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Google
My new compost heap
+4
AtlantaMarie
countrynaturals
CapeCoddess
Rue Barbie
8 posters
Page 1 of 1
My new compost heap
I'm almost finished building a new heap heading into winter. (SoCal) My greens are yard clippings and weeds and miscellaneous, and my browns are dry leaves and ground city green stuff. This pile is about 3.5 by 5 by 3.5 feet tall, but will shrink somewhat. It will be hot. The sides are cardboard-lined wire and other sturdy but light things.
I put just about anything in it, though I've decided to not put in meat scraps since it is somewhat close to the neighbors, and I don;'t want them to get 'nervous'. City folk.
I had a load of ground city mulch delivered earlier in the week, and that pile, even just slightly moist, is already at 140 degrees F. I'm hoping my pile will get to about 150 to kill anything harmful in it.
I love composting.
I put just about anything in it, though I've decided to not put in meat scraps since it is somewhat close to the neighbors, and I don;'t want them to get 'nervous'. City folk.
I had a load of ground city mulch delivered earlier in the week, and that pile, even just slightly moist, is already at 140 degrees F. I'm hoping my pile will get to about 150 to kill anything harmful in it.
I love composting.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
Nice! I likey! Tell me...do you put dairy and moldy foods in, too?
Also, to the forum?
CC
Also, to the forum?
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: My new compost heap
CapeCoddess wrote:Nice! I likey! Tell me...do you put dairy and moldy foods in, too?
Also, to the forum?
We don't use much dairy, or I'd probably put it in. Unless it was something with a high fat content. No problem with most moldy foods either. Again, unless it was something high fat. Though I'm not sure why I avoid those other than hear-say.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
countrynaturals wrote:Welcome, Rue Barbie. Lots of compost-lovers, here.
Thanks for the welcomes. It was the many compost-lovers that pushed me over the edge to join.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
Hi Rue Barbie, Welcome to the Forum from California. Many of us compost according to what is available in our area. I use leaves, some grass, old bedding straw, Starbuck's used coffee grounds, horse manure, farmer market culls and household veggies and fruits scraps. Occasionally seaweed if we go to the coast.
Re: My new compost heap
when I was first seriously making large piles of compost, and my yard was \not supplying enough, I used to go and forage for stuff. Piles of leaves, manure, etc. Now I don't do that much anymore. The manure I've been able to find is either very inconvenient, or has too much soil mixed with it.
As for collecting leaves, once I was raking some oak leaves under a tree in a public area. The trees had low branches. Someone though that was suspicious behavior and called the police. They asked what I was doing... and were nice, and I think humored that I was raking leaves for compost. I don't look like the criminal type, lol. And when foraging 'out there' I always made sure I was wearing a very nice piece of jewelry so, even in grubby clothes, you could tell I wasn't a vagrant.
Well, I didn't get the pile completed today. It's close, but I ran out of time and energy. I only have a few more layers to go. Air temp is about 70. The pile inside is approaching 100*F, so it's on its way. (Half built yesterday, half today)
I'll turn it maybe in a week, and then probably that's that. But you never know. I don't need it for several months. I still have some from the last pile. And with all there is left to trim, I might even start another pile. But a much smaller one.
As for collecting leaves, once I was raking some oak leaves under a tree in a public area. The trees had low branches. Someone though that was suspicious behavior and called the police. They asked what I was doing... and were nice, and I think humored that I was raking leaves for compost. I don't look like the criminal type, lol. And when foraging 'out there' I always made sure I was wearing a very nice piece of jewelry so, even in grubby clothes, you could tell I wasn't a vagrant.
Well, I didn't get the pile completed today. It's close, but I ran out of time and energy. I only have a few more layers to go. Air temp is about 70. The pile inside is approaching 100*F, so it's on its way. (Half built yesterday, half today)
I'll turn it maybe in a week, and then probably that's that. But you never know. I don't need it for several months. I still have some from the last pile. And with all there is left to trim, I might even start another pile. But a much smaller one.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
Welcome Barbie!
I try to turn mine once a week also, but that is a chore. Turning what has been said to be the perfect size pile is no joke.
That was about six weeks ago. (Raining out now so can’t get current picture). I don’t use meats or dairly either. The critters already tear into my for the fruit rinds every night. It is a little smaller now and I have added a new bin and started another pile because this size is a pain to turn and I needed to stop adding new stuff so this could turn to dirt. I need mine at the end of February. I hope it will be ready. I need about 20 cubic feet, so every little bit will be less I have to buy. Welcome again.
I try to turn mine once a week also, but that is a chore. Turning what has been said to be the perfect size pile is no joke.
