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Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half
of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. -- Peace! Om All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote:
In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) Also makes great compost. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
AZ Nomad wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) Also makes great compost. Lazy bastid. giggles My neighbors did that. I was oh so tempted to hang a ladder over the fence and snag that baby wild chili petin I saw growing in the rain gutter on the corner of their house! We raked a bunch of leaves into a corner of the yard once. Never did get around to bagging them. They composted down in less than 6 months, in the shade no less. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They go away in less than two weeks, and enrich the lawn. -- Peace! Om All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Aug 1, 1:40�pm, AZ Nomad wrote:
On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually �I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? �I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? �I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? �Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. �I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) �Also makes great compost. Composting is a verb... you compost to make humus. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus --- |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:59:28 -0500, Omelet wrote:
In article , AZ Nomad wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) Also makes great compost. Lazy bastid. giggles My neighbors did that. I was oh so tempted to hang a ladder over the fence and snag that baby wild chili petin I saw growing in the rain gutter on the corner of their house! We raked a bunch of leaves into a corner of the yard once. Never did get around to bagging them. They composted down in less than 6 months, in the shade no less. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They go away in less than two weeks, and enrich the lawn. Yet if you leave the kitchen trash on the front lawn, the neighbors will complain. Go figgur. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article
, Sheldon wrote: On Aug 1, 1:40?pm, AZ Nomad wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually ?I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? ?I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? ?I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? ?Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. ?I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) ?Also makes great compost. Composting is a verb... you compost to make humus. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus --- How do you build your compost/humus heaps Shel' baby? -- Peace! Om All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
AZ Nomad wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:59:28 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , AZ Nomad wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) Also makes great compost. Lazy bastid. giggles My neighbors did that. I was oh so tempted to hang a ladder over the fence and snag that baby wild chili petin I saw growing in the rain gutter on the corner of their house! We raked a bunch of leaves into a corner of the yard once. Never did get around to bagging them. They composted down in less than 6 months, in the shade no less. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. They go away in less than two weeks, and enrich the lawn. Yet if you leave the kitchen trash on the front lawn, the neighbors will complain. Go figgur. Smell control is a different subject. If I dump kitchen garbage that I know will stink, it gets a little dirt or a layer of leaves over it. Not necessary for composting. I have a compost bucket in the kitchen. Food leavings (other than corn husks and cobs) never go in the kitchen trash. I don't like smelly trash cans. The small container for food scraps is covered and emptied more regularly. It also keeps pets out of the trash. -- Peace! Om All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
Ed ex@directory wrote in
: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed You don't have to do bugger-all to make it work. All that scientific stuff will get you efficiency improvements. Depending on a lot of things those improvements may be small or large. Start simple and figure out what could be better based on experience. I just use wire mesh "bins" which I turn no more often than monthly. In my cool dry climate it takes a season to produce good compost. I've got the time and the space, so... -- ---------------------------------------------------------------- A L B E R T A Alfred Falk R E S E A R C H Information Systems Dept (780)450-5185 C O U N C I L 250 Karl Clark Road Edmonton, Alberta, Canada http://www.arc.ab.ca/ T6N 1E4 http://outside.arc.ab.ca/staff/falk/ |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Fri, 1 Aug 2008 11:08:51 -0700 (PDT), Sheldon wrote:
On Aug 1, 1:40?pm, AZ Nomad wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually ?I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? ?I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? ?I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? ?Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. ?I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) ?Also makes great compost. Composting is a verb... you compost to make humus. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus Yes, and compost is a noun. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compost Main Entry: com·post Function: noun Etymology: Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin compostum, from Latin, neuter of compositus, compostus, past participle of componere Date: 1587 1 : a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land 2 : mixture, compound |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Aug 1, 12:17*pm, Ed ex@directory wrote:
I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually *I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access.. But what to do next? *I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? *I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? *Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed also if i ever come across a worm on the sidewalk he/she goes into the compost. (alive!!!) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Aug 1, 12:17 pm, Ed ex@directory wrote:
I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed I would not use anything except chicken wire to line the boxes. You do need some air circulation. Other than that- you don't need to do anything except start adding compostable material. The beauty of compost is that it works all on its own. Sure, if it gets really dry you can hose it down a little. You can add stuff in distinct layers (kitchen scraps/grass/soil for example) and you might speed things up a bit. But none of that is necessary. Um, you mentioned pallets- are they solid on the bottom? Will it be impossible for worms to migrate into the compost? If so, you might want to put some soil with worms on the bottom to start. Chris |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
"z" wrote in message ... On Aug 1, 12:17 pm, Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed also if i ever come across a worm on the sidewalk he/she goes into the compost. (alive!!!) Composting works in every way that people choose to do it, organic stuff just can't help rotting down. I once tipped a wheelbarrow full of weeds onto the ground because I needed the wheel barrow for other purposes, and 4 days later when I picked them up, the centre was hot, it had started. Make as many containers as you can, and make them as big as you can. It'll work. Steve |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:08:51 -0700, Sheldon wrote:
On Aug 1, 1:40�pm, AZ Nomad wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:44:51 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually �I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? �I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? �I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? �Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. �I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. I use leaves and leave it in the rain gutters for a couple of years. :-) �Also makes great compost. Composting is a verb... you compost to make humus. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus --- Look up "compost" in your merriam-webster and you will see... Main Entry: com·post Function: noun 1 : a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land 2 : mixture, compound .... as the first definition. Second definition is the verb form. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
Sheldon wrote:
snip... Composting is a verb... you compost to make humus. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus --- And you mash chickpeas to make hummus... -- John McGaw [Knoxville, TN, USA] http://johnmcgaw.com |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:18:24 -0400, John McGaw wrote:
Sheldon wrote: snip... Composting is a verb... you compost to make humus. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus --- And you mash chickpeas to make hummus... That's why his gyros taste so awfull. He's been using compost. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Aug 1, 3:35 pm, z wrote:
also if i ever come across a worm on the sidewalk he/she It. Earthworms are hermaphrodites. goes into the compost. (alive!!!) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article
, Father Haskell wrote: On Aug 1, 3:35 pm, z wrote: also if i ever come across a worm on the sidewalk he/she It. Earthworms are hermaphrodites. If they come to California they can get married ;O) -- Billy Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
"Omelet" wrote in message ... Composting is a verb... you compost to make humus. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/humus --- How do you build your compost/humus heaps Shel' baby? -- Peace! Om He talks into it. David |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message ... I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Depends on temperature. Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? You can but it isn't absolutely essential I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Sounds OK to me Do I have to add accelerators? not unless you want it to go fast Do I have to add lime? it will degrade quite well without it, you may want to lime your garden as compost comes out slightly acidic but it depends on your soil and overall conditions how important this is Do I have to turn it? Only if you want it to work at maximum speed Do I add worms? no they will find there own way there Do I have to pee on it LOL!! no but it is a useful thing to do with that resource Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Calm down it is not such a big deal. You can try to be super scientific but if you are not it will still work but take longer. David |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote: "Ed" ex@directory wrote in message ... I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Depends on temperature. Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? You can but it isn't absolutely essential I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Sounds OK to me Do I have to add accelerators? not unless you want it to go fast Do I have to add lime? it will degrade quite well without it, you may want to lime your garden as compost comes out slightly acidic but it depends on your soil and overall conditions how important this is Do I have to turn it? Only if you want it to work at maximum speed Do I add worms? no they will find there own way there Do I have to pee on it LOL!! no but it is a useful thing to do with that resource Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Calm down it is not such a big deal. You can try to be super scientific but if you are not it will still work but take longer. David My Dad runs PVC pipe about his pile. The 6 or 8 inch diameter pipe has holes in it. Think pipe to defuse water but in this case it defuses oxygen. AKA less need to turn. Bill -- Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article
, Billy wrote: In article , Father Haskell wrote: On Aug 1, 3:35 pm, z wrote: also if i ever come across a worm on the sidewalk he/she It. Earthworms are hermaphrodites. If they come to California they can get married ;O) -- Billy To themselves? g -- Peace! Om All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Just dump it in a pile and keep it damp. Does not matter whether you layer it or otherwise. It's really not rocket science. g I personally use construction grade giant trash bags. Fill them and leave them open at the top. I let them sit for a year or so. Makes great compost. A simple alternative is to dig a small trench. Put your kitchen scrapes into it, and then cover it back over. -- Billy Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On 02/08/08 15:12, David Hare-Scott wrote:
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message ... I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Depends on temperature. Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? You can but it isn't absolutely essential I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Sounds OK to me Do I have to add accelerators? not unless you want it to go fast Do I have to add lime? it will degrade quite well without it, you may want to lime your garden as compost comes out slightly acidic but it depends on your soil and overall conditions how important this is Do I have to turn it? Only if you want it to work at maximum speed Do I add worms? no they will find there own way there Do I have to pee on it LOL!! no but it is a useful thing to do with that resource Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Calm down it is not such a big deal. You can try to be super scientific but if you are not it will still work but take longer. David hey David. you give good practical advice. I think I go with wot u say. Thanks,, Ed xxx |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
Ed,
To answer some of your questions: You want to have a natural air flow through the pile, so don't line it with anything. Most important is to keep the pile moist. Dry piles don't go anywhere. Certain things can add to the speed of the processing. One of these is to chop up everything as fine as you can. I take leaves and grass that have been run through a lawn mower. Straight whole leaves tend to pack together and slow things down. You can add an accelerant, like some fertilizer, but it is not absolutely necessary. I try to alternate the layers of the pile with green (i.e. grass) and brown (leaves). Turn the pile ( I try and do this at least once a season ) putting the dry unprocessed material on the bottom and the dark processed matter, on top. Water tends to settle to the bottom and that's where you want to assist the parts of the pile that are not quite cooked yet. Sherwin |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On 03/08/08 04:54, Sherwin wrote:
Ed, To answer some of your questions: You want to have a natural air flow through the pile, so don't line it with anything. Most important is to keep the pile moist. Dry piles don't go anywhere. Certain things can add to the speed of the processing. One of these is to chop up everything as fine as you can. I take leaves and grass that have been run through a lawn mower. Straight whole leaves tend to pack together and slow things down. You can add an accelerant, like some fertilizer, but it is not absolutely necessary. I try to alternate the layers of the pile with green (i.e. grass) and brown (leaves). Turn the pile ( I try and do this at least once a season ) putting the dry unprocessed material on the bottom and the dark processed matter, on top. Water tends to settle to the bottom and that's where you want to assist the parts of the pile that are not quite cooked yet. Sherwin Thanks Sherwin. That is very clear advice. Ed |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:15:40 -0500, Omelet
wrote: I have a compost bucket in the kitchen. Food leavings (other than corn husks and cobs) never go in the kitchen trash. I don't like smelly trash cans. The small container for food scraps is covered and emptied more regularly. Mine go thru the ultimate composters, chickens and pigs. Pity you can't find them for $19.95 on late night tv. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
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Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:03:41 -0500, Omelet wrote:
In article , se (JustTom) wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:15:40 -0500, Omelet wrote: I have a compost bucket in the kitchen. Food leavings (other than corn husks and cobs) never go in the kitchen trash. I don't like smelly trash cans. The small container for food scraps is covered and emptied more regularly. Mine go thru the ultimate composters, chickens and pigs. Pity you can't find them for $19.95 on late night tv. Heh! I used to take that bucket out to the chicken yard when I had poultry! City ordinances changed over time and made it inconvenient to keep them any more. No pigs allowed in the city limits. No. Only in the drive through lines at fast food restaurants. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
AZ Nomad wrote: On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:03:41 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , se (JustTom) wrote: On Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:15:40 -0500, Omelet wrote: I have a compost bucket in the kitchen. Food leavings (other than corn husks and cobs) never go in the kitchen trash. I don't like smelly trash cans. The small container for food scraps is covered and emptied more regularly. Mine go thru the ultimate composters, chickens and pigs. Pity you can't find them for $19.95 on late night tv. Heh! I used to take that bucket out to the chicken yard when I had poultry! City ordinances changed over time and made it inconvenient to keep them any more. No pigs allowed in the city limits. No. Only in the drive through lines at fast food restaurants. snicker And Wal-mart. -- Peace! Om All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
"Ed" ex@directory wrote in message ... I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well. So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3. I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access. But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am utterly confused. Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration? Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine, maybe throw in some straw if it available. Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!! Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly sickly sludge that it no good for anything. Ed Composting obviously doesn't have to complex or difficult. That being said, there is an excellent work on composting available on the web at: http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0.../03010200.html Chas |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:49:43 GMT, "debnchas"
