How to start and maintain a compost heap?

[MrsPinecone]

OP by QOTH:

We made our bin for free using old pallets we got from behind the store (with permission) we nailed 3 sides together and hinged the 4th so that you can open it and turn it.

What you want to do is acheive a good balance of brown and green.

Brown would be leaves, newspaper (uncolored), paper, coffee grounds (you can get big bags of used coffee grounds for free at starbucks)

Greens would be kitchen scraps, grass clippings, etc.

You want to strive for a 50-50 mix of brown and green. You want to make a pile aprox 4x4 if you can. And you want to turn it when you get a chance with a pitch fork or something. The more you turn it the faster you will get compost.

You need to keep it moist but not wet. Damp as a wrung out sponge.

Things to avoid are pet and human waste, meat, dairy, bones. - these are either unhealthfull to you or attract rodents.

You will have bugs and worms in your compost bin as they are part of the decompostion process but your bin should not smell bad. It should smell earthy. If it smells bad its because its either too wet or you have too much green stuff in there. Grass clippings can be a culprit so make sure you mix your grass clippings with leaves or something brown first or let them dry out a few days b4 adding to the bin.

Compost can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to happen depending on how often you turn it. Once you have your "black gold" you just add it to your soil.


From www.compostguide.com: (http://www.compostguide.com:/)

Tips for better composting

1. Don't throw away your kitchen scraps -- add them to the compost pile. Kitchen scraps are typically high in nitrogen, which helps heat up the compost pile and speed up the composting process. Egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels and scraps are all outstanding materials to add.

2. If you're composting with a compost pile, bigger is often better. Heat builds up with a big pile. You don't want to get much bigger than about 3 feet by 3 feet though.

3. Keep your compost aerated! If you are composting with a tumbling composter, make sure you turn it whenever you add new materials. If you are composting with a pile, or in a static (non-tumbling) compost bin, be sure to mix up the contents so that the pile gets oxygen and can break down effectively. Use a compost aerating tool like this one.

4. Don't let the compost completely dry out. A compost pile needs moisture to keep the composting process active.

5. Don't keep your compost too wet so that it gets soggy and starts to stink. Just as too dry is bad, too wet is also something that you should avoid.

6. Too much of any one material will slow down the composting process. If you have all leaves, all grass clippings or an overload of any other single type of material, it can throw off the balance of the pile. In general, it's good to keep a mix of green and brown material (see main page for more details on this).

[mama22qts]

Throw them in your garden, if you don't do compost. They are a great way to add nitrogen to the soil, which your veggies will love. Also works well with flowers.

And if you have a starbucks nearby, they have a grounds for gardens program. They'll give you a BIG bag of grounds for your garden! I just picked some up yesterday and put them out last night.

[Domestic Goddess]

I pick up a bag from Starbucks whenever I'm in there- which is just about everyday. I throw them in my compost.

[quiltingdiva]

Ok, I'm intrigued...do you just sprinkle them around the plants or do you need to work them into the soil?

We drink a ton of coffee, so this would be great for us! BTW...thanks for the tip.

[mama22qts]

Both. Starbucks said just sprinkle it around the plants. I treat it like mulch or fertilizer and work into the soil some too.

I also use the leftover coffee on my potted plants indoors -- the blooming ones love it! I'd say it's probably less than a tablespoon per plant, though, just so I don't overpower them.

[cyrus]

The same also applies to tea leaves. We use plain old regular tea leaves which we boil in water., not the ones in bags.

[mama22qts]

The same also applies to tea leaves. We use plain old regular tea leaves which we boil in water., not the ones in bags.:BigHandWave: Glad to see you!!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

you can do it daily...just spread the wealth. Acid loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, rhododendrons, etc all love the coffee ground so if you get the big bags from Starbucks feel free to really give it to them. I like to work it into the soil a bit.

[YouPdWhat]

Egg shells is also another good one to use. I usually stick in oven & bake a short while 1st to dry them out real well then crush them up & sprinkle around plants.

[BzyBee]

Oh...I didn't know about the coffee grounds for acid-loving plants. THANKS!!! We have azaleas, rhododendrons, and gardenias out front...one of the rhododendrons is not looking good this year...I will try the coffee and see if it helps at all.

