GOOD COMPOST?

Are watermelon rinds and orange peel good for the compost bin?

Some people say there is something about orange peel that is bad, but I use them all the time with no problem as well as any fruit including watermelon.
Anything vegetable is great for your compost, just be sure you mix in some leaves and other plant material.

just make sure the you don't use a lot of pecan leaves or twigs as they act like herbicides and inhibit growth of plant's. I learned this after I layered my bed with pecan and buried 12 inches of mix on them. Granted not all my crops perished but I did lose some potential prizes in this bed.

I have heard that about Pecans but I have 4-5 100 year old enormous Pecans and 2 smaller ones. My yard is nothing but leaves and twigs and I dont have that problem. I never rake but rather mow the leaves into fine particles. In fact, I used them as a 18 inch mulch that later compressed down to 3-4 inches in my garden and I had a record year.

I wonder if it isnt an acid issue. I know Pecan shells are extremely acid and I have an alkaline soil.

What about the bottom leavings of a round bale (hay). It's sometimes mildewed/moldy?

That is o.k. everything cooks in a compost pile.

Sybil, there are many ways to make compost, this is how we do it;
http://www.texasstar.org/index.php?pg=composting

I always used orange peels but cut them in tiny pieces as they are very slow to break down. You could also put them in a food processor or blender with a little water.

Thanks all, for your advice. I'm just starting this composting venture, so I'm pretty unsure of myself at this point. Glenna, I'm trying to remember everything you told me. Also, reading a lot. I don't even have a house container to put stuff in. Hahaha. Yesterday, I decided to start "saving my kitchen things," so I got a big plastic coffee can. Well, I cooked for a Thursday night ministry we're involved in, and then, today I helped cook for a morning funeral meal. OH MY GOODNESS!!! Forget the coffee can--my mudroom double sink is FULL, and I don't even have my compost bins made yet. What should I do--just start a pile of it outside, and move it to the bin when I get them made, or just don't save anything until I get the bins done? And I never knew I used so many paper towels. I read to use that, too, but another question--does it hurt if the paper towel has Windex or another cleaner/chemical on it? So much to learn, but I'm enjoying it already.

Josephine, I enjoyed your site, and it was very helpful. I can't wait to see your place.

Thank you Sybil, I look froward to seeing you also.

I have some llama poo. How do I store it? Should it be spread out to dry or left in the bag or....?

Maybe your question was answered somewhere else....you can make a little compost pile and cover it with leaves. Cover the spot with cardboard or newspaper before making your pile, or if it is in your garden bed, dig a hole or two and pile it on. I would even sprinkle some good compost on top of your pile it to help it break down faster. I wouldn't use papertowels with chemicals, esp if the compost will be used on food...no scientific basis just a gut feeling.
I let my llama poo stay in the bag. It keeps well. If there are seeds in it I think it has to be out in the sun, but I am sure more knowledgeable people can answer.

Sybil,
re: kitchen scraps - The odor and gnats caused me to stop saving kitchen scraps more than once until I started using a dog food container that has a rubber seal and snap closer that is so very easy to use one-handed. I want to open it, deposit scraps and close it very quickly and this works great.

Tractor Supply has them: http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-feeders/iris-usa-trade-airtight-pet-food-container-45-qt--2447143 . This one is bigger than mine but you may need bigger because you do so much volume cooking.

I bought mine at Petsmart because I have two and one is actually for dog food and the other for kitchen scraps. http://www.petsmart.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=dog%20food%20container&origkw=dog%20food%20container&sr=1 The $14.99 in the photo is the one I use.

re: llama poo - The whole llama "beans" will turn rock hard if just left in the sun to dry. Mix it with hay or leaves and moisten. If you're not ready to start your compost bins yet, those green buckets I gave you work great for storing ingredients for your compost. Lowe's has a tight lid for them for 99 cents, I think. That's what I store my ag molasses and stuff in too.

There is one at Sam's Club too. I think the same price but has 2 imbedded wheels. I bought one at petsmart and managed to break the bottom (with dogfood )...but doubtful that it would happen to scraps..unless you throw in a watermelon!
You can sometimes get free 5 gallon buckets at stores that sell baked goods. Icing comes in those buckets. This is a link to another neat airproof top. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.aspx?catid=686&parentcatid=687

We use containers from Sam's that used to hold cottage cheese or salad greens.

I love the salad containers. I also like them to soak dry plants.

Thanks all, for your good ideas. As soon as I posted this morning, I went through my mud room and noticed a big container I had used for 50# flour buys. Duh, hadn't even thought about using it. I think I've got it figured out now: the tall coffee can under the sink for just small random scraps, the big flour container in the mud room for bigger batches when I'm really peeling, chopping, etc. a lot, and then the old trash can outside. The trash can will probably hold three or four of the flour containers full. Do you keep lids on all containers?

BTW, do you put the plant stuff and the paper towels, etc. all together, or do I need to keep all separate until I layer it in the compost area.

Just throw it all in there. If you add grass clippings or leaves to your pile, be sure to turn them in some or they'll smother the pile and water won't be able to get down into it. I only put fresh fruit & veggie stuff in my compost pile as well as leaves, grass clippings, dead plant matter, and stuff I trim from the garden out on my compost pile. You can throw coffee filter and grounds on it, too.

Glad to check in on DG today. I've been away from my computer for a week. Company since last Sunday (who reside in my computer room). Two adults and two babies, so seems someone is always sleeping in here. Also, my DH had a wreck last Wednesday and is still in a lot of pain, so I'm attending him pretty constantly. Trying to keep the watering up, and sons, grandsons were here yesterday to do Jeff's mowing.

