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Suggestions for mulch/compost bin ?
Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to
replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don |
Don,
I must preface this by saying that I live in Wake County, not a town, so basically, we can "do what ever we want as long as we don't scare the horses" (to quote Lady Astor or someone, probably about anarchists protesting in the streets). Anyway, you might want to experiment with compost "sans container" until you find the right container. I have one of the smaller tumbler composters -- end over end vs. the thing with the crank. However, what I actually use is a pile in a corner here and there that I can actually turn over with a pitchfork. But, as I said, I'm out in the county, so "attractiveness" is not a concern. What ever you choose, if the container is designed to be turned, consider how much you can put into it and still be able to move it!!! I have some compost in two large wire "circles" that were already here when I bought my house. Stuff composts just fine there, but *getting it out* is tricky for me (I'm only 5'4"). Good luck, Anne Lurie NE Raleigh "DonS" wrote in message om... Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don |
A follow-up to my earlier answer:
"Froogle" for compost bin to get an idea what bins are available! http://froogle.google.com/ (Froogle is Google's online shopping area.) Anne Lurie NE Raleigh Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! "DonS" wrote in message om... Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don |
You'll find the best selection at http://www.gardeners.com/.... Their
pyramid composter is well designed and if you search around the web you can find a 20% off coupon. ~80. "DonS" wrote in message om... Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don |
Anne Lurie wrote:
... Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! In the ground? What other veggies can be planted now? -- Susan Hogarth |
Susan Hogarth wrote:
Anne Lurie wrote: ... Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! In the ground? What other veggies can be planted now? I am putting mine out today. I will put a light weight cold frame over them until the nights are consistantly warmer. The cold frame is made form 1/2 inch PVC pipe with plastic sheeting stretched over it. Not Pretty but it works. This year I started the lettuce and some early tomatoes in the little compressed peat pellets that all garden supplies are selling in 72 pak with a plastic tray and clear plastic cover. Very close to 100% germination in less than a week. mpm |
On 2005-03-06, DonS wrote:
Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don Wake County used to sell them at the dump site off the 55bypass around Holly Springs for $35-40$. I think there is another site closer to Raleigh also. -- Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please. is a garbage address. |
On 2005-03-07, Susan Hogarth wrote:
Anne Lurie wrote: ... Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! In the ground? What other veggies can be planted now? Sugar peas, mustard, collards, radish turnips, kale, Irish potaotes, chard. -- Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please. is a garbage address. |
On 2005-03-07, Jeff Springer wrote:
You'll find the best selection at http://www.gardeners.com/.... Their pyramid composter is well designed and if you search around the web you can find a 20% off coupon. ~80. http://www.wakegov.com/county/recycl...ds/compost.htm Last time I checked, mailorder compost bins were expensive when you added price plus shipping. "DonS" wrote in message om... Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don -- Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please. is a garbage address. |
mpm wrote:
Susan Hogarth wrote: Anne Lurie wrote: ... Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! In the ground? What other veggies can be planted now? I am putting mine out today. I will put a light weight cold frame over them until the nights are consistantly warmer. The cold frame is made form 1/2 inch PVC pipe with plastic sheeting stretched over it. Not Pretty but it works. This year I started the lettuce and some early tomatoes in the little compressed peat pellets that all garden supplies are selling in 72 pak with a plastic tray and clear plastic cover. Very close to 100% germination in less than a week. Yeah, I've gottena few of those, but haven't yet planted them. Will start today. -- Susan Hogarth "For it is very clear that in fundamental theory socialism and democracy are almost if not quite the one and the same. They both rest at bottom on the absolute right of the community to determine its own destiny and that of its members." - W. Wilson |
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"Susan Hogarth" wrote in message ... mpm wrote: Susan Hogarth wrote: Anne Lurie wrote: ... Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! In the ground? What other veggies can be planted now? I am putting mine out today. I will put a light weight cold frame over them until the nights are consistantly warmer. The cold frame is made form 1/2 inch PVC pipe with plastic sheeting stretched over it. Not Pretty but it works. This year I started the lettuce and some early tomatoes in the little compressed peat pellets that all garden supplies are selling in 72 pak with a plastic tray and clear plastic cover. Very close to 100% germination in less than a week. Yeah, I've gottena few of those, but haven't yet planted them. Will start today. -- Susan Hogarth "For it is very clear that in fundamental theory socialism and democracy are almost if not quite the one and the same. They both rest at bottom on the absolute right of the community to determine its own destiny and that of its members." - W. Wilson I have a ton of seedlings started in my kitchen all doing well. I have the 4 shelf plastic greenhouse with cover and it is working quite well. Getting them planted next month will be another story :) Jo |
