Garbage can composting

Hudd 6/17/2013, 9:21 pm

I had on old plastic garbage can which squirrels helped themselves to be opening up the top. I got a new one and decided to try some composting with this one. I drilled some 1/2 inch holes in each side, already had one in the bottom (benefit of some more critters), and layered in normal stuff to make compost with: leaves, old iris stalks, fresh grass clippings, steer and horse manure, and kitchen scraps. Gave it some water and it is getting hot now. Rolled the can a couple if times tonight and will do some more of that.

No idea if the ventilation is adequate, but thought it was a good use of a wore-out garbage can.

Garbage can composting 20130611

Goosegirl 6/17/2013, 9:28 pm

Looks like good use of the things on-hand! Let us know how it works.

GG

**sanderson** 6/18/2013, 4:38 am

Good idea using the old bin.

Not sure if irises should be included as they are poisonous. I know cana lillies and daffodils are (I poisoned my self with daffodils but that is another story. Most rhizome and bulb plants are. Except for the onion family. Go figure.

**walshevak** 6/18/2013, 1:50 pm

Guess I'm in trouble too. I put the old flower stalks in the compost.

The bulbs of irises are poisonous, possibly only mildly so.
Irises contain the potentially toxic compounds irisin, iridin, or irisine.

Poisonous Parts:
Bulb, leaves, and stem

Symptoms of Poisoning:
The gastrointestinal tract may become affected by the glycoside iridin, causing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and fever. Also Iris can cause skin irritation or dermatitis.

Kay

**Turan** 6/18/2013, 2:07 pm

Iris etc won't make for poisonous compost. After all you do not eat the compost. The iris is feeding the microbes and fungi that break down the iris into its nutritians for plants.

**walshevak** 6/18/2013, 2:17 pm

Excellent news. I can relax.

Kay

**sanderson** 6/18/2013, 3:48 pm

Turan, thanks for the update.

Hudd 6/18/2013, 9:38 pm

Thanks for all the updates! I once poisoned myself with rhubarb leaves (also another story). I went ahead and removed what iris stalks I could as I would rather be safe than sorry. But the ones I missed, I also feel a lot better about them still in there. Thanks a bunch to all, I am really enjoying this forum and all the help, ideas, thoughts and expertise available! And, it is heating up well and composting. I am rotating (rolling the garbage can on it's side) nightly and will see how it continues. So far so good! Thanks again.

Goosegirl 6/18/2013, 10:16 pm

Just thought I'd put in my 2 cents - I have been composting irises with all my other scraps for years. And I am talking about LOTS of iris leaves, stems, and corms. I used to have approximately 40 ft of irises lining my walkway.

GG

Hudd 6/18/2013, 11:34 pm

Thanks! Very much appreciate any cents thrown my way. Would the same go for rhubarb leaves then, it would be basically composted with no issues like the iris?

Goosegirl 6/19/2013, 7:44 am

Hudd wrote:Thanks! Very much appreciate any cents thrown my way. Would the same go for rhubarb leaves then, it would be basically composted with no issues like the iris?

YEP!

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/composting

GG

bbbevey 6/23/2013, 10:21 am

I started two garbage bins for compost. Had lots of brown leaves and grass clippings and I saved up food scraps. Home D didn't have cans with locking lids, so that I can roll them. Sprinkled each layer with blood meal, watered them in, they also got rained on. Checked them like three weeks after and they had reduced to almost half. Haven't rolled them once. Rolling Eyes

. Added more green and brown and blood to them a couple of weeks ago and haven't checked them since. Its pretty sad when you can't even get the compost going.

I should use them to make some tea.

Hubby said we should check them tonight. Ya....we'll see.

The time is just getting away from me this year.....

I'll update on my progress of the UNROLLED compost....

Hudd 6/23/2013, 2:33 pm

Hope it works out for you! I put in some freshly-mown grass clippings, that got it hot quickly and is still putting out heat. I have another old can I am going to do this with as soon as it is time to mow the yard again, probably next weekend.

Status of the first can: been rolling daily (non-locking lid), just hold on to it. Some spills out from the hole in the top the squirrels did, but it goes on the lawn, so OK there. Still putting out some heat and smelling like good compost, overall looking good. Hope the can holds out!

bbbevey 6/23/2013, 10:09 pm

nice to hear. We didn't get a chance to check the bins this evening, but hubby just mowed the lawn and I will try to roll them and add new grass.

Hudd 6/29/2013, 12:35 pm

All cooled down and am side dressing some of the garden. Not 100% composted, but satisfices! Smells nice and no sign of the kitchen scraps. Looks good enough I will do the 2nd old garbage can and do both cans this weekend. Have lawn mowing to do and have to do something with all the kitchen scraps.

Garbage can composting 20130610

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