compost question

I've been composting for quite awhile - my mother used to tell me that my bedroom resembled a compost heap - but I've never indulged in Super Hot or any of the other compost facilitators. I'm wondering if anyone has used them and what your thoughts are on their effectiveness . Should I spring for a bag, or save myself a few bucks and just pour the three bottles of very old, stale beer on the pile?

I have heard peeing on it works.This isn't a joke !

Umm, I've heard that too, but the neighbors already think I'm crazy!

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peeing on the heap helps to accelerate the proccess, adds minerals to it too, you should cover the heap with poltthene sheeting to keep the heat in, and give it a couple of buckets of water each week to, that gets the heat going well, give you very good results, i compost in polythene sacks, and adding a bit of pee, helps no end, and with a cover over the top you can feel the heat from the sides of the sacks.

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Comical sounds great Patty! I'd love anything you draw, actually!!

Patty - I think you have WAY TOO MUCH MATERIAL HERE!!

If you want a cheap accelerant, plain old urea is available at most places that sell fertilizer. That's the nitrogen heavy component of urine that gives it the characteristic ammonia smell, and you don't have to go around unzipping trou and hoping the neighbor's don't catch ya!

The biggest accelerant to compost making is oxygen. Piles that are turned rot faster than those left in place. That's the theory behind all of the expensivo fancy compost makers. If you can find a used portable concrete mixer at an auction or garage sale, you can have the same thing with a lot less muscle effort. I found one for $50, (I actually use mine for mixing concrete, though) and I've thought if I ever found another one cheap enough, that's what I'd do with it. There's always the standard shovel from one bin to another every couple of days with a pitchfork and shovel. That works just fine, but it can be hard on the Advil bottle. ;*)

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Kathleen,

In the Great Green book of Garden Secrets,
"Dump a can of regular cola (not diet) on your compost pile, the sugar content & carbonation will help speed up decomposition."

and to really get it cooking:
Mix 1/4 bottle of beer, 1/4 cup of ammonia and a gallon of warm water. Spray on you compost pile.

I have just tried the cola, too early to tell if it helps.

plantbug


This message was edited Sunday, Apr 15th 10:56 PM