[mmb1996]

Its also good to dump the pickle juice when your finished with it onto your plants.

[maree_strawberry]

You can keep a coffee can & empty anything that goes In the garden throughout the day rt In there. Then go dump It daily or do It weekly. Keep the lid & you won't have to worry about odor.

[esperanza]

I have added the grounds to my compost all winter and am now dumping the leftover coffee straight onto the garden instead of pouring it down the drain.

It's the first year I've done it so we'll see if it makes a difference.

[mama22qts]

Tomatoes and azaleas really like the grounds; I have also found from experience that begonias love leftover coffee (not grounds, the brewed coffee itself).

[BzyBee]

OK, I picked up a few bags from starbucks but was a bit disappointed to read on the label that 'most of the acidity is removed in the brewing process'. :Nod: I will still use it for my azaleas and such, but how much am I supposed to put down??

[mama22qts]

Here's a good link (http://frugalliving.about.com/od/uncommonuses/a/coffeegrounds.htm)for information on using coffee in your garden.

Bzy -- just carry your bag along with you and sprinkle liberally around your plants. You can rake it in, or just leave it on top. Either way it's beneficial.

I have about 800 sq ft of garden area and I probably go through 2 bags of Starbucks' collected grounds every couple of weeks.

[JANE4girls]

I went into two different Starbucks and they looked at me like I was purple or something when I asked for used coffee grounds.

I have been throwing the ones I have from home, including the paper filter in the compost pile though.

Such a small pile....:Wrong:

[BzyBee]

Thanks for the link Elizabeth...:smile:

Jane...perhaps you can refer your starbucks to their own website for info on the program!! http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/compost.asp

Maybe they will start saving them if you ask...???

[JANE4girls]

thanks for the link, I will print it out and take it with me tomorrow.

[JANE4girls]

I went today to a real starbucks instead of the one at Target or Kroger and got a big bag of grounds. They actually knew what I was talking about, LOL.

I guess the smaller cafe's inside stores don't participate.

going back tomorrow to get more! and a caramel frap!

[diva_dynamite]

This is a great thread - Thanks!! I have tried starting a compost pile a few times, and it hasn't worked too well. I've really felt bad about how much good stuff I've just thrown away. Now I can at least use my coffee grounds until my compost pile heats up (trying to be positive here...) We have 6 Starbucks in town, and Target is building another one. No shortage of places to try!

[JANE4girls]

I have been reading up more on composting and found a site that says you can use hair! that seems kind of strange to me, LOL.


http://www.compostguide.com/

[BzyBee]

LOL...I shake the hair (from haircuts) out into the woods...I am sure birds use it in their nest at this time of year...so in a way it gets composted. :rolleyes:

[crazybmb]

People need to be careful not to add too much. It can cause other problems

[JANE4girls]

well, I shredded tons of newspaper and put that into my compost pile too!

does anyone know if just having it in a heap is okay, or do I need to put it in a bin or cage?

[pieohmy]

I've always done mine in a heap and it works fine. Just keep adding to it, keep it wet, and turn it every now and again.

For those interested there is a method of making beds called lasagna gardening. Google it and check it out. You great results for minimal effort.

[allynbayleigh]

Horse manure is great. Its very high in nitrogen. DO NOT apply fresh hm to plants though as it will burn their roots if they are not used to it or well established. I personally spread it out a bit and then allow it to start to break down and dry out. THen it gets moved to compost. Since my horses will be at home in afew weeks I will just scoop it out of their stalls and pasture.

You can contact most any horse stable and gather some up. Should be free, you may have to "pick" it from their pile though.

Also if you live near a beach, seaweed and certain types of algea are supposed to be great. You need to rinse it first though. My friend gets algae regularly for hers from her daily walks.

[bluedaisy]

GREAT thread! The latest Mother Earth News has a whole article on this too! I think I'll call Starbucks before going in for the grounds...great tip!

[BzyBee]

I have enough scraps to start a small compost pile and keep it going...but not sure where on the property to locate it. Sun, shade...a bit of both, does it matter??

Thanks!!

