the bin turned but I think it is going to be stinky this week lol. I had two loads of grass clippings which is way more than 25% of my space even compacted. but I just couldn't convince myself to haul them over to the compost pile. After moving the dry clippings over to the bin to use as brown lol. I guess I'm a bit whimpy today. The pain in my arm for the last couple of days has got me not wanting to do much. But at least it should be plenty hot and brakedown quickly as a result. And I still managed to get 3 pails of finished compost out of the bin. There was plenty more but it got mixed in with the new grass clippings and there was no way to separate it so I had to let it go back in the bin. Hopefully it will help the grass clippings break down and all of it will be finished in quick time lol. I think this is the last mowing of the season so now it's all going to be leaves and slow cold composting after this. Not that I mind I'll take it anyway I can get it. I just love compost lol.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.75.88
I'm wondering something about the turning process. I've been scooping my entire compost pile out, and then back in, except I put all the outside stuff into the centre when I pile it up again. Is that a little overboard? I don't mind the exercise but I wondered if I should be separating it that much. But I really like to get a good look and see how things are moving along. Such a crazy obsession! lol
I'm also wondering something about the microbe action. Almost everything green I put in is unrecognizable now, but there's still a lot of straw in there to break down. (I did add it all much later though, when I saw the pile wasn't warming up.) Anyway, does it begin to cook slower, or on a lower heat, when the greens are further along? I feel like I really want to feed it more greens to help the straw decompose and produce more heat, but I don't think I should. It must keep working though, otherwise there'd never be any completely finished compost in the pile if I kept adding to it. Oh well, just asking and thinking out loud.
I've been turning it about every five days but I think I may be slowing it down by doing something else. Bad Suzy! lol. I dig into it about every other day just to see if it's still warm... and it is, but if I'm not supposed to do that, can somebody please tell me to LEAVE IT ALONE! lol
I'm so glad to have all you experienced composters to turn to.
Oh! Mary, I came across a little piece of corn-on-the-cob in there, and you are right! There's all these little roots growing out of it. lol. I'm sure glad I haven't been tossing in my weeds!
Thanks a bunch, ~Suze~
Plants: 107 | From: Sherwood Park, Alberta | Registered: Jun 2005
| Seeded: 207.35.167.144
posted
Shirl, I've never tried vermicomposting, but I know there are even small containers you can use right in your kitchen (for city dwellers)! Keep us posted with how that works for you, if you try it!
T - You need to come here and light a match under me to fetch the finished stuff from under my pile. I have no energy to get it done - and you're almost relligious about it!
Suzy - I do the same -- take my pitchfork and literally move my pile from point a to point b - and next time back to point a. last time, I was plum out of energy, so I just stirred it up some - I wasn't happy with how that went - it just didn't feel 'turned' to me, so unless I'm really outta energy, I'll turn it completely like I have been (moving the whole pile). When I get to where I just don't feel like it anymore, I'll just do lasagna style composting in place, or plan on letting it sit for a seaon or 2.
I add to my pile every 2 or 3 days. When I go out there and notice that the browns are starting to be unrecognizable, I guess that's when I make a mental note that I need to start a new pile, and just keep that one turning. Once you stop adding, the pile will eventually cool off, but that's not a bad thing - it doesn't have to be hot to render down. You probably have oodles of pill bugs (roley poleys as we called em back in NY). Those guys will do awesome in helping break it down for ya.
Keep digging into the middle if that keeps you happy It wont hurt your pile, especially if you're turning anyway.
As for experienced composters - Weezie and Longy are really the only ones here I think can qualify for that medal. Me and TK both started around the same time - which was probably, what T, May of this year? It's just so addicting that we both plunged right in and learned as much as possible as we went along - kind of like you're doing now. In a few months a newbie will come along and think you're a pro too -- and actually, you're already up there
Hey Suz - what'd ya do with that corn cob? I planted the watermelon seedlings that came up. They didn't make it, but like Longy pointed out to me, worst that can happen is they don't ripen by winter, but then I chop em up and have more greens for my compost! Genius I tell ya.
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.31
posted
Yep I think your very right Mary it was sometime around May. Probably if we dug around in the earlier posts we could read all our beginner questions and get all embarrassed all over again lol.
