COMPOST 101

Marc Iverson wrote: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.

I have the compost in a bin.  They can't get in.  I don't put animal fat or any fat in. 

I was more concerned if the powder and/or the vitamin tablets would be okay.  CapeCoddess answered that part.

The protein powder, if it is egg or whey-derived, will attract animals just like fat. That's why I gave the example of attraction to unroasted egg shells attracting my dogs, which just happened to me this week. The rest similarly still holds. A bin probably makes things much safer, though.

How about the rancid, bitter raw almonds I just choked on?

Ewww...

It does not contain egg or whey.  I think after I sift (weather permitting) I will start a new batch and add some of this to the mix - sparingly.

sanderson wrote:How about the rancid, bitter raw almonds I just choked on?

perfectly acceptable. I usually toss those under the bird feeder for the squirrels.

Thanks, Camp.

Just heard on the local nightly news the following: A local brewery has worked around higher cost of grain. They buy from the grain farmer at a lower price, then sell the spent grain to the cattle farmers for the difference. Of course, this may stop tomorrow. I didn't get which government, state or fed, may stop this tomorrow because food wastes have to go to the landfill!!! I'm going to the brewery tomorrow morn.

I just found another source of spent brew grains across the street from our office...it's a home-brew business where customers brew on-site.

I also spoke to a friend who ranches this weekend...cattlemen (and those who raise pigs, chickens, etc.) love spent grains because the protein content goes up during the brew process.

A "brew-your-own!"

Correction:  I failed to mention that after the brewery sells the spent grain to the cattlemen, those proceeds then go to the grain farmers to make up the the difference when they undersold to the brewery at the beginning.  A win-win-win.

BUMP ~ Want to learn more about composting? Read this great thread from the beginning.  

read this one too!
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t7023-mel-s-mix-pyramid

I've been collecting a ton of leaves from my neighbors, and I've acquired a bunch of pallets. I have found people who will give me horse manure and cow manure. What's the best way to mix these three ingredients for rapid composting?

I do all of my food scrap composting in a tumbler. It works really well. Should I add some manure to my tumbler, too?

Here's a pic of my current setup. Looking for a couple more pallets to have three complete pallet bins.

Thanks for your help!

That is looking good! I use a similar system and have found it works very well. I would say, in one of the bins start layering the various components you have amassed, including what is in the tumbler and get it all going together to get finished compost for this season.

roaminroad wrote:I've been collecting a ton of leaves from my neighbors, and I've acquired a bunch of pallets. I have found people who will give me horse manure and cow manure. What's the best way to mix these three ingredients for rapid composting?

I do all of my food scrap composting in a tumbler. It works really well. Should I add some manure to my tumbler, too?

Here's a pic of my current setup. Looking for a couple more pallets to have three complete pallet bins.

Thanks for your help!

 No need if the tumbler is doing it's job , just add some of the finished tumbler stuff to your piles and mix it in when you are making your MM or replenishment stuff.
It should also be OK to store it in strong poly sacks if you need the space in your tumbler.  throw a few stripy worms in with each bag cover the bag open tops to stop rain getting in & let them go to town .... They will soon start be-gatting in biblical proportions  & converting the compost in the bag into an even better product called worm casts.
 They were in my sheltered bags for 18 months , there is no recognisable material left  just  light brown coffee ground sized particles of worm casts.



 Then add them to the normal open box made finished compost when needed ..you'll have a very superior product indeed.





Re:-
The combining of the three materials:-  leaf,  horse & cow muck .


Perhaps look up " The Berkley 18 day hot composting method " , and if you're fit enough do it .

It is just about the fastest & most effective method of converting materials into high quality compost that I've ever come across.   I've been gardening for 50 years as a boy or man , seen & tried many , but found none as good as the Berkley way .

It should also be OK to store it in strong poly sacks if you need the space in your tumbler.  throw a few stripy worms in with each bag cover the bag open tops to stop rain getting in & let them go to town .... They will soon start be-gatting in biblical proportions  & converting the compost in the bag into an even better product called worm casts.
 They were in my sheltered bags for 18 months , there is no recognisable material left  just  light brown coffee ground sized particles of worm casts.

Plantoid - I have some finished compost that I need to store until mid-summer.  I have a large rolling garbage can that I want to put it in.  Should the compost still be kept moist ??  Should I leave the top on or off??  Should I roll it into the shade???

Have a couple of envelopes of outdated yeast.  Could I sprinkle that in the compost (in a composter)?

greatgranny wrote:Have a couple of envelopes of outdated yeast.  Could I sprinkle that in the compost (in a composter)?

No problem there, greatgranny.

Kelejan wrote:

greatgranny wrote:Have a couple of envelopes of outdated yeast.  Could I sprinkle that in the compost (in a composter)?

No problem there, greatgranny.

thanks!!

And while you're at it you can throw old spices in the compost too.

llama momma wrote:And while you're at it you can throw old spices in the compost too.

Yup.  Especially cinnamon to keep out the ants.

I culture raw vegetables.  The juice that is a left over is not something I just want to pour down the drain.

The culture consists of raw vegetables - I use a 1 quart wide mouth jar - fill it almost to the top with veggies, add water, sea salt (about 1 tsp) and 1/4 cup milk kefir whey.  It ferments for about 3 days and then is in the refrigerator.  It can last for up to 9 months.  I eat it faster than that so I have just now finished 2 jars and wondered about this.

So, could I add this liquid to compost?

greatgranny wrote:I culture raw vegetables.  The juice that is a left over is not something I just want to pour down the drain.

The culture consists of raw vegetables - I use a 1 quart wide mouth jar - fill it almost to the top with veggies, add water, sea salt (about 1 tsp) and 1/4 cup milk kefir whey.  It ferments for about 3 days and then is in the refrigerator.  It can last for up to 9 months.  I eat it faster than that so I have just now finished 2 jars and wondered about this.

So, could I add this liquid to compost?

yes

Thanks, camprn.

camprn wrote:

greatgranny wrote:I culture raw vegetables.  The juice that is a left over is not something I just want to pour down the drain.

The culture consists of raw vegetables - I use a 1 quart wide mouth jar - fill it almost to the top with veggies, add water, sea salt (about 1 tsp) and 1/4 cup milk kefir whey.  It ferments for about 3 days and then is in the refrigerator.  It can last for up to 9 months.  I eat it faster than that so I have just now finished 2 jars and wondered about this.

So, could I add this liquid to compost?

yes

Yes you could, but it is better to drink the juice itself as it contains all the goodness of the veggies/probiotics that have been fermented. I even add some of the juice to my dog's meals; he loves it.

Brown...Green...Manure...Repeat.  Not that difficult.

Stoney65 wrote:Brown...Green...Manure...Repeat.  Not that difficult.

+1