[TheWoman]

Far enough from the house to not smell it. Close enough that it is still convienent. I would think that sun would be better as stuff decomposes better when warm--in fact, the inside of a properly made compost pile gets hot enough to kill weed seeds and such. Sun would help with that.

[shashabell]

I think a healthy compost pile doesn't stink. Make sure to only add vegetable materials. If you add meat products, it will start to stink.

[BzyBee]

Thanks, we choose a spot that will get morning and early afternoon sun and then shade. We have very few spots that are full sun so we will see how this does.

[sofia's mom]

I've had a number of compost piles in my little suburban backyard. If they stink, there's something wrong. My current one is in an old plastic trash barrel. I punched holes throughout the outside and bottom and I keep layering materials (like a lasagna). First a pile of leaves (I save my neighbors' Fall leaves in trash bags), then kitchen peelings, coffee grounds (no meat, grease), then more leaves or grass clippings. You also have to keep it moist but not too wet. I put the lid on the trashcan and roll it around the ground to keep everything "cooking" evenly. The I dump it in my veggie garden and if not fully "cooked" I cover with more leaves. We had our biggest tomatoes this year and we have tons of earthworms as a result of our homemade compost.

good luck and thanks for doing your part to recycle our resources!
sofia's and daniel's mom in Texas

[shrup]

I would like a tumbler that doesn’t ‘break’ your back as you’re turning the compost and saw one called the Urban Compost Tumbler where you can rock the tumbler back and forth with ease. The cost would be more than I would spend and so I was wondering if anyone knows of a way, or know of a site on making a tumbler similar to this one.

[CDC]

I found a great way to make a FREE compost bin. I find someone that is willing to give away some wooden pallets and get 7 of them. Then stand them on end and make two large "boxes" by screwing 3 of them together (leaving the front open) and 2 more on to that.

You should now have two large areas with no door on either. To make the door take the other two pallets and stand them on end ...don't screw them in but instead tie a rope on to the side of the already standing structure and a stick onto the other end of the rope. The stick can be fed through the slots in the pallets and turned sideways to keep the door in place. This makes it pretty easy to turn from one bin to the next.

Granted you can't get compost in 2 months but if you have two of these going after one season you should have constant compost...One thing that I have found that will help to speed up the process is to add a little cow manure to the mix and make sure you water the pile about once a week in the dryer months.

[zansammommy]

I want to build a compost for next springs garden since I paid way to much for dirt last year.

I been looking online at bins but they are so expensive.

Does anyone know how I can build one on my own?

All suggestions are needed.

Thanks

[Merczilla]

Well, depending on your situation, you don't have to be fancy. Bear in mind I am very rural, have 10 acres and can do as I want, for the most part.

I am perhaps the world's laziest composter. In a corner of the garden is where I throw all scraps, and I mean all. I throw meats and bones and everything in there. Now I have ravens, magpies, other birds, stray cats, squirrels, mice and who knows what other critters get into it. I know some folks don't throw meat or bones in it, but I know all these critters get all the "good" stuff, so i don't worry about it.

I don't "stir" it or anything. It just sits there all year and in the spring it just gets tilled in with the the garden. *shrugs* See? I'm lazy. lol

Now if you just have a small lot in a neighborhood, that may not work for you. What kind of property do you have? I bet if you google making a compost bin you'd get all kinds of hits.

[jodierocks]

I just started my compost pile a couple weeks ago. I keep one of thsoe 4 gallon ice cream buckets with the lid on my kitchen counter. I toss everything I can in there and dump it once it's full. I'm having tons of fun. My husband even commented on how excited I was about composting. My pile is doing great. I have it in the corner of my garden. I found this site very helpful for ideas of things to compost. There are some I never would have thought of!

163 Things You Can Compost (http://www.plantea.com/compost-materials.htm)

[uummm]

In keeping with New Years resolutions I think I want to see if I can start a compost heap..

I read the link provided the post before this one and it was very informative. I read -163 things you can compost, Compost Happens, and Worlds Fastest Compost.

I am live in NC and it is just cold now and will be for several months. I will do the "pile" composting, because I live in a subdivision and I don't need my neighbors seeing anything structural and get me in trouble and I don't want to spend money on the tumbler. I am worried I won't be able to get it hot enough to perk.