If you use a rubbermaid trash can and drill holes on the sides and bottom,
it should work fine. Just make sure that the lid has a good locking mechanism, so when you roll it around, everything doesn't come flying out. You can also contact the Town of Holly Springs - they sell round, black compost bins for $35 each. I believe that the City of Raleigh -- Recycling sells them too, for about the same cost. Look in the phone book under City of Raleigh or Town of Holly Springs. I used two of the round ones for about 5 years and they worked great. I have since moved to N. Raleigh and have a huge pile on the back of my property - my yard is much larger and there's no way I could contain it in the canisters. Penny "DonS" wrote in message om... Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don |
In article ,
Jo wrote: I thought beans and peas were not transplant friendly? Let me know how it goes with the transplanting. I would love to give it a try next year. I guess I was unclear. The peas are sown directly in the garden under a floating row cover. They don't get transplanted. -- Steve |
On 2005-03-07, Susan Hogarth wrote:
wrote: On 2005-03-07, Susan Hogarth wrote: Anne Lurie wrote: ... Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! In the ground? What other veggies can be planted now? Sugar peas, mustard, collards, radish turnips, kale, Irish potaotes, chard. Mmm, turnips. I've just started cooking with them and love them. Can they be sown directly this early, or should I sprout them first? This time of year you will only get greens. You have to plant late summer to fall to get the root. The heat here will make them bold and go to seed before the roots are well formed. -- Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please. is a garbage address. |
Ann,
I keep a large wire "circle" in the middle of my garden, was once a tomato cage. It's very convenient to just pile stuff in it, I don't really bother to turn it, the composted stuff just eventually gets fine enough to come out the bottom between the wire. Every once in a while I push the whole thing over to spread out the good stuff from the bottom that hasn't already fallen out and put the uncomposted stuff back into the hoop. I also have a compost bin made of pallets too, which is no where near as convenient to use. I put compost from chicken pen in it and kitchen scraps that the chickens won't eat. Pretty much only put garden compost in the garden hoop, mostly just a matter of convenience. Eileen PS Also do not live in town. Anne Lurie wrote: Don, I must preface this by saying that I live in Wake County, not a town, so basically, we can "do what ever we want as long as we don't scare the horses" (to quote Lady Astor or someone, probably about anarchists protesting in the streets). Anyway, you might want to experiment with compost "sans container" until you find the right container. I have one of the smaller tumbler composters -- end over end vs. the thing with the crank. However, what I actually use is a pile in a corner here and there that I can actually turn over with a pitchfork. But, as I said, I'm out in the county, so "attractiveness" is not a concern. What ever you choose, if the container is designed to be turned, consider how much you can put into it and still be able to move it!!! I have some compost in two large wire "circles" that were already here when I bought my house. Stuff composts just fine there, but *getting it out* is tricky for me (I'm only 5'4"). Good luck, Anne Lurie NE Raleigh "DonS" wrote in message om... Hi. My existing compost "bin" has died, and I am in search of something to replace it. It was the basic 4 pallets on end, and they have rotted. I went by Lowe's, HD and Wal-Mart, but none had a compost bin. I thought I remember seeing one of the black plastic ones at Lowe's last year, but the guy there swears they never carried them. The Town of Cary web site suggests using trash cans. It said to drill holes in the sides and bottom, and keep covered with the lid. It sounds like a good idea, as you could just roll the trash can to mix the contents. I would appreciate input on what has worked best. Thanx....don |
wrote:
On 2005-03-07, Susan Hogarth wrote: wrote: On 2005-03-07, Susan Hogarth wrote: Anne Lurie wrote: ... Hey, I'm planting lettuce tomorrow! In the ground? What other veggies can be planted now? Sugar peas, mustard, collards, radish turnips, kale, Irish potaotes, chard. Mmm, turnips. I've just started cooking with them and love them. Can they be sown directly this early, or should I sprout them first? This time of year you will only get greens. You have to plant late summer to fall to get the root. The heat here will make them bold and go to seed before the roots are well formed. Thanks! Didn't realise that. -- Susan Hogarth "For it is very clear that in fundamental theory socialism and democracy are almost if not quite the one and the same. They both rest at bottom on the absolute right of the community to determine its own destiny and that of its members." - W. Wilson |
