I don't think there'd be much composting happening in such a small
container. More like rotting, which isn't the same. I'd just spread the
materials out on the top of the ground. It will rot faster that way.
Actually people think the secret to great compost is a "starter." I think
of starters as the snake-oil of composting--not needed at all. But if you
want one, human urine is free, and it works. It's actually a pretty sterile
substance, unlike most body fluids.
--
Compostman
Washington, DC
Zone 7
"Chris Owens" wrote in message
...
Down Under On The Bucket Farm wrote:

Hi there...

I have recently started small-scale composting. I
took a 20-litre (5-gal) bucket, cut out the
bottom, and sunk it several cm.s in the soil
outside. It is getting all of my kitchen scraps,
plus some grass clippings, and a bit of paper. It
is also getting some urine (yes, from me...)

I am guessing that the volume is too small to ever
have "hot" composting going on.

The two questions a

1. About how long will it take for the materials
to break down to be appropriate for applying to my
(just-starting) garden?

2. Would adding some worms help? If so, what
type, and how many?

3. Any caveats regarding the urine (esp. regarding
excess salt, and overdoing the nitrogen input.)

Thanks in advance for your help...

Stop peeing in the bucket; it isn't helping, and is probably
illegal. That being said, if you stir this up every day, there's
no reason you can't get hot composting going. Given that, it'll
take about two weeks to become compost after you stop adding
material. [You really need two buckets, one to be 'cooking' and
one to be building.] You might want to add a bit more in the way
of browns -- paper or dried leaves.

Chris Owens


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