Re: COMPOST 101

Dan R 8/14/2011, 2:53 pm

mijejo wrote:That is interesting BackYardBirdGardener!

I am wondering what to do with the dirt in which I grew my potatoes. It is not MM, but a combo of premiums (Scott's) top soil, and compost. I am considering just dumping it in my composter and letting it mix with all that is in there. Does anyone have suggestions for its use?

That is what I would do with it. When I get black dirt from the city compositing dump I always run it through my compost bin for a year, mixing with my leaves, garden waste and coffee grounds. I think a good mix always helps.

Dan

barthie 9/7/2011, 2:52 pm

a couple of weeks ago i didn't have time to turn the pile, so i just dug a deep hole in the center to dump in that week's kitchen waste. when i did i could see the heat rising from the center of the pile. finally gave me the confirmation that my pile was working.

started a second pile over the weekend. i used a plastic coated wire on the first that keeps getting mushed up, so my pile can't get very high. the new pile uses a 40" garden fence (mesh?) and tomato stakes, with zip ties holding everything together. it's about 3.5 ft on each side. i used hooks on one side so i can open it up. i plan on raking up some old leaves in the yeard this weekend. if i can fill six trash cans full i should be off to a really good start in this pile.

Dan R 9/7/2011, 8:19 pm

davidclubb wrote:The website explained that anyone desiring to build a successful compost should build it in 4 inch layers. Begin with a 4 inch layer of fresh green matter like manure, moist grass clippings, food scraps and etc; then top it with a 4 inch layer of brown matter like dried leaves, wood shavings (not sawdust), ashes, coffee grinds, newspaper clippings and rice hulls from a local rice dryer or mill. Continue this process until you fill the bin. The goal is to create a pile with a core temperature of 130 degrees. In order to kill weed seeds and other pathogens, the core temperature should be around 130 degrees for three days. This temperature eliminates 99% of pathogens in the compost. For further details about judging how long to cure the pile, just refer to the website for that info. Good luck.

I have access to lots of coffee grounds from a communal pot at work, and did some research on them. Turns out, they are considered "green" because of the nitrogen content. Who knew???

TN_GARDENER 9/8/2011, 7:04 am

Dan R wrote:

I have access to lots of coffee grounds from a communal pot at work, and did some research on them. Turns out, they are considered "green" because of the nitrogen content. Who knew???

And they are awesome for heating up a pile (you can even toss the filters in there).

barthie 9/8/2011, 10:38 am

i think it was mentioned here, but starbucks gives away their grounds. there should be a pail in the store labelled "grounds for your garden". usually the silver bags they get their beans in refilled with used grounds - about 5 pounds worth. if you don't see the pail, just ask for it.

Cincinnati 9/8/2011, 3:03 pm

[quote="TN_GARDENER"]

Dan R wrote:
And they are awesome for heating up a pile (you can even toss the filters in there).

I notice many people put paper, cardboard, etc. in their compost pile. I shredded newsprint and used it in my first batch. But I never did it again. It is by nature acidic. It adds no "nutrient value" to the compost. Since it is the food for our garden plants, I didn't want to throw in items that possess no nutritional value to the plant. Obviously coffee filter probably carry no chemical residue. (If they do, you're likely getting most of it in your coffee.) But other cheap papers often do.

barthie 9/12/2011, 4:54 pm

used the vacuum hookup on my leaf blower to pick up leaves. it shredded some, left some as large as 1.5 inches square. filled up almost four trash cans and tossed them on the pile. the pile takes up an area of abut 12 square feet and is now about 20 inches high.

littlesapphire 9/12/2011, 7:16 pm

I went out to Starbucks the other day to get some grounds, but their bucket was empty. So I asked the lady at the counter about it, and she gladly emptied her espresso machine for me. I liked that a lot because the grounds were all compacted into little cylinders and were easier to work with.

**camprn** 9/13/2011, 8:01 pm

littlesapphire wrote:I went out to Starbucks the other day to get some grounds, but their bucket was empty. So I asked the lady at the counter about it, and she gladly emptied her espresso machine for me. I liked that a lot because the grounds were all compacted into little cylinders and were easier to work with.

Coffee puck

yuliad 10/1/2011, 7:14 pm

I just want to let everyone know that I am grateful for all for all of your great advises. I am a new gardener and every time I have a question I am checking the forum and finding all the answers I need. We are living in the subdivision and do not have fence in our backyard, so...we have to keep things nice. My husband made a tumbler himself from the big blue water barrel. We turning it every day. Today I opened it up and found lots of bugs and short white worms.From what I read here, I understood that it's normal. We had lots of wild watermelons growing in our back yard, so we put them into the tumbler. Now I hear the sound of the watermelon seeds, as I am tumbling. Is it normal?

Chopper 10/1/2011, 7:20 pm

yuliad wrote: Now I hear the sound of the watermelon seeds, as I am tumbling. Is it normal?

Sounds normal to me. The seeds are the toughest and last thing to break down. As a matter of fact, don't be surprised if you have some volunteers when you use that compost in your garden. Very Happy

Вы русская?

yuliad 10/1/2011, 8:10 pm

Thank you for your reply, Chopper.
Да to the second question. Is it that obvious? Very Happy

yuliad 10/30/2011, 12:06 pm

Hello Everyone,
My husband and I having a disagreement that only you can help to resolve.