Glenna--remedy for fruit flies: Small juice glass ½ full of apple cider vinegar and one or two drops of liquid dish wash. Really works for me. Just sit the glass on your counter close to the fruit. It's a never ending problem, since I think we keep bringing the little pests home from the grocery store.

I have plenty of leaves for my compost, but no way to shred them. Will it work with whole leaves?

Sybil, so sorry to hear about your DH, but glad he's on the mend. Praying for you both!

Yes, you can put whole leaves on the compost pile. It takes them longer to break down, but they'll get there!

I read about using fabric across the top of the house scraps container. It keeps flys/gnats out and the air keeps it from stinking so much as it does (at least for me) with the plastic lid on the big coffee container. My compost pile is also a little 'out there' so I accumulate bags and containers of scraps on a shelf in our second (turned on) fridge till I bring them all out to my wagon and haul 'em over. Low gag reflex, so I hold my breath while emptying!

Use paper from your shredder too. Just mix it in well so it is not clumped. Straw works great! Straw and horse poo are the mainstay of my pile. Not many leaves and no grass at our place.

I use whatever is handy. We go through alot of yogurt. Unfortunately, one of the pitfalls of an opaque container is I accidentally threw whole container of yogurt into the compost bin the other day that had been left on the counter!

LOL Anna!

Yes! Atleast there are beneficial organisms in the yogurt.

Yes to watermelons, cantelopes, ane especially banana peels are good in compost pile. You shouldn't put eggs, or milk by products in the compost....I read somewhere. Start small and add on if it works for you.

I got straight to the freezer with my veggie / fruit scraps. If I buy cucumbers I peel them and whatever else I prep for salad etc., right on the bag laid flat on the counter. Then put my hand inside and flip it inside out give it a twist and in the freezer it goes. Once ever week or so, I gather the bags and take them to compost bins. Dig a hole in my pile, and dump the bags. NO SMELL since they are still frozen, but thaw quickly in the compost pile. I have three bins and fill one then move to the other. Add granulated molasses when I remember to!

Pretty sifted black gold and free!!


Will be getting a real compost sifter next year! LOL!

This message was edited Jun 28, 2011 4:09 PM

Neat idea Sheila, and a lot less smelly too.

I stumbled onto something pretty neat. When I started my inside "batch," it so happened that I had just made that watermelon salad, so had mint stems, etc. in the throw in there. I kid you not, there was no bad smell in that pail for a solid week. When I would open it, I only smelled mint. I just emptied all, as I started my first real compost pile last night. After washing out the 50 gal house container, I put a long sprig of mint in it. We'll see if it works that well this time. BTW, I just went out to check the cp pile, and it was just as I left it. No critters had bothered it.

I watered it lightly last night. Should I water again soon?

Good job Sybil, that is good to know about the mint. Is you pile in an enclosure?

No Josephine, it isn't. I started saving stuff, meaning to build my three-bin compost complex (plans are in my head) right away, then DH's wreck happened, and I haven't done anything except tend to him. Lots of pain, and starts pt and pain management classes tomorrow. Anyway, first things first. I'll get it done some day down the road. But in the meantime, I started my "pile." I'll move it to a bin when I get them done.

So, how often should I water it? Do I cover it? What about rain? Remember rain? I mean just in case it would possibly ever rain again.....................?

Some moisture would be good. Without rain (from April to Nov normally here) I end up watering my compost. Crazy, huh? Some people go for some moisture on it, then covering it to let it bake, using dark tarp or plastic. Seems, depending on the area, like mold might be a problem. I do not cover during our rainy season either and it does not wash away (but did grow sterile zuchinni plants and potatoes that I dug up).

My DH had a wreck 3 1/2 weeks ago, so I can commiserate. Totalled the car and I am in a rental chauffeuring him to dr. after dr., up to 90 miles away, as they found additional, non accident related stuff, when he went to ER for the second time.

A little moisture is o.k. but not too much just damp is good.
I hope your husband feels better soon.
Josephine.

When mixing compost with potting soil to pot plants how much should I mix? I have a huge garbage can with back wheels. I piled alot of pine needles and things in it 2 years ago. The roofers cracked the bottom so it doesn't hold water. The compost in it is really black. I found a few worms so far.

Thank you Josephine. Day by day, we take it. On his first visit to the chiropractor on Monday, he was told that 'at his age' (72) he may never recover. Great bedside manner!

I mix compost and bagged garden soil (for veggies in containers) at a 50-50 blend. Little less compost with potting soil for other container plants.

Prayers for you and DH through his recovery GG....bad doctor statement for sure.

Sandy...I mainly use my compost to amend the bad soil I have in my beds, but if I am planting plants in the yard, I will try to put a handful of compost in the hole to give it a good boost. Occassionally when I am potting up a bunch of things, I will mix it (20%) in a tub with potting soil (70%) and vermeculite(10%). Just estimating the percentages of course.

When I add compost to my potting soil, I do 2 or 3 parts potting soil to about 1 part compost. I really just wing it with no scientific portions. LOL

Is it possible to add too much compost? Also can Sauerkraut and canned fruit be added to a compost pile? I once had a gallon size dill pickle jar that went bad but was not sure they were good for composting.

quiltygirl what a horrible thing for that dr to say. I wonder how he keeps patients!! Hope your DH feels better really soon.

I wouldn't add anything that's not fresh, nothing processed in the pile.

ok thanks. I wasn't sure.