COMPOST 101

TxGramma wrote:

Marc Iverson wrote:Just within the last month or two, someone contributed a link to a site that detailed a no-turn compost bin which was made up of pallets on all but two sides (front and top) and had a 3D grid of perforated PVC pipes running all the way through it.  The idea was that air got in not only on every side, but all through the middle.  The PVC pipes were capped for a day or two for a burst of additional heat.  The claim was that all the oxygen made compost extremely quickly; plus of course it required no turning!

It may be somewhere in this thread; I'll see if I can dig up a link.

FAST COMPOSTING—In 21 Days—Really!

That's the one! Great link/idea!

I have been away for quite awhile. I got lucky and got home from a trip to France (for whole month of Sept), and it had not yet frozen here. I have spent the last several days harvesting my crops and yesterday I put all the plant material through a chipper, and then put all the chippings in my hoop house in an attempt to heat it... and in less than 24 hours, it is already 140 degrees..... perhaps a tad warm for the tomatoes and peppers I brought inside... We ARE expecting frost tonite??  

I wonder if you could use the same principle as the fast composting but drill holes in a large trash can that you could thread the pipes through as well as additional holes for air to the outside? Would a 33 gallon trash can have enough cubic size to produce enough heat to break down the compost?

The reason I ask is thinking of ways to use the compost to keep my night time temps up for my green house. There really isn't enough room for a full size pile in there.

Great article, thanks for taking the time to find the link and share it again. I missed it the first time.
Audrey

Audrey,  My 3' in diameter, 2 1/2' tall, compost bin produced enough to fill two 33 gallon rolling bins.  And technically, my bin should have been 3' tall!

It's pretty cold here today but I am still trying to finish tidying things up in the yard and garden. I have a bit of leaf mold, partially composted grass clippings, coffee grounds and coffee bean chaff I will be adding to the compost pile today.

Heh! I see a big loaf of bread in there! Well, might as well make use of it somehow, right?

Ohh would I ever love to make some comments here about composting...bbbbbrrrrrr
At 19 degrees F I am sitting by my fireplace waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven
Happy Thanksgiving everyone
Jimmy

jimmy cee wrote:Ohh would I ever love to make some comments here about composting...bbbbbrrrrrr
At 19 degrees F I am sitting by my fireplace waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven
Happy Thanksgiving everyone
Jimmy

And to you, Jimmy, from a Northern neighbour.

Marc Iverson wrote:Heh!  I see a big loaf of bread in there!  Well, might as well make use of it somehow, right?

Well, Marc, it isn't a MacDonald loaf because it hass definately got mould on it which shows it is alive, unlike that MacDonald ten-year old burger. 

Aw Camp...that first photo makes my heart rate quicken!  

Looks like dynamite to me!

CC

Kelejan wrote:

Marc Iverson wrote:Heh!  I see a big loaf of bread in there!  Well, might as well make use of it somehow, right?

Well, Marc, it isn't a MacDonald loaf because it hass definately got mould on it which shows it is alive, unlike that MacDonald ten-year old burger. 

it's homemade bread that I didn't get to eat this week. I can make more.

bump

i agree with Sharon, it is not so complicated. i tried with a composter but needes too much attention .  i just have a heep and turn when i think about it and water when looks dry.  works just fine for me. 

So I have asked lots of questions and have found ALL the answers I need !!!!  I have somewhere I can get ALL the pallets I can use so I will build a bin from those.  Cant wait for this bi-polar Texas weather to start getting it right !!  Spring is around the corner and I am itching !!!!

I think this Forum is so great for finding or getting answers. I have a new compost bin and I can't wait to build the first pile in it!

PS You did a nice job on your avatar!    I built one and it scared even me!   

sanderson wrote:
-- - - - PS  You did a nice job on your avatar!      I built one and it scared even me!   

What did I miss? I want one too.   

Kelejan wrote:

sanderson wrote:
-- - - - PS  You did a nice job on your avatar!      I built one and it scared even me!   

What did I miss?  I want one too.   

Kelejan, the info you need is in this thread Monthly Avatar Theme: March

COMPOST 101 let it rot!  

TxGramma wrote:

Kelejan wrote:

sanderson wrote:
-- - - - PS  You did a nice job on your avatar!      I built one and it scared even me!   

What did I miss?  I want one too.   

Kelejan, the info you need is in this thread Monthly Avatar Theme: March

Thanks TxGramma, I found it now have to find time to take it in.  

camprn wrote:COMPOST 101 let it rot!  

bump

Something to think about before using just any old pallet.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-determine-if-a-wood-pallet-is-safe-for-use/

That is if chemicals around stuff you are going to use for a vegetable garden concerns you.

gategitter wrote:So I have asked lots of questions and have found ALL the answers I need !!!!  I have somewhere I can get ALL the pallets I can use so I will build a bin from those.  Cant wait for this bi-polar Texas weather to start getting it right !!  Spring is around the corner and I am itching !!!!

Simple, informative article. Thanks.

I have some expired protein powder and some vitamin/mineral pills. Was wondering if these could be added to my compost.  Any thoughts?

The protein powder can attract rats, mice, dogs, raccoons, and probably lots of other animals. Any animal product can. I was lazy and didn't do the usual microwaving of my eggshells before throwing them in my compost and our dogs were digging through there for a week, eating all sorts of likely unhealthy things in the process (not to mention the pile is 90% animal poops in the first place). Proteins and animal fats attract a lot of critters.

Vitamins and such ... I imagine that could be harmful to wildlife and/or your own home pets, if you have any. My dogs were willing to eat onions just because of the smell of eggshells -- I'm sure they'd unwittingly swallow or maybe even munch through any number of vitamin pills to do it, too.

greatgranny wrote:I have some expired protein powder and some vitamin/mineral pills. Was wondering if these could be added to my compost.  Any thoughts?

if it were my protein powder I'd put it in my compost pile. Probably sprinkling over the top and then toss some compost on top of it.

CC