Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Yardening (#4)- in 2014, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Sally---

I DO do exactly as you have said--in unloading my finished compost.
It is just NOT as simple as you say...it is a huge chore--at least for me.

1--I spread a tarp on the ground next to the SEM.
2--I remove as much stuff from the top as i can--the uncomposted stuff..
Once I get to the mid point--I can separate to SEM in two sections
and continue shoveling out the not-composted stuff. Now I have a bigger
opening to shovel through than from the top--which is most difficult.
3--When I get to the "gold'--I shovel that into a big plastic yard bucket, the
one with the two carry ropes on each side. BTW--when the bucket is full--
it is impossible to pick it up or drag it as it will be moved to a location sort of
out of sight behind my big, round table and under that big, long "table" by my
Burning Bushes. BTW--near the bottom of the SEM I will also encounter a lot of
Maple roots which have now grown into the compost. Who knows how much by now??

Because I can only move the bucket when partially full--I now have to schlep the rest of
the compost some other way to this big bucket...like my Wheelbarrow and shovel it in.
It still has some compost in it from the last emptying...not much--but some...
4--Now I have to reassemble the SEM and load the un-composted stuff back in it.
Thanks for the tip to put leaves on the bottom. I have lots from this fall's shredding...
in black bags. I also have a trash-bag-full if decaying straw. Will use that...
Then all the mice can build nests in there....

You said---"I would pick up the whole bin and set aside.". You nuts??? That's totally crazy
and impossible!!! It weighs a ton--and is also bolted to the ground with long screws that
came with it...
As you can see--it is not a simple process...

I do not, usually, see any flies in there...gnats--yes-- but mostly pill bugs and some fat larva.
Of course--flies could come and go through the vent holes all around the SEM.

I have removed small amounts of the soil through that silly drawer opening at the bottom.
You cannot get a lot of the soil out through that--just arm's reach--but I have done that.
I usually do not, randomly, just scatter the compost in beds--too scarce to do that--
but use it in mixing soils in lg. pots--planting veggies-etc..
I DO use some of it to dig in around my tomatoes.

I DO, occasionally, put some leaves in it--but not a lot. Then it would fill it to the top.
I often have enough veggie scraps to add some there twice a week.
Will try to get this done in late spring--just have to set a day apart to accomplish this...

Still 'dreaming" of having a 4x4x4 open compost bin in the opening at the end
of my raised bed--which I left there just for this purpose.
I don't want pallets--they are ugly! But--there are nicer ones too...with closer together slats.
They would have to be of treated wood--or they would fall apart in a few years.

The one remaining issue is--that IF this bin is ever built--it CANNOT touch the ground below it.
It would have to be slightly elevated because of the maple roots growing into it, which
would totally fill it in one year. It may need only a couple inches elevation......????
SO--how will the worms get in???? I could buy some red worms and toss them in
to start the colony going...Feed them dried blood---coffee grounds---chocolate cake?...:o)

I am willing to pay someone to build this for me. Someone who knows a bit about building...
Haven't found anyone just casually asking around...

Here's the saved area for my compost bin. G.