You know me when I'm learning. I ask all the "dim bulb" questions.
Gee Mary, Do I still have matches around here now that I'm a non-smoker? lol, ... just teasing of course I do and a lighter too.
Ok I missed the post of the corn cob could someone please fill me in? Either that or my lousy memory has dropped the information right into la-la heaven.
If you have the space a number of piles is definitely the way to go. I only have the one bin so I've been in need of a sifter because my compost is always in a number of different stages of decomposition all in the same bin. And now I have one woohoo. So at least I can be sure of removing all of the completed/finished compost on Sunday when I turn my pile. That is if I don't decide I just have to turn it tomorrow. And that is sounding better and better if the elbow doesn't give me maximum grief when I wake up in the am.
Have a good evening all and enjoy that compost.
Have I mentioned how much my tomato plants love being covered with compost when they lay down? The silly things are looking better than they have in a month and the only thing I did was pile a couple of buckets of compost around them because they were trying to lay down. I am definitely transplanting the tomato seedlings into a mostly compost soil next year. I bet I have a humugous crop.
I know, I know it's barely fall and I'm thinking about late summer next year already lol. Am I ahead of my self or what?
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.78.72
posted
I remember having the hardest time understanding what was considered a brown! That grass thing really threw me for a loop 'back in the day' Who woulda thunk?!
Suzy dumped a corn cob in her compost heap, and found one sprouting last look.
quote:Am I ahead of my self or what?
No further ahead than I am! Isn't it nutzoid? Guess that's why I'm starting to focus my obsession on house plants so that I dont go completely off the deep end (very close already) - but house is filling up fast with greens!
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 69.19.14.30
posted
I can see the "mud room" getting revamped before the kitchen if the obsession gets to out of hand lol.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.78.72
posted
That's EXACTLY what I was thinking! Though the kitchen is pretty close to done -- so it wouldn't be all that horrible if we changed focus now....would it?
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.64
posted
You guys are all Awesome! I'm having a Hoot being 'Nutzoid' with you all. If it wasn't for all your earlier posts and lessons, I might not have jumped in and tried it myself. It hasn't even snowed yet and I'm sooooo anxious for the new growing season.
But what are we going to talk about over the winter though???? lol
Plants: 107 | From: Sherwood Park, Alberta | Registered: Jun 2005
| Seeded: 207.35.167.127
posted
Are you making room in a sunny window or have a grow light for an indoor herb garden for Helen? You might get something better than hotdogs if you do lol. I am such a bad girl but I just had to tease.
If you decide you want a herb garden for inside let me know. I have some seeds that should get you started.
Well now that I've given my compost a cup of coffee do you think it will be addicted and start whining and crying for it every time I go down to check on it? lol
Ok that's enough of my sense of humor for today. See you in one of the other rooms.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.201.49
posted
May be if we get that going we'll graduate from hotdogs to 5 course meals. Then again a crock pot and grill has it's limits. Someday I dream of having a stove like the rest of the free world
This week I'm working on the grand plan to figure out where house-stuff is gonna fit...I will keep your seed offer in mind and hope I can find space to accept! My problem is lack of sun anywhere but in that built in porch area...
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.76
posted
TK, my compost is addicted to coffee too. lol. I switched to caffeine free pepsi though and it didn't seem to notice. lol
quote: When I go out there and notice that the browns are starting to be unrecognizable, I guess that's when I make a mental note that I need to start a new pile, and just keep that one turning.
Mary, so do you keep adding your greens all along until then, then? That's what I was wondering about. The greens broke down pretty quick in mine, and now that they're gone it's cooled off a lot. But there's still lots of straw to process.
Do you think I should go back to adding the greens to the first heap and let the next pile wait it's turn?
BTW, I left the corn in there. lol.
Plants: 107 | From: Sherwood Park, Alberta | Registered: Jun 2005
| Seeded: 207.35.167.125
posted
Yep Suze, that's pretty much the way I do it...I just dont have enough greens all at once to build a pile at once...and I gotta empty that kitchen canister every few days or it gets yucky stinky - so I keep adding greens until I see it's time to stop... you know it when you see it kind of thing. The greens are what will keep it cooking - you get poo in there and it will cook fast! I'm still jealous over that one.