"Steve" wrote in message ... In article , Jo wrote: I thought beans and peas were not transplant friendly? Let me know how it goes with the transplanting. I would love to give it a try next year. I guess I was unclear. The peas are sown directly in the garden under a floating row cover. They don't get transplanted. -- Steve Oh thanks Steve.... Still an excellent idea for next year. Jo |
Jo asked
I thought beans and peas were not transplant friendly? Let me know how it goes with the transplanting. I would love to give it a try next year. Steve already clarified his post, but I'd like to add my own $.02! In my mind, there is a difference between "transplants" and "pre-sprouted seeds" -- admittedly, I can't claim much success with peas at all. However, I have tried various things like soaking peas overnight and planting them; soaking peas overnight, then planting them in a thin paper towel covering, etc. Also, despite the fact that peas & beans look much alike to us humans, my understanding is that they are very different in the temperatures they prefer! I.e., you can theoretically plant peas when it is cold, but beans like a certain warmth before they will germinate, let alone grow. Just my opinion! Plus I have to confess that when I said I planned to plant lettuce on March 7th, I had not been paying enough attention to the weather forecast! (The seeds might have been fine, but the gardener chickened out! LOL) Anne Lurie Raleigh, NC |
Don,
I realize that some dogs will go after anything, but if you make sure your compost has only vegetative matter (no meat scraps, no dairy), they should not be rooting through it. Now, rolling in compost is another matter! Anne Lurie NE Raleigh wrote in message Thanks for the input and links. I forgot to mention that I have dogs, so an open mulch pile is not an option for me. |
Anne Lurie wrote:
Don, I realize that some dogs will go after anything, but if you make sure your compost has only vegetative matter (no meat scraps, no dairy), they should not be rooting through it. Now, rolling in compost is another matter! You've never had a beagle, have you? My male beag -prefers- fruits to meat! He can't be bothered to get his lazy old butt off the couch for a biscuit (he'll consent to eat it if you deliver it) and just looks mildly interested if you are eating something meaty, but bite into an apple and he is there jumping all over you and *trembling* with desire. He can't hear me calling him at the top of my voice from 3 feet away, but crack a banana off the bunch in the kitchen and he's there from the living room like a shot! If I want an apple for breakfast I have to sneak it out of the house to eat in peace. In the summer the beags will get into the neighbor's tomatoes and eat them off the vine. (oops) In the spring we can't walk on campus without a careful leash because Ed gorges himself on mulberries and tries to eat underripe peaches. I have seen my *collie-thing* pick blackberries off the bush! He also picks pears off the tree, but less to eat than to be helpful, we think, since he just drops them. I guess the beags have him brainwashed ;-) The male beagle has to be dragged away from under the apple and pear trees when they are dropping fruit - he will eat as much as we allow him to. -- Susan Hogarth | What's so special about Annabelle? http://annabelle.big-head-ed.com/ |
Susan Hogarth wrote:
compost has only vegetative matter (no meat scraps, no dairy), they should You've never had a beagle, have you? My male beag -prefers- fruits .. interested if you are eating something meaty, but bite into an apple and he is there jumping all over you and *trembling* with desire. He can't hear me calling him at the top of my voice from 3 feet away, but crack a banana off This is getting a bit off-topic, but I can't resist adding that one of the three Scotties in my life was insane about oranges. She could be sound asleep in the back of the house, and if you, as silently as you possibly could, took an orange out of the bowl on the table, suddenly she was sitting there, grinning hungrily. Nobody in that house ever ate a whole orange while she was alive--she always got her share. :-) _______________________________________________ Ken Kuzenski AC4RD ken . kuzenski at duke .edu _______________________________________________ All disclaimers apply, see? www.duke.edu/~kuzen001 |
"Anne Lurie" wrote in message ... Jo asked I thought beans and peas were not transplant friendly? Let me know how it goes with the transplanting. I would love to give it a try next year. Steve already clarified his post, but I'd like to add my own $.02! In my mind, there is a difference between "transplants" and "pre-sprouted seeds" -- admittedly, I can't claim much success with peas at all. However, I have tried various things like soaking peas overnight and planting them; soaking peas overnight, then planting them in a thin paper towel covering, etc. Also, despite the fact that peas & beans look much alike to us humans, my understanding is that they are very different in the temperatures they prefer! I.e., you can theoretically plant peas when it is cold, but beans like a certain warmth before they will germinate, let alone grow. Just my opinion! Plus I have to confess that when I said I planned to plant lettuce on March 7th, I had not been paying enough attention to the weather forecast! (The seeds might have been fine, but the gardener chickened out! LOL) Anne Lurie Raleigh, NC The weather has been very strange. That storm a few days ago had me jump out of my skin! Jo |