Literally I am starting today. I have a bin by the sink to throw kitchen waste in. Do I just dump it in the spot I want to start when it is full? Grass clippings aren't going to happen now since the grass doesn't grow now...

Husband who had read NOTHING thinks there will just be this huge TRASH Pile that he will see...I asked him what he thought we would compost???

They did get all excited when I told them that urine is a great thing for the compost pile! House with 4 boys...hhhuummm....

[gaijingirl]

I think a healthy compost pile doesn't stink. Make sure to only add vegetable materials. If you add meat products, it will start to stink.

A big reason for not adding meats is to not attract pests and critters.

If your compost pile stinks, it is because your nitrogen to carbon ratio is wrong. You most likely have too much nitrogen. You also may need to get it some oxygen by turning or aerating. (It would take me a long time to explain this here....) I would suggest looking it up; visit some gardening stites (there are helpful people around there too!) And go to the library and find a book called, "Let it Rot!" It's super informative.

I personally just started composting in the fall. I started by digging a pit on the side of our lot and filling it up with garden debris. My DH just got me a ComposTumbler for Chirstmas. It's neat. From what I can see/read they are good...but pricey. I wouldn't have bought it for myself, but he is not as cheap as me....Then again, when you get the conditions and ratios right in it, you can get the compost hot enough to cook it and have it done in as littlle as 14 days. Might be worth the investment for a serious gardener or someone who has a lot of waste they want to get rid of fast.

I really suggest looking up what materials qualify as your nitrogen and which as your carbon and try to follow the ratios they say to use. This is the way to get the microrganisms working the best and cook it best to ensure you kill weeds and disease.

[gaijingirl]

In keeping with New Years resolutions I think I want to see if I can start a compost heap..

I read the link provided the post before this one and it was very informative. I read -163 things you can compost, Compost Happens, and Worlds Fastest Compost.

I am live in NC and it is just cold now and will be for several months. I will do the "pile" composting, because I live in a subdivision and I don't need my neighbors seeing anything structural and get me in trouble and I don't want to spend money on the tumbler. I am worried I won't be able to get it hot enough to perk.

Literally I am starting today. I have a bin by the sink to throw kitchen waste in. Do I just dump it in the spot I want to start when it is full? Grass clippings aren't going to happen now since the grass doesn't grow now...

Husband who had read NOTHING thinks there will just be this huge TRASH Pile that he will see...I asked him what he thought we would compost???

They did get all excited when I told them that urine is a great thing for the compost pile! House with 4 boys...hhhuummm....

I live in a super strict subdivision too. One thing I thought about was making a wooden box. I thought that would be nice and tight, compact and sightly. I also initially dug a pit on our property line (there's no neighbours on that side and no one knows the difference.) You could also do some kind of bin and then hide it behind a shrub or bush. I'd recommend getting something to confine it. Otherwise, it could take years to decompose. If you only have kitchen scraps. you may want to get some other materials from others. Try to get some leaves (chopped up preferably) or even woodchips from a woodworker or landscaper. You'll need that carbon. If you don't mind a pile of garbage, then just do your thing, but I think you might get discouraged without much action. I don't think you'll see a lot of results unless you get a ratio of carbon and nitrogen together in there. And preferably the correct amount so it can get hot enough. (I guess you have to have a certain amount before it will get hot.) Good luck. Just read lots of stuff. That's what I do!

I am into composting because I love working in my yard and gardening and as a cheap person, reusing something for something beneficial is appealing!

[choka162]

Hi^_^ This is the first year I've thought about doing a compost pile and I'm just not sure how to go about it.

I've seen some big turnable bins at tractor supply, has anyone tried these? Or did you make your own? Any tips or tricks would be appreciated^_^

[ILv2Shop]

Here's the discussion from last year. (How's it working out Erin?)

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/gardening/114475-compost-tumblers.html#post884806

[choka162]

thanks^_^

[JANE4girls]

Here's the discussion from last year. (How's it working out Erin?)

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/gardening/114475-compost-tumblers.html#post884806


working great! I get a new batch every 2-4 weeks, depending on how hot it is, will get more when it warms up more.