That was about six weeks ago. (Raining out now so can’t get current picture). I don’t use meats or dairly either. The critters already tear into my for the fruit rinds every night. It is a little smaller now and I have added a new bin and started another pile because this size is a pain to turn and I needed to stop adding new stuff so this could turn to dirt. I need mine at the end of February. I hope it will be ready. I need about 20 cubic feet, so every little bit will be less I have to buy. Welcome again.
brianj555- Posts : 444
Join date : 2017-08-22
Location : Zone 9 - Mississippi
Re: My new compost heap
Brian, what a nice setting for a compost pile.
You are lucky to get rain. Water is usually the limiting factor here - a pile can dry too much so if it's heading towards summer, I have to cover the sides and top with plastic.
I did not finish the pile today. One more layer of semi decomposed 'stuff', and a final layer of city mulch to go, then done. I suspect I won't turn it for a couple weeks. Was hoping in a week, but crikey, it took so long to build in the first place, lol. Besides, I need to get a few more pieces of rebar from HomeDepot to keep the sides straight.
I definitely will need to start another pile, but it's going to be less formal and just stacked so stuff can begin decomposing.
You are lucky to get rain. Water is usually the limiting factor here - a pile can dry too much so if it's heading towards summer, I have to cover the sides and top with plastic.
I did not finish the pile today. One more layer of semi decomposed 'stuff', and a final layer of city mulch to go, then done. I suspect I won't turn it for a couple weeks. Was hoping in a week, but crikey, it took so long to build in the first place, lol. Besides, I need to get a few more pieces of rebar from HomeDepot to keep the sides straight.
I definitely will need to start another pile, but it's going to be less formal and just stacked so stuff can begin decomposing.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
Welcome, Rue Barbie! Like your idea regarding the compost heap! I have a heap also, getting ready to tarp it for winter after leaves are added.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8682
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: My new compost heap
So you just cover it with a tarp for the winter Scorpio ? Do you come back to compost when you pull the top off?Scorpio Rising wrote:Welcome, Rue Barbie! Like your idea regarding the compost heap! I have a heap also, getting ready to tarp it for winter after leaves are added.
brianj555- Posts : 444
Join date : 2017-08-22
Location : Zone 9 - Mississippi
Re: My new compost heap
Barbie, What city are you in or near? Can you modify your Location (under Profile) to include it? That will give members a better idea of your climate and environment. Thanks
Re: My new compost heap
sanderson wrote:Barbie, What city are you in or near? Can you modify your Location (under Profile) to include it? That will give members a better idea of your climate and environment. Thanks
I'm afraid the most specific I ever get with our location on public internet boards is "coastal Southern California, zone 10, sunset zone 24 - the avocado belt."
edit: I just 'saved' it to my sig line, but for some reason, it's not showing up.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
Yep! And I add stuff during the winter, just kitchen veggies and coffee grounds...but yep.brianj555 wrote:So you just cover it with a tarp for the winter Scorpio ? Do you come back to compost when you pull the top off?Scorpio Rising wrote:Welcome, Rue Barbie! Like your idea regarding the compost heap! I have a heap also, getting ready to tarp it for winter after leaves are added.
Scorpio Rising- Posts : 8682
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 62
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: My new compost heap
A few days old and the new compost pile up to just over 140*F this evening.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
That’s cookin!Rue Barbie wrote:A few days old and the new compost pile up to just over 140*F this evening.
brianj555- Posts : 444
Join date : 2017-08-22
Location : Zone 9 - Mississippi
Re: My new compost heap
+1brianj555 wrote:That’s cookin!Rue Barbie wrote:A few days old and the new compost pile up to just over 140*F this evening.
Re: My new compost heap
sanderson wrote:+1brianj555 wrote:That’s cookin!Rue Barbie wrote:A few days old and the new compost pile up to just over 140*F this evening.
I was going to say, that's cool, but that's not quite the right word.
Re: My new compost heap
Finally got out there to turn mine today. It is coming along. A lot of good size worms I transplanted into the bed.
brianj555- Posts : 444
Join date : 2017-08-22
Location : Zone 9 - Mississippi
Re: My new compost heap
Mine probably should be turned one of these days too. And then I think it will just sit till it's ready.
I'm hoping worms will invade my pile once it gets a bit cooler.
I'm hoping worms will invade my pile once it gets a bit cooler.
Rue Barbie- Posts : 14
Join date : 2017-11-09
Location : S. California, zone 10
Re: My new compost heap
Unfortunately, the chickens turn my compost pile and they think worms are their reward for doing such good work.Rue Barbie wrote:I'm hoping worms will invade my pile once it gets a bit cooler.
Re: My new compost heap
I’d trade the worms if some chickens would turn my pile!countrynaturals wrote:Unfortunately, the chickens turn my compost pile and they think worms are their reward for doing such good work.Rue Barbie wrote:I'm hoping worms will invade my pile once it gets a bit cooler.
brianj555- Posts : 444
Join date : 2017-08-22
Location : Zone 9 - Mississippi
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