Ferg123 writes:

As a product designer, my aim is to design a product which overcomes
problems with certain tasks.
When I researched composting in the garden, several issues were
highlighted:
-Some foods which when composted attract Rodents (Eggshells for
example).

Discussed recently here.
Don't put meat in the compost. I'm less convinced about
eggshells.

-In the heat of summer, compost heaps can give off bad odours.

Not true. (Unless you're putting meat in the compost.)

-the task of mixing compost with a spade or fork can be difficult for some
people such as the elderly or the less mobile.

Absolutely. I'm 66 and staying young turning a really massive pile
by hand. Actually, I dig and sift it through a screen. Once a year.
Anything not broken down yet goes back in the pile.

I found the idea of making a rotating bin interesting as it means rodents
can not get near the waste, the odours are contained within a sealed
container and it reduces the energy needed to turn the compost (if
designed properly).

There are no odors (IMO) but I don't think a bin will keep the odors
in. I wouldn't expect a bin to be airtight.

I understand the issue of a plastic monstrosity but if aesthetically
suited to the garden I feel it could be a potentially popular product.

I think color might help, but not green. At least in my case, in the
summer the compost is fully hidden by the trees. It's in the winter
that I see it. I've put a few holly seedlings in the yard with the
idea of hiding the pile even in the winter. I'd want any bin to be
black or brown.

Thanks Dan, really appreciate people giving their input

Even negative input, I hope.

--
Dan Espen

On Feb 21, 2:43*pm, Dan Espen wrote:
Ferg123 writes:
As a product designer, my aim is to design a product which overcomes
problems with certain tasks.
When I researched composting in the garden, several issues were
highlighted:
-Some foods which *when composted attract Rodents (Eggshells for
example).

Discussed recently here.
Don't put meat in the compost. * I'm less convinced about
eggshells.

-In the heat of summer, compost heaps can give off bad odours.

Not true. *(Unless you're putting meat in the compost.)

-the task of mixing compost with a spade or fork can be difficult for some
people such as the elderly or the less mobile.

Absolutely. *I'm 66 and staying young turning a really massive pile
by hand. *Actually, I dig and sift it through a screen. *Once a year.
Anything not broken down yet goes back in the pile.

I found the idea of making a rotating bin interesting as it means rodents
can not get near the waste, the odours are contained within a sealed
container and it reduces the energy needed to turn the compost (if
designed properly).

There are no odors (IMO) but I don't think a bin will keep the odors
in. *I wouldn't expect a bin to be airtight.

I understand the issue of a plastic monstrosity but if aesthetically
suited to the garden I feel it could be a potentially popular product.

I think color might help, but not green. *At least in my case, in the
summer the compost is fully hidden by the trees. *It's in the winter
that I see it. *I've put a few holly seedlings in the yard with the
idea of hiding the pile even in the winter. *I'd want any bin to be
black or brown.

Thanks Dan, really appreciate people giving their input

Even negative input, I hope.

--
Dan Espen

***This is a general reply, not just to Dan, about why I just quit
composting. Excuse detailed post.

Last year or so, some neighbors and I bought a bin sold for $40
(discounted) by the City - this is So. Calif Coastal. It consisted
of four square plastic components that fit into each other vertically
(and could be taken apart individually). The idea was to fill it up,
water properly, etc. and when deemed appropriate, reverse the whole
thing by removing the top component, placing it elsewhere,
pitchforking its content into the top one which is now the bottom one,
et. seq. You would then arrive at the content of the former bottom
square, which would in theory be ready-to-use compost. (There must be
an easier way to describe this?)

I did it once or twice, but found it a pain; not great results. Also,
my gardener kept putting in too much stuff, causing the composter to
bulge at the seams.

Now the City has announced that food waste may be added to the yard
waste bins. Result should be will be that their next quarterly free
distribution of
(lovely, fine-textured compost) will be even richer because of the
food waste.

So I have dismantled the bin and saved the little that looks something
like compost. I'll clean it out, put on Craigs List, see who bites.