[gaijingirl]

Hey,

I just invited myself into your previous tumbler discussion lol. :giggle2: I'm having good results with it recently. I posted about it on that thread. (http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/gardening/114475-compost-tumblers-2.html#post1568517)


Also, I have recently learned a lot by getting some good books about Composting from my library.

If you are interested in learning more about what will get you better results, I would really recommend the books:

Let it Rot! by Stu Campbell (http://www.amazon.com/Let-Rot-Composting-Down-Earth/dp/1580170234/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234687471&sr=8-1)
The Rodale Book of Composting (http://www.amazon.com/Rodale-Book-Composting-Methods-Gardener/dp/0878579915/ref=pd_sim_b_21)

And, another cool idea is to check out Sheet Composting or "Lasagna Gardening" which is the method of basically composting right in the area where you will grow the next season by layering materials that will break down. A good way to build raised beds without any digging. There is lots of information you can look up online about it or take a look at the book

Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza (http://www.amazon.com/Lasagna-Gardening-Layering-Bountiful-Gardens/dp/0875969623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234687755&sr=1-1)

HTH


Here's the discussion from last year. (How's it working out Erin?)

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/gardening/114475-compost-tumblers.html#post884806

[wannabefree]

Bumping this thread is very timely.....dh worked on a tumbler type for me for 4 weekends. He got the plans from Youtube (thanks to Erin). Yesterday was the unveiling......I also live in a strict subdivision and my backyard is completely visible b/c we live on a cul=de=sac. But we went to Lowes and got some nice fencing material to sort of disguise it a bit. I think it will be okay. We should have painted it before he drilled all the holes b/c it is bright blue. I bought spray paint to paint it black but forgot to make him stop and now the paint will just leak through. So I'm going to use a brush I guess.....The darker color wouldn't be as visible through the fencing and of course the main reason is that it makes it hotter for decomposing.

I'm so excited...I've been throwing compost material into a pile for a year but it hasn't been very effective. I think we're off and running now!

[Darling Pedro]

we took 4 wooden pallets we got for free and used them to make a open topped square by turning them on their sides and fastening them together. . Then we started pitching in the scraps that our chickens wont / shouldn't eat. We layer in leaves, occasionally add sugar to help the micro organisms, water and stir.

We are getting 4 more pallets and making one right next to it and then dumping what's in the current one into it so the top is on the bottom and then start tossing our scraps onto the old one again

We have our chicken poop and dirty hay getting layered into old trash cans so we can make liquid fertilizer.

total cost to compost was 0 - hubs picked up pallets on way home from work so no extra gas and we used supplies we already had to affix them together.

We are going to have a very happy garden this spring

[JANE4girls]

And, another cool idea is to check out Sheet Composting or "Lasagna Gardening" which is the method of basically composting right in the area where you will grow the next season by layering materials that will break down. A good way to build raised beds without any digging. There is lots of information you can look up online about it or take a look at the book

Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza (http://www.amazon.com/Lasagna-Gardening-Layering-Bountiful-Gardens/dp/0875969623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234687755&sr=1-1)

HTH

I show a demonstration of how to do this here. (http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/search/label/garden)

[gaijingirl]

Hey Janet,
I'd love to see pictures of your set-up when you are done.
We have the same problem with the whole strict HOA in our subdivision. I was just offered another tumbler from someone at church, but apparently it is bigger than the one I currently have and I am going to need to disguise it. I had been thinking previously about doing some kind of fencing around it somehow. I'd love to see what you end up doing to hide yours.

Also, with your painting: putting some tape on the inside of the barrel to temporarily cover the holes. Then you can spray right over top of that area and then just remove the tape when you are done and no paint will get in. I think you will probably have an easier time spray painting and if you can cover the holes from the inside, no problem. :)

[jwahlton]

I asked this in my tomato post, but I thought it might be good to be a post of it's own.

I've got a small compost pile. I put pretty much all of my scraps in there (no animal stuff though). How long does it take to break down into the compost? I still have pineapple tops from a couple months ago :rolleyes24: The egg shells and other "small" stuff are pretty much gone

I rotate it every couple of days (bring the bottom to the top, etc). Got some nice rich soil going there that will be great for my fall garden. It's small and I think I need it larger. Can I just put regular dirt in there to bulk it up?

