Composter

Sure. I would chop them up first, speeds the decomposition process - and, of course, remove any candle wax. ;-)

Why not - of course, you may be growing huge mutant pumpkins from your pile!

I toss all the dead pumpkins in, and then harvest several extras the next year from spread seeds. Love it.

That is where mine are going!!

Well gang, I just scored 4 wooden pallets -- looks like I'm building my first multi-bin composter this weekend -- I'm excited. This is addictive -- Monday I found this thread and was asking questions about building my bins out of plastic trash cans and today I talking about a multi-bin compost structure. Now all I need to do is build it and start filling it -- just hope I get the recipe correct (green/brown, leaves, grass, veggies, coffee grinds, paper and of course pumpkins).

I do have 2 questions:

1. I planned on setting the pallets directly on the dirt, in a shady spot near my garage (under a big tree where I keep my trash bin) is that ok, or do i need to locate the bins in a sunny spot so they cook over the winter?

2. What should I put down as my first layer (browns - leaves, cardboard, paper; or greens - veggies, coffee grinds)?

This message was edited Nov 1, 2007 11:22 AM

My question about science project mold got answered, and how about ashes - ok? Corn cobs? Husks? Our compost tumbler is stuffed, but I know it's not compost yet. Start another bin?

carrielamont - found some info on ashes. Check out this link: http://www.compostguide.com/index.html

Wood Ashes from a wood burning stove or fireplace can be added to the compost pile. Ashes are alkaline, so add no more than 2 gallon-sized buckets-full to a pile with 3'x3'x3' dimensions. They are especially high in potassium. Don't use coal ashes, as they usually contain large amounts of sulfur and iron that can injure your plants. Used charcoal briquettes don't decay much at all, so it's best not to use them.

Michael, in that same link you provided, it indicated that directly onto the soil is best (you'll get the benefits of worms that way). You won't get a lot of decomposing in the winter due to cooler temperatures. No mention if one of those materials is better than another for starting your pile.

Psych, I don't even understand your question. Both lime and ashes are discouraged - one will maje the result too basic, the other too acidic. Would't both balance each other out?

LOL, Carrie, I was not asking a guestion. Michael asked if he should put the pile directly on the ground under the tree or somewhere sunnier. I simply said directly on the ground per the link he provided. The link did not indicate which the compose ingredients he should start with. "2. What should I put down as my first layer (browns - leaves, cardboard, paper; or greens - veggies, coffee grinds)?" although I know I'd start with either leaves or greens. Those are most plentiful, I sure would not start with the veggies. I'd have the veggies in the middle where they are least apt to attract critters.

I understand your thought about the two different ashes "canceling" each other out. I'd just stick with the recommendations. I guess I like to play it safe!

OHHH I get it! thanks.

Thanks psych -- I figured I should start with leaves as a base and then layer in the greens and browns.

I just googled "compost recipes" and found this link to "composting for dummies", like me. It explains the C/N ratio, lists the C/N ratio of certain items, explains how to layer the greens and browns and even provides a few compost recipes.

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2493.html

This message was edited Nov 1, 2007 8:20 PM

Under a tree- tree roots will grow up into the compost, which can make it hard to dig the bottom-most material ot later, but the tree must love it.
Sun on the pile in winter will help thaw the top if you haven't got it cooking, which I usually don't. Drawback may be losing the sunny, plantable area in summer, unless you move the whole thing.
Lime and ashes both alkaline, for the record.

Editing- I had this happen with a maple, which is a real surface -rooty tree I think. Maybe others aren't bad.

This message was edited Nov 2, 2007 9:04 AM

Chuffed to bits that you got hold of some pallets - they really do work well - good air circulation, and pretty robust. And planning on multibins!! Wooowooo

Putting the pile in the sun might be a better cooking spot, but mine are all snugged up to the tree line and I haven't noticed any problem with roots or with breaking down. I may just have gotten lucky on this, or it may be that the trees aren't the suckering kind - that could make a difference. what you may want to do is put a cover on the heap for the winter - cardboard with some straw on top will help keep the heat in during the cold weather - then when you turn the heap in early spring, the lid can become the new base, and it all should be ready for using by late summer.

Huh, composting for dummies is oxymoronic! how can anyone who is thinking about composting be a dummy! its a contradiction in terms - the smart thing is to compost, the smarter thing is to research it - smart smart. A+ in my books.

I edited my comment re tree roots.
Agree a cover is really helpful.
One thing I read realy stuck in my mind. If you are harvesting from your land you are removing nutrient mass. Everything that grew got most of its mass from what was in your soil so you can't just keep removing stuff and not put back. Now I'm not really harvesting, but he concept that my yard is a repository of biomass to support whatever grows just sticks in my brain. I didn't explain that very well, but maybe you get the drift.
So everything that I bring here that can yield something compostable is adding to my ecosystem.

This message was edited Nov 2, 2007 9:12 AM

You explained it very well.

Well, for now the mulit-bins are just for show -- hoping my neighbors will see them and either start composting or share their "biomass" with me. I have been collecting greens for about a week now, mostly kitchen scraps and coffee. But I don't think I have enough to build a large pile. This weekend I plan to clean up the gardens to harvest more greens. I have plenty of leaves and paper. Is it okay to just add things in layers as I collect them over time, or is it best to build a 3-foot pile all at once?

I agree, composting and dummies should never be used in the same sentence, except for this one: "dummies don't compost", sounds like a bumper sticker for compost-aholics.

Ohhhh, compost-aholics! yes indeedy.

Michaeljo - if you are gathering them in a 3 foot pile, you might as well gather them in your compost bin - in they go!

And sallyg, I agree with Pagancat, very clear - and absolutely passionate. Lovely.

heck, I didn't think of it myself, just tried to repeat cause it made a lot of sense.
michael, just throw in what you have and layer as best you can. Did you know rain and snow have some nitrogen?

Layer away as I go -- seemd easy enough.

Interesting factoid sallyg - who knew H2O (liquid or frozen) had any N in it.

well, its my understanding, the precip carries it, you know there's lots of N in the air. I hear that farmers would plow snow into the ground to capture the N.