Depends -- ya might go back to the first pile to speed it up a bit since I'm guessing you'll be hitting your first freeze before long there...but I dunno...
I'm not the best to advise on finishing up a pile. I do real good until after it's cooled down, and then my heap seems to come to a standstill...like it will cook down in 2 weeks or so, but then that final stage will take a month. Kind of frustrating. May be if I added greens and heated it up again, it'd finish completely. Or may be I need to sift like Weezie & T do. Yaknow, I think I'll give the adding more greens thing a try - thanks, Suze! I'll let ya know how it goes -- let me know how you do too, ok?
* * * * Plants: 1561 | From: z6 S. Illinois | Registered: May 2005
| Seeded: 66.82.9.83
posted
Hey all, the reserve pile got a big infusion of grass clippings today. So now it's about half green and half brown and twice as big as it was this morning. And I'm busy making another pot of coffee that I'm still not going to share with the compost. I know I'm a bad girl lol. I promise to give it a dose of sugar water this afternoon when I water everything else ok? lol.
My landlord tells me he is going to bring a big (1 cubic yard) bin of grass clippings for me tomorrow. I think I'm going to spread those all over the slope. I'm not sure yet. But I'll figure it out lol. I just love gardening. Who knew it would be this fascinating.
Well I need to skeeeedaddle and see what else is going on.
Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.81.207
posted
Getting rid of my home made bin and getting a new one yay!
Smith & Hawken Home Composter Price: $19.00 The Smith & Hawken Home Composter is excellent for lower maintenance composting, and an excellent value at $19. Made from post-consumer recycled plastic, the bin features a locking lid and and 2 sliding doors for monitoring and harvesting compost...
I don't know if there is anyone from the SF bay area here that would like a discounted compost bin or worm bin but here's the addy in case. StopWaste.orgPlants: 71 | From: East Bay, Cali | Registered: May 2004
| Seeded: 24.6.42.70
posted
My landlord brought me a few grass clippings. About 7 ft x 4 ft x 1 1/2 ft of grass clippings. His wife told him those were probably a few more than I needed. But he said I'd find a place for them lol. This is going to be comic I'm sure.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.72.199
posted
Tell your landlord he better start bringing you some brown too...
If he can "bring you the green" he had better bring the brown..
Tell him to find a saw mill or lumber mill That has either saw dust of wood chips/shavings!!!
It's the least the guy could do for you, since you're taking care of his grass.. **ask, just in passing what he did with all his grass before you started composting... bet it's a run longer to where he had to take it than to you****
(don't get me wrong, it's good he brings it to you, and you can definately use it... but if he has you taking care of his clippings, you NEED something to take care of the clippings WITH..)
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
quote:Originally posted by weezie13: Wish I lived in your town,
Did you see the prices of those bins???
I'd be grabbin' a plethra of them, and havin' a part~teeeeeeeee!!!
Look at the cost of that worm farm.. Holy cow, get 13 of them!!!!
Yes the prices of these bins are great! I only have room for one or I would have gotten maybe 2. They are trying to encourage recycling and bay friendly gardens here so.
Have you checked to see if your waste management/sanitary district is offering the same kind of thing for your area? It would be great if they all did.
Plants: 71 | From: East Bay, Cali | Registered: May 2004
| Seeded: 24.6.42.70
posted
I just asked... I actually never asked before. *I had previously bought 2, then my hubby made 3 for me out of shipping pallets, and my mom bought me one of those double barreled compost tumblers..* but hey, free or reduced price for bins is great...
I'll let you know, I just wrote the guy I keep in contact with from my local Co~operative Extention...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Don't have to worry about the brown Weezie his dad planted two of those tulip poplars and one maple about 30 years ago and we have those nasty mimosa trees taking over the area so I have plenty of brown. Oh did I mention the humungous tree in the neighbors yard it goes up forever. I don't have to ask him where he put the green before,... the dumpster is right behind the building I've seen him dump it there for years. This was a special delivery because he de-thatched his yard? Something to do with a power rake. I still don't know enough about gardening to understand exactly how all that works. But I have plenty of grass clippings to keep me busy probably all the way to hard frost so I think it is a good thing. Well everyone have a great night.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.195.39
Havin' a big pile of green sittin' around,... get's to be a little you know what.. and it's hard to work the compost bins when you have too much green and not enough browns..