Looking back over this and the previous composter, I probably should
have just made a pile at the back of the garden and turned
periodically w/pitchfork.

Anybody else think their municipality would set up such a program?

HB

Higgs Boson writes:

Now the City has announced that food waste may be added to the yard
waste bins. Result should be will be that their next quarterly free
distribution of
(lovely, fine-textured compost) will be even richer because of the
food waste.

So I have dismantled the bin and saved the little that looks something
like compost. I'll clean it out, put on Craigs List, see who bites.

Looking back over this and the previous composter, I probably should
have just made a pile at the back of the garden and turned
periodically w/pitchfork.

Anybody else think their municipality would set up such a program?

Ours collects branches twice a year but only collects yard waste
that has been placed in large paper bags that you must purchase.

How I'm supposed to fill about 40 of these large bags per year
is a mystery. I'd need some kind of mulcher and a lot of time.

Most of my neighbors use yard services.

I just create a big pile and late in August run it through a
framed screen. It ends up on the lawn or in a flower bed.
(Where I found the leaves in the first place.)

--
Dan Espen

On Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:31:24 -0500, Dan Espen
wrote:

Higgs Boson writes:

Now the City has announced that food waste may be added to the yard
waste bins. Result should be will be that their next quarterly free
distribution of
(lovely, fine-textured compost) will be even richer because of the
food waste.

So I have dismantled the bin and saved the little that looks something
like compost. I'll clean it out, put on Craigs List, see who bites.

Looking back over this and the previous composter, I probably should
have just made a pile at the back of the garden and turned
periodically w/pitchfork.

Anybody else think their municipality would set up such a program?

Ours collects branches twice a year but only collects yard waste
that has been placed in large paper bags that you must purchase.

How I'm supposed to fill about 40 of these large bags per year
is a mystery. I'd need some kind of mulcher and a lot of time.

Most of my neighbors use yard services.

I just create a big pile and late in August run it through a
framed screen. It ends up on the lawn or in a flower bed.
(Where I found the leaves in the first place.)

I mostly compost household waste in my composter. Most of my yard
waste gets dumped in the woods. I don't have grass clippings because
I use mulching blades.

On Feb 21, 6:40*pm, Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote:
On Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:31:24 -0500, Dan Espen
wrote:









Higgs Boson writes:

Now the City has announced that food waste may be added to the yard
waste bins. *Result should be will be that their next quarterly free
distribution of
(lovely, fine-textured compost) will be even richer because of the
food waste.

So I have dismantled the bin and saved the little that looks something
like compost. *I'll clean it out, put on Craigs List, see who bites.

Looking back over this and the previous composter, I probably should
have just made a pile at the back of the garden and turned
periodically w/pitchfork.

Anybody else think their municipality would set up such a program?

Ours collects branches twice a year but only collects yard waste
that has been placed in large paper bags that you must purchase.

How I'm supposed to fill about 40 of these large bags per year
is a mystery. *I'd need some kind of mulcher and a lot of time.

Most of my neighbors use yard services.

I just create a big pile and late in August run it through a
framed screen. *It ends up on the lawn or in a flower bed.
(Where I found the leaves in the first place.)

I mostly compost household waste in my composter. *Most of my yard
waste gets dumped in the woods. *I don't have grass clippings because
I use mulching blades.

Mmmm....maybe I should ask the gardener to do the same -- if he *has*
mulching blades. I can see that in the "winter" because grass doesn't
grow quite as fast, but in the summer? Wouldn't it create a thick
blanket of mulched grass? Remember, this is a mild "Mediterranean"
climate.

TIA

Higgs Boson wrote:
Brooklyn1 wrote:
Dan Espen wrote:
Higgs Boson writes:

Now the City has announced that food waste may be added to the yard
waste bins. *Result should be will be that their next quarterly free
distribution of
(lovely, fine-textured compost) will be even richer because of the
food waste.

So I have dismantled the bin and saved the little that looks something
like compost. *I'll clean it out, put on Craigs List, see who bites.

Looking back over this and the previous composter, I probably should
have just made a pile at the back of the garden and turned
periodically w/pitchfork.