My husband made a compost tumbler. It looks like the process is working very well.
Now....he tells me that I can not add anything to the compost tumbler for three weeks. I have to wait until he empty the "finished product" into a different container before we start another batch of compost. The problem is that the three weeks were over four weeks ago, and he still did not emptied it. I could have so much kitchen scraps added to the pile!
Anyway, my question is, do we have to empty the tumbler before adding more materials to it?
thanks

boffer 10/30/2011, 12:32 pm

The obvious solution is that he needs to make a second composter!

yuliad wrote:...my question is, do we have to empty the tumbler before adding more materials to it?

The answer could be yes, no, or maybe. It depends on why your husband wants to wait, and when you want to use the compost, and can you screen your compost.

Cincinnati 10/30/2011, 2:47 pm

yuliad wrote:Hello Everyone,...Anyway, my question is, do we have to empty the tumbler before adding more materials to it?:

Every time you add raw ingredients, you extend the composting process for the batch until they can be decomposed.

**camprn** 4/9/2012, 6:12 pm

**RoOsTeR** 4/9/2012, 7:04 pm

Nice camp! compost 101 - COMPOST 101 - Page 4 3170584802

Cigarette butts...I would like to make someone eat them every time I see one fly out a car window. One of my biggest pet peeves EVER Evil or Very Mad

martha 4/9/2012, 7:44 pm

What makes steam come out of my ears is how many people heading in to my restaurant put their cigarettes out in my flower pots and other containers.

compost 101 - COMPOST 101 - Page 4 739404

compost 101 - COMPOST 101 - Page 4 739404

Fortunately, I have never seen someone do it, because as the owner, I am supposed to be gracious.......

Camp, this is very important information. Depressing, but important.

brenda g 4/11/2012, 11:57 am

sherryeo wrote:Ok, guys, fair warning - if you're sitting in front of the computer eating dinner or having a snack, you might not want to read this right now if you're squeamish. I know I'm gonna get laughed at for this, but here goes.

I know it's normal and desirable to have critters of the insect and worm variety in your compost. Every time I open the lid there are things diving for cover in my compost bin, which means it's working. But when the compost is ready will most of these things vacate the premises on their own or am I going to have to sift them all out? I could manage sifting a few out, I guess, but I can't help but get that girlie feeling "iiiiccckkkk" when I think of having to deal with many of them.

Oh, my gosh I completely understand your girlie feeling of 'iiicckk'! I turned my first compost pile for the first time the other day and found - gasp! - a nest of baby mice. I mean, reaaaallly baby mice - they were smaller than my thumb and their eyes were still covered by skin! Talk about a traumatizing first compost experience!

**camprn** 4/14/2012, 8:06 am

Having trouble with you compost pile? Looking for solutions to problems? Do you want to build a new one cheap?

http://www.co.hanover.va.us/works/composting2.htm <~~~Click
compost 101 - COMPOST 101 - Page 4 Composting2-cartoon

compost 101 - COMPOST 101 - Page 4 Composting2-cartoon

gregrenee88 5/31/2012, 2:33 pm

brenda g wrote:
sherryeo wrote:Ok, guys, fair warning - if you're sitting in front of the computer eating dinner or having a snack, you might not want to read this right now if you're squeamish. I know I'm gonna get laughed at for this, but here goes.

I know it's normal and desirable to have critters of the insect and worm variety in your compost. Every time I open the lid there are things diving for cover in my compost bin, which means it's working. But when the compost is ready will most of these things vacate the premises on their own or am I going to have to sift them all out? I could manage sifting a few out, I guess, but I can't help but get that girlie feeling "iiiiccckkkk" when I think of having to deal with many of them.

Oh, my gosh I completely understand your girlie feeling of 'iiicckk'! I turned my first compost pile for the first time the other day and found - gasp! - a nest of baby mice. I mean, reaaaallly baby mice - they were smaller than my thumb and their eyes were still covered by skin! Talk about a traumatizing first compost experience!

My husband turned out compost piles for the first time back in March. We thought we found baby Moles, since we saw holes all over the compost ground area. Turns out they were two baby rabbits. Now I think they are eating my hostas....LOL!! Laughing

floyd1440 5/31/2012, 8:51 pm

camprn wrote:Having trouble with you compost pile? Looking for solutions to problems? Do you want to build a new one cheap?

http://www.co.hanover.va.us/works/composting2.htm <~~~Click

Thanks for the link....I will remeber the ratio when I make my next pile..Thanks!!!

compost 101 - COMPOST 101 - Page 4 3170584802

**camprn** 6/29/2012, 8:38 am

Ericka2385 7/20/2012, 5:11 pm

A few months back, while the garden was being built, we bought a compost bin. It's a squarish shaped one, had a lid, and is easy to turn. We started with a bunch of grass/lawn/hedge clippings and have been adding veggie scraps for about two months now. It looks as though everything is breaking down nicely, and has a rich earthy scent to it. I hear this is a good thing.

We were debating buy two of these compost bins, and have one that we add to while the other 'finishes'. Does anyone else who uses purchased bins use a two (or more) bin method?

I'm not sure how easy it is going to be to pick the pieces of not yet broken down items out of the shovel fulls of finished compost? Would it be bad to add things that aren't quite broken down all the way, or does this encourage worms?

How do the rest of the gardeners on here run their compost operation at home?

Thank you

**camprn** 7/20/2012, 5:15 pm

camprn wrote:bump

Bump

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