TIA

[thriftychic83]

Yes you can add regular dirt to your compost. It will also turn into rich soil just like everything else. I have used the extra dirt from gardens that I have extended and it is almost black. The great thing about having a compost is that you can throw almost anything in them. It sounds like you are doing a great job already

[MrsPinecone]

We may be buying a new house soon, so I will have room to start my mondo three-bin composting system!

I don't think small when I want to do something.

[BeachBum1984]

I need help with a composting bin. I have a very small area to work with, as I live in an urban area. I'd prefer to make my own bin/container, but I have no idea where to start. What do you do your composting in?

[kcuts]

We just used some old pallets to make the sides ours is open to the front so we can turn it. But for us no one can see it so it did not matter what it looked like but it is very functional. I love to make compost!
We also have one of the Rubbermaid type containers that is plastic but it does not work well, a pain to use.

[janastanley]

I couldn't get ahold of any pallets, so I used plastic garden mesh and tall garden stakes. But it looks like I am going to make a new compost bin with pallets this spring.

[NIGHTB1022]

I'm not into composting, as my covenants & restrictions won't allow it in our subdivision, but I googled for you, hope this helps you!
How to Make a Compost Bin From a Garbage Can | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_16876_make-compost-bin.html)

[tmsmalley]

Ok, what can I compost out of my kitchen scraps?

I know I can do:
-old fruits and veggies
-egg shells, rinds
-coffee grounds

I know no meats or dairy, but can I do things like:

-stale cereal (dry- no milk on it)?
-bread?
-stuff that's been pickled like well, pickles?

Anything else I can add or shouldn't touch?


Thanks!
Tess

[jrobertson911]

I compost about everything other than meat and dairy products from my kitchen. Breads and other starch items are fine.

Also try: dryer lint, vacuum waste, tea bags (w/o the tag/string), shredded newspaper (no shiny paper like coupon inserts). To keep from having to water the pile so much, you can also use the drain off from your canned veggies, water you boiled your potatoes/corn/etc in, etc.

[janastanley]

I put everything but meat and dairy into mine too. I found that with the shredded newspaper, the smaller the shreds, the faster it composts. My paper shredders might disagree, but they always get a treat after they are done shredding the newspaper.

[tmsmalley]

Thanks! I knew about the non-shiny newspaper but did not know about dryer lint! Great to have a home for that! And the vacuum bag, interesting. I'm assuming that's minus the McDonaldland toys, children's socks and precious plastic items that seem to find their way into mine!

Tess

[uummm]

We do everything other than meat and dairy too. And I did cereal a few weeks ago, the birds actually ate most of it I think. My husband went outside to turn it a few days ago, he hasn't done it since fall, and low and behold, it was all composty about 4 inches down! I love to see how that all works.

[jrobertson911]

Thanks! I knew about the non-shiny newspaper but did not know about dryer lint! Great to have a home for that! And the vacuum bag, interesting. I'm assuming that's minus the McDonaldland toys, children's socks and precious plastic items that seem to find their way into mine!

Tess
If you've got a vac that can suck up toys.....you've got a good one! I can barely get my vac to suck up the dirt sitting on TOP of the carpet (I'm to cheap to buy a good vacuum I guess)! :giggle2:

[tmsmalley]

Actually, I've got 2 vacuums. One is (yes, it really is) a big shopvac and yes, I really do use it in our main house. I have 2 kids and nothing sucks up cheerios, half a chicken nugget and the remains of a playdough project like a shop vac!

Tess

[lboe3]

do weeds grow up in the compost you dump around plants, i'm looking for something to keep the weeds out??

janet

[TiggerToo]

In this thread, share your composting secrets.

1) What is composting


How do you get started?
What do you need to do?
What do can you use?
Are you successful at it?
Is it actually beneficial for your garden?
Have you noticed a difference?

[Merczilla]

Well, I do everything "they" tell you not to do. lol I am rural, have no near neighbors and have the acreage to do so. We have the "garden thing" as we call it (a stainless steel small garbage can w/removeable insert) on the kitchen counter. All food scraps go in it, including meat (that we haven't fed to the dogs) and bones. When it gets full, whichever child has that for their weekly chore, goes outside and throws it in the far corner of the garden.