Anybody else think their municipality would set up such a program?

Ours collects branches twice a year but only collects yard waste
that has been placed in large paper bags that you must purchase.

How I'm supposed to fill about 40 of these large bags per year
is a mystery. *I'd need some kind of mulcher and a lot of time.

Most of my neighbors use yard services.

I just create a big pile and late in August run it through a
framed screen. *It ends up on the lawn or in a flower bed.
(Where I found the leaves in the first place.)

I mostly compost household waste in my composter. *Most of my yard
waste gets dumped in the woods. *I don't have grass clippings because
I use mulching blades.

Mmmm....maybe I should ask the gardener to do the same -- if he *has*
mulching blades. I can see that in the "winter" because grass doesn't
grow quite as fast, but in the summer? Wouldn't it create a thick
blanket of mulched grass? Remember, this is a mild "Mediterranean"
climate.

I mow ten acres of lawn, no way can I collect the clippings. Mulching
blades chop grass blades into such tiny bits that on the first cut
parts they shrivel and disappear before I finish the last parts. By
the time I clean up and have the mowers put away there are no
clippings to be seen. I don't bother raking leaves, I mow them and
let the wind sweep them away. Downed trees, branches, and prunings
get piled in the woods for critter homes. My composter is for
household vegetation and for whatever comes from my veggie garden. I
don't have a gardner, I'm it. If you have a gardener doing your
mowing he should be using mulching blades or sucking up the clippings
and taking them away, if not then you don't need a gardner. If after
your gardner leaves you have to rake up debris then you are being
ripped off. People who end up with lots of clippings on their lawn
it's because they mow at too great a speed. You really ought to
consider mowing your own lawn.

On Feb 22, 6:16*am, Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote:
Higgs Boson wrote:
Brooklyn1 wrote:
Dan Espen wrote:
Higgs Boson writes:

Now the City has announced that food waste may be added to the yard
waste bins. *Result should be will be that their next quarterly free
distribution of
(lovely, fine-textured compost) will be even richer because of the
food waste.

So I have dismantled the bin and saved the little that looks something
like compost. *I'll clean it out, put on Craigs List, see who bites.

Looking back over this and the previous composter, I probably should
have just made a pile at the back of the garden and turned
periodically w/pitchfork.

Anybody else think their municipality would set up such a program?

Ours collects branches twice a year but only collects yard waste
that has been placed in large paper bags that you must purchase.

How I'm supposed to fill about 40 of these large bags per year
is a mystery. *I'd need some kind of mulcher and a lot of time.

Most of my neighbors use yard services.

I just create a big pile and late in August run it through a
framed screen. *It ends up on the lawn or in a flower bed.
(Where I found the leaves in the first place.)

I mostly compost household waste in my composter. *Most of my yard
waste gets dumped in the woods. *I don't have grass clippings because
I use mulching blades.

Mmmm....maybe I should ask the gardener to do the same -- if he *has*
mulching blades. *I can see that in the "winter" because grass doesn't
grow quite as fast, but in the summer? *Wouldn't it create a thick
blanket of mulched grass? *Remember, this is a mild "Mediterranean"
climate.

I mow ten acres of lawn, no way can I collect the clippings. *Mulching
blades chop grass blades into such tiny bits that on the first cut
parts they shrivel and disappear before I finish the last parts. *By
the time I clean up and have the mowers put away there are no
clippings to be seen. *I don't bother raking leaves, I mow them and
let the wind sweep them away. *Downed trees, branches, and prunings
get piled in the woods for critter homes. *My composter is for
household vegetation and for whatever comes from my veggie garden. *I
don't have a gardner, I'm it. *If you have a gardener doing your
mowing he should be using mulching blades or sucking up the clippings
and taking them away,

Sounds like you live in a really kewl rural area - woods! Wow!

As I said earlier, gardener had been putting grass clippings in the
composter until I stopped him doing it every week, but by then, it was
bulging.

if not then you don't need a gardner. *If after your gardner leaves
you have to rake up debris then you are being
ripped off.