"Susan Hogarth" wrote in message m... Anne Lurie wrote: Don, I realize that some dogs will go after anything, but if you make sure your compost has only vegetative matter (no meat scraps, no dairy), they should not be rooting through it. Now, rolling in compost is another matter! You've never had a beagle, have you? My male beag -prefers- fruits to meat! He can't be bothered to get his lazy old butt off the couch for a biscuit (he'll consent to eat it if you deliver it) and just looks mildly interested if you are eating something meaty, but bite into an apple and he is there jumping all over you and *trembling* with desire. He can't hear me calling him at the top of my voice from 3 feet away, but crack a banana off the bunch in the kitchen and he's there from the living room like a shot! If I want an apple for breakfast I have to sneak it out of the house to eat in peace. In the summer the beags will get into the neighbor's tomatoes and eat them off the vine. (oops) In the spring we can't walk on campus without a careful leash because Ed gorges himself on mulberries and tries to eat underripe peaches. I have seen my *collie-thing* pick blackberries off the bush! He also picks pears off the tree, but less to eat than to be helpful, we think, since he just drops them. I guess the beags have him brainwashed ;-) The male beagle has to be dragged away from under the apple and pear trees when they are dropping fruit - he will eat as much as we allow him to. -- Susan Hogarth | What's so special about Annabelle? http://annabelle.big-head-ed.com/ My boxers too. They love veggies and fruit. When I make their food for them I always put extra carrots and green beans in for them. They are their favorites. They also go after my vegetarian food. :) I had always thought dogs were pure carnivores as well. I have seen dogs who won't even touch meat. Jo |
Today Dear Abby:
DEAR ABBY: Please alert other dog lovers about something our family learned this week after spending hundreds of dollars at an emergency veterinary clinic: Dogs can become seriously ill or die from eating grapes, raisins, onions and garlic. Our darling puppy may have permanent kidney damage because, in our ignorance, we left a bowl of grapes on the dinner table. I hope other families will read this and keep their pets safe. Thanks for spreading the word. -- GERMAN SHEPHERD MOM, THORNTON, COLO. DEAR SHEPHERD MOM: Consider it done ... a "woof" to the wise. Jo wrote: "Susan Hogarth" wrote in message m... Anne Lurie wrote: Don, I realize that some dogs will go after anything, but if you make sure your compost has only vegetative matter (no meat scraps, no dairy), they should not be rooting through it. Now, rolling in compost is another matter! You've never had a beagle, have you? My male beag -prefers- fruits to meat! He can't be bothered to get his lazy old butt off the couch for a biscuit (he'll consent to eat it if you deliver it) and just looks mildly interested if you are eating something meaty, but bite into an apple and he is there jumping all over you and *trembling* with desire. He can't hear me calling him at the top of my voice from 3 feet away, but crack a banana off the bunch in the kitchen and he's there from the living room like a shot! If I want an apple for breakfast I have to sneak it out of the house to eat in peace. In the summer the beags will get into the neighbor's tomatoes and eat them off the vine. (oops) In the spring we can't walk on campus without a careful leash because Ed gorges himself on mulberries and tries to eat underripe peaches. I have seen my *collie-thing* pick blackberries off the bush! He also picks pears off the tree, but less to eat than to be helpful, we think, since he just drops them. I guess the beags have him brainwashed ;-) The male beagle has to be dragged away from under the apple and pear trees when they are dropping fruit - he will eat as much as we allow him to. -- Susan Hogarth | What's so special about Annabelle? http://annabelle.big-head-ed.com/ My boxers too. They love veggies and fruit. When I make their food for them I always put extra carrots and green beans in for them. They are their favorites. They also go after my vegetarian food. :) I had always thought dogs were pure carnivores as well. I have seen dogs who won't even touch meat. Jo |
wrote:
Today Dear Abby: DEAR ABBY: Please alert other dog lovers about something our family learned this week after spending hundreds of dollars at an emergency veterinary clinic: Dogs can become seriously ill or die from eating grapes, raisins, onions and garlic. Our darling puppy may have permanent kidney damage because, in our ignorance, we left a bowl of grapes on the dinner table. I hope other families will read this and keep their pets safe. Thanks for spreading the word. -- GERMAN SHEPHERD MOM, THORNTON, COLO. Thanks. The grapes/raisins thing is a bit overblown in my opinion. Sure, a small dog might die from eating a pound of grapes - but if you ate the equivalent amount of grapes *you'd* be in serious trouble too. An occasional bit of onion or garlic or chocolate won't make a dog keel over as many people have been taught to fear. Just use noral precautions (which, with beagles, means leaving NOTHING edible laying in reach). However, in general most veggies and fruits can be safely given to dogs in moderation. Dogs are omnivorous like humans, and most enjoy a wide variety of foods. Sorry; off-topic! -- Susan Hogarth | What's so special about Annabelle? http://annabelle.big-head-ed.com/ |
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