We have all sorts of critters out there...ravens, magpies, other birds, squirrels, moose, stray cats, etc., so whatever meat and bones end up out there, I figure the ravens get them. lol I don't worry about it. I know some folks don't put that sort of thing in there. In the spring I might dump dead leaves in there, but since we dug up the front yard two summers ago to fix the septic, I don't have a lawn, per se.

We just kind of rake it up a bit in the spring and till it in to the regular garden area. I don't turn it or toss it or do anything with it. I just let it sit there. Whether it makes any major difference or not, I don't know. I have such a short growing season and the weather makes a major difference. Last summer was so rainy and cold, not much did anything.

[TiggerToo]

I have actually wanted to get into composting. When I didn't know ANYTHING about it, I had put the "grab" container that sits on your counter top on my wishlist and my parents got it for me for Christmas. At the time, that is all I thought you needed. Little did I know. I think this year however, the hubs and I are actually going to get a true composter and begin working on making compost for our garden. We are so adverse to throwing anything out...and I think it will be a perfect way for us to "give back" to the earth since we take so much from it.

[Itsalwaysme]

I think this is a great thread. I have decieded this year,after raking tons of winter leaves,that i am ready to start my compost. I have a rather large outside trash can and I was told all I need to do is sprinkle some bone meal between the layers of thrown out stuff. Owe it from time to time and wait for the sun to do its job. I guess mixing it around is helpfull too. I am in vegas so I think the heat should be no problem.

[2Bfrugal]

Has anyone tried composting indoors?
MJ last August obtain a small container of red worms in with sand, crushed egg shells, shread newspaper, bits of vegetables all moisted slightly and small holes around the top lip of the container (From the State Fair).

We kept it going until thanksgiving: I refused to check them over the christmas holidays and he didn't touch it: So I thought for sure they would die but when I checked them last week I was surprise to find all the scraps were gone: very moist compost and lots and lots of worms: now they have a bigger (small plastic) trash can with holes at the top (and a lid).

I seen where Gurneys have the worms for sale: and Garden Alive reports they need the egg shells to reproduce.
MJ wants more worms but I'm not so sure. Any thoughts?

[teatime0714]

I too have a vermicomposting system going on. I live in an apartment so a compost bin/pile is just not an option. I have 2 bins going currently and can say from experience that the worms will continuously reproduce as long as they are provided the food and room to do so. Reproduction will slow down if food is scare or room is tight.

Redworms are pretty self sufficient and hard to kill, but you can maximize their reproduction and processing abilities by switching them into a shallower bin. I'm currently using a couple of 10 gallon rubbermaid containers I got from Lowe's. They're about 18" x 30" with a depth of 12". In a deeper bin the worms tend to stay in just one layer of the bedding and the material in the other layers can start to heat up and actually compost, killing the worms.

[Itsalwaysme]

Ok the two posts above me are just amazing. I had read about the composting indoors but had totally forgot about it until now.thanx for the reminder

[teatime0714]

Aw thanks! Totally do some research. Composting with worms is uber easy so long as you don't roast em with high temps or freeze them with really low temps. Plus if you've got the right food to worm ratio there's never any smell of rotting food.

[TiggerToo]

^^

[bugweena]

I started with 2 lbs of worms one year ago and now have two vermicompost bins in my garage. I just made them out of rubbermaid totes from a cllip on utube. BUT I have yet to try to separate out worms from compost. I am getting a Worm Factory 360 for my birthday so will set it up and try to use the totes as backups if I have too much veggie/fruit sraps for the worm factory.

The process has slowed this winter but I expect these warm temperatures this week will get them eating again! Anyone interested should read "Worms Eat My Garbage" by Mary Appelhof. I think it may be out of print but I was able to request it through my local library. It was quite helpful.

Good luck if you're going to try it!

[mefiance]

I started with 2 lbs of worms one year ago and now have two vermicompost bins in my garage. I just made them out of rubbermaid totes from a cllip on utube.



This sounds like a great setup. I'm thinking of using an old trash can for my compost pit--I've seen some great how-to videos on this. Anyone know if I can add worms to this (and have them survive)? Just not sure about adding them to the plastic bin.