No, I don't have to rake up debris. Gardener sweeps and blows.
Blowing is considered a capital offense by the City, so he has to be
very careful and blow at low revs in order not to get busted. There
are nuisance gardeners who blow loud and long, but he is not that
kind.

*People who end up with lots of clippings on their lawn it's because
they mow at too great a speed. *You really ought to consider mowing
your own lawn.

Actually, I have considered it from time to time. if I did, it would
be with an old push mower, as I don't have anywhere near 10 acres;
just a front & back lawn.
Part of the back is consumed by the veggie garden.

I keep the gardener because on alternate weekends he does a heavy job
that I don't have time, ability, or patience to do. All of his work
is class A.

Friday I will ask him about the mulching blade.


HB

On Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:48:53 -0800 (PST), Higgs Boson
wrote:

et. seq. You would then arrive at the content of the former bottom
square, which would in theory be ready-to-use compost. (There must be
an easier way to describe this?)

Inverting the contents.

The box type bins I've seen have an opening at the base you can shovel
the bottommost compost out of - slide straight in, pull out (think
pizza oven). if you really needed to rotate the compost in a bin, you
could shovel about a third out from the bottom and drop it on top, and
a week or two later, repeat the effort. This doesn't do a complete
inversion, but is reasonable. There is no need to relocate the bin.

Rotating a 50 gallon drum on an axle is a LOT easier.

I did it once or twice, but found it a pain; not great results. Also,
my gardener kept putting in too much stuff, causing the composter to
bulge at the seams.

Well, I think there's two sorts of home composting : someone with a
handful of garden clippings, plus the kitchen debris, and then someone
with an acre+ of yard to maintain, with tree limbs, leaves, grass
cuttings, and vegetable garden debris. The little composter can't
keep up with ALL of that - but if you put certain debris in there, you
can at least have a fast composter for some of your debris.

Now the City has announced that food waste may be added to the yard
waste bins. Result should be will be that their next quarterly free
distribution of
(lovely, fine-textured compost) will be even richer because of the
food waste.

The composting operations at municipal facilities are dealing with
such large volumes of compost that they've got no trouble maintaining
a high breakdown temperature. They can probably handle a small
quantity of meat in the compost bins without grief.

Anybody else think their municipality would set up such a program?

We've had green bind with the trash outfits for 2+ decades (the county
where I used to live was a very early adopter of curbside recycling,
not that reducing the landfil consumption rate meant that we'd pay any
lower a trash bill). With the exception of brambles, and sometimes
thorny citruses, I don't take any greenwaste to the landfill - all of
that goes into the compost. If my inlaws need a hand pruning the
garden, I haul my trailer over, we prune, and I load the stuff into my
trailer and haul it over here (it's always too much to manage in their
greenbin alone anyway) - hock it in the compost pile and let it do me
some good.

But then, I picked up about 5 cubic yards of composted horse manure
this past weekend (about 3400lbs I had to shovel out of my trailer in
two trailerloads) and have an order in for 40 cubic yards (delivered
by a semi trailer dumptruck with an extension trailer) of composted
duck manure - my favourite garden amendment. I'm always working to
add organic material to the garden to improve the tilth - it's not
enough to compost everything on site, I need MORE. g

On Feb 21, 8:00*pm, Sean Straw wrote:
On Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:48:53 -0800 (PST), Higgs Boson

wrote:
et. seq. *You would then arrive at the content of the former bottom
square, which would in theory be ready-to-use compost. *(There must be
an easier way to describe this?)

Inverting the contents.

The box type bins I've seen have an opening at the base you can shovel
the bottommost compost out of - slide straight in, pull out (think
pizza oven). *if you really needed to rotate the compost in a bin, you
could shovel about a third out from the bottom and drop it on top, and
a week or two later, repeat the effort. *This doesn't do a complete
inversion, but is reasonable. *There is no need to relocate the bin.

***That was the case with my former composter; had an opening at the
base. The one I am now decommissioning does not, so I call it a poor
design.

[...snip....]


HB