Compost is my new Obsession!!

sarah in the garden 4/7/2011, 9:31 am

I was just recently introduced to SFG, and my box went up in the middle of our good growing season. I know some of the SFG'ers are still waiting for unfrozen ground to plant in; I am entering the "horrible almost too hot to grow anything except okra (eew)" months! There's so much I want to do and I don't want to wait until Aug or Sept!

So I am throwing all of my energy into composting! I made a compost bin, but I want it finished even quicker than that. Going to start making a rolling compost bin out of an old plastic garbage can. I have access to donkey and goat manure, and found a woman on craigslist not too far from there who has FREE horse manure in various stages of composting. Awesome!

I can't wait to get started, and I'll post pics as soon as I get it up and running!

**WardinWake** 4/7/2011, 9:47 am

sarah in the garden wrote:I was just recently introduced to SFG, and my box went up in the middle of our good growing season. I know some of the SFG'ers are still waiting for unfrozen ground to plant in; I am entering the "horrible almost too hot to grow anything except okra (eew)" months! There's so much I want to do and I don't want to wait until Aug or Sept!

So I am throwing all of my energy into composting! I made a compost bin, but I want it finished even quicker than that. Going to start making a rolling compost bin out of an old plastic garbage can. I have access to donkey and goat manure, and found a woman on craigslist not too far from there who has FREE horse manure in various stages of composting. Awesome!

I can't wait to get started, and I'll post pics as soon as I get it up and running!

Howdy Sarah:

Glad to have another "mad composter" on the forum! Mary and I have not tried the rolling compost bin, however, I do use the multiple bin system where we move the material from one bin into another bin. This stirs the composting material, lets you see how it is going and if it needs moisture and adds oxygen to the mix. If turned on a daily basis you can have good compost in about 14 days. With your donkey, goat and horse manure be sure to mix in plenty of leaves and other items. Also kitchen wastes, grass clippings, coffee grounds (visit your local Starbucks) and you should have a hot compost pile. A hot pile can reach 180 degrees and put off steam as it works and will kill most if not all weed seeds in the process.

God Bless, Ward and Mary.

boffer 4/7/2011, 10:01 am

Good for you. The best part about gardening is playing in the ~~dirt~~ compost. I just brought home a yard of mushroom compost and a yard of cow manure yesterday. It's the start of my 2012 mix.

Just a reminder, while you're watching the boiling pot Wink

compost is ready when there are no identifiable items in it, it smells good, and you have to run your hands through it because it's calling your name!

Old Hippie 4/7/2011, 10:15 am

Yaayyy! Another crazy composter!! I love it. Compost is such amazing stuff.

Do what Ward and Boffer said. The more you turn it, the less flies you have too.

Gwynn

Squat_Johnson 4/7/2011, 1:08 pm

I like _having_ compost.

I don't like _making_ compost.

Has anyone tried this 21 day compost technique using pipes to areate? It looks like the lazy man's way...

http://www.hillgardens.com/composting.htm

sarah in the garden 4/8/2011, 9:55 am

I made a rolling compost bin out of a plastic trash can yesterday. Details are on my blog, but it was super simple!!

And for anyone who doesn't read it, I will condense the story and put it here. There was already a trash can by the shed in my backyard, left by the people who owned the house before us. There were garbage bags already in the can and my hubby started throwing yard trash on top. Gross, I know. I decided to clean out the can (super gross!) because I love free stuff more. I love you

Rolling compost bin is great!!

Compost is my new Obsession!! Img_4412

So, who wants to know what was in those heavy black garbage bags??

Compost is my new Obsession!! Img_4415

Exactly what it looks like!! 4 year old COMPOST!!!
smiles

Old Hippie 4/8/2011, 10:01 am

What a score!!! Just goes to show you that one person's garbage is another one's treasure!!!

Free stuff! You are a girl after my own heart. We must be related.

Squat, I have seen a couple of people here where I live use that method. I personally like the idea because I am kinda lazy Embarassed

and also have a problem with lifting heavy stuff sometimes. But my DH likes to do the compost thing so does all the turning etc. He keeps track of Gomer's temperature and so on. I do the screening when it is all finished. One of these days I would like to try that system and see if we can get it hotter than we do now. Hotter with less work sounds like a good idea to me.

Gwynn

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