wrote: Composting obviously doesn't have to complex or difficult. That being said, there is an excellent work on composting available on the web at: http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0.../03010200.html Good stuff. I just scored a copy of the original "Let it rot" in a homesteading lot I bought last week but haven't had a chance to thumb thru it yet. I need some help with a fairly large vermicomposting bin design to process rabbitry waste, preserve the "liquid gold", and not kill my back. Anyone have any ideas? |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:32:42 -0500, Omelet
wrote: In article , se (JustTom) wrote: On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:49:43 GMT, "debnchas" wrote: Composting obviously doesn't have to complex or difficult. That being said, there is an excellent work on composting available on the web at: http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0.../03010200.html Good stuff. I just scored a copy of the original "Let it rot" in a homesteading lot I bought last week but haven't had a chance to thumb thru it yet. I need some help with a fairly large vermicomposting bin design to process rabbitry waste, preserve the "liquid gold", and not kill my back. Anyone have any ideas? I was at a rabbit farm once that built the composting "bins" out of wood right under the rabbit cages, and stocked them with worms. The worms did not look that healthy tho', kinda pale and slender. That might work if it was managed properly to keep it from becoming too acidic. I;ve seen those, but I'm redesigning my barn to have the rabbits on the second floor and sliding the waste out of a drain to the bins outside. Most of the acidic urine will be washed out before making it to the bins, and they tend to stay away from the "hot corner" anyway. I'm kind of thinking of something modular like the "can o worms" thing, only on a much larger scale. I'd like it to be modular in design so that I could capture all of that lovely "liquid gold" the worm also produce. A little bit of that on the plants and they become very very happy. I'd also like to easily remove a section of compost without killing my back, and allow stacking new modules as needed, just like the can o worms thing. I currently basically just use the manure straight or diluted as manure tea, but I'd like the worms to refine it further for me. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
se (JustTom) wrote: On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:32:42 -0500, Omelet wrote: In article , se (JustTom) wrote: On Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:49:43 GMT, "debnchas" wrote: Composting obviously doesn't have to complex or difficult. That being said, there is an excellent work on composting available on the web at: http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/0.../03010200.html Good stuff. I just scored a copy of the original "Let it rot" in a homesteading lot I bought last week but haven't had a chance to thumb thru it yet. I need some help with a fairly large vermicomposting bin design to process rabbitry waste, preserve the "liquid gold", and not kill my back. Anyone have any ideas? I was at a rabbit farm once that built the composting "bins" out of wood right under the rabbit cages, and stocked them with worms. The worms did not look that healthy tho', kinda pale and slender. That might work if it was managed properly to keep it from becoming too acidic. I;ve seen those, but I'm redesigning my barn to have the rabbits on the second floor and sliding the waste out of a drain to the bins outside. Most of the acidic urine will be washed out before making it to the bins, and they tend to stay away from the "hot corner" anyway. I'm kind of thinking of something modular like the "can o worms" thing, only on a much larger scale. I'd like it to be modular in design so that I could capture all of that lovely "liquid gold" the worm also produce. A little bit of that on the plants and they become very very happy. The worm castings are she on top of the soil (I gather them in my yard during the rainy season) in little piles. You can scoop them by hand. :-) I'd also like to easily remove a section of compost without killing my back, and allow stacking new modules as needed, just like the can o worms thing. I currently basically just use the manure straight or diluted as manure tea, but I'd like the worms to refine it further for me. Coffee grounds make worms happy too, as does vegetable compost. :-) Are there any vermiculture lists? I've not looked. My back yard is full of red worms so I've never had to box or buy them. -- Peace! Om All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. - Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article
, Billy wrote: In article , Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: A simple alternative is to dig a small trench. Put your kitchen scrapes into it, and then cover it back over. Don't do that if you have black bears in the area. They'll find it and dig it up. My MIL could never figure out why she always had a bear in her yard... I run my kitchen scraps through my hens, then use the end product in the garden. Jan |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
On Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:56:49 -0500, Omelet
wrote: Are there any vermiculture lists? I've not looked. My back yard is full of red worms so I've never had to box or buy them. Not that I could find on usenet, but found a few on yahoo groups. |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
Jan Flora wrote: In article , Billy wrote: In article , Omelet wrote: In article , Ed ex@directory wrote: A simple alternative is to dig a small trench. Put your kitchen scrapes into it, and then cover it back over. Don't do that if you have black bears in the area. They'll find it and dig it up. My MIL could never figure out why she always had a bear in her yard... I run my kitchen scraps through my hens, then use the end product in the garden. Jan Note to self: check for black bears ;O) -- Billy Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
In article ,
Omelet wrote: Coffee grounds make worms happy but apparently not zucchini. I can only presume that the pH of the coffee grounds was to low. The zucks wilted in the late morning light.They are recovering now but aren't happy campers. I put the grounds right where the stem comes out of the ground. I've put coffee grounds in the lettuce patch in the past, with no reaction. -- Billy Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related |
Compost Making. Utterly Confused!!
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