I am in the thrawls of emptying them again.. and starting new one's... My favoritest time of year to do them...
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
I looked in the compost bin today and it has compacted quite a bit. So I'll be out there tomorrow getting it turned. Today after I planted some crocus and daffodils I used the brown grass clippings to cover the bulbs. The directions I got said they like a heavy covering of mulch if it is going to get cold. And it's cold today in my opinion lol. although we haven't had a hard frost quite yet.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.51.222
posted
All summer I used an old barrel that the bottom was rusted out of to compost in. But after reading the posts about composting and things that could go into the pile, I went "NUTZ" there were three wooden posts in the ground where I had this bottomless barrel, I got hubby to put a fourth post in..And of course there were really huge rocks to dig out he worked hard...Then two days later I convinced him I needed some chicken wire around this area, three sides anyway, so with me doing manual labor part he put the wire up. I had piled alot of stuff in there, but now I am going to pull it all out and pile it in there right layer it and add all the stuff I have recover from my household trash that is compostable...My question is if there isn't enough warm weather left...will this pile start working in the spring?? Or will it be alright until spring???
posted
I don't know the answer to your questions I'm sorry. I turned my compost bin today and only the very center had managed to get hot and it's not really that cold yet. So the heat thing may take a break over the winter. I don't know for sure. I'm kind of hopping not because I need a lot more potting soil for this winter for my winter sow and I don't want to have to buy it. I'm a cheap skate lol.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.81.30
quote:Originally posted by comfrey: My question is if there isn't enough warm weather left...will this pile start working in the spring?? Or will it be alright until spring???
sure it will
I add things all winter.The bigger the pile in spring the better.
I can't plant tomatoes and peppers 'til May 1st. I use the bottom of my pile then.It's not quite finished but the tomatoes and peppers love it,especially the broken up eggshells.
quote: My question is if there isn't enough warm weather left...will this pile start working in the spring?? Or will it be alright until spring???
***"Movie saying, Build it and they will come.."***
~~~~~Weezie's saying, "Add compost and it will compost..."
ohhhhhhh yes, never too late to start.. Even if it froze tomorrow, it'd be sitting there, frozen, waiting to thaw and ready to go... *in fact, once wet/frozen, and then starting to go from soaked to medium, it can be a little tricky, too wet some Springs are...but, be patient, turn it, add some more dirt/soil and give it a kick start... even a pepsi or a beer... and it will slowly re~heat up!!!!
* * * * Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
posted
Thanks for responding...It rained all day today so as soon as it dries out alittle outdoors, I will probable spend several hours building the new pile, and adding all the stuff I have saved during the last several weeks. I'm also going to hunt some cardboard tomorrow while in town to place on the bottom of the pile, I just love cardboard...I use it in my veggie garden between the rows and have for years, there's nothing like seeing that cardboard disintegrate towards the end of the season.
posted
Well the compost pile finally got a base of branches that will provide plenty of air circulation so that's a good thing. And ofcourse I had to turn it inorder to get the branches to the bottom so that's taken care of. There was some steaming but not a lot. I guess that's ok lol. The pile has strunk atleast by 3/4ths since the landlord for brought it. Some of that of course is me using it for the compost bin but the rest and 2/3 of the shrinkage has got to be due to the composting. It is very compacted compared to when it was first brought.
* * * * Plants: 8557 | From: triangle, virginia | Registered: Mar 2005
| Seeded: 4.249.51.245
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lol, Mary!! I LOVE your enthusiastic responses! ![[clappy]](graemlins/claps.gif)
Hub and kids think I've lost it. ![[perplexed]](graemlins/dingbat.gif)
But that's okay. It hasn't even snowed yet, and here I'm waiting impatiently for spring already. lol.![[scaredy]](graemlins/scaredy.gif)
then ran away really fast. I think he's hunting down a straight jacket right now actually. ![[nutz]](graemlins/nutz.gif)
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Anyway, I've had one entire compost heap surrounded by the bales and decided to lay two more across the top the other day. Well this morning I lifted them up and WOW! Lots and lots of steam! ![[wayey]](graemlins/wavey.gif)
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Printer-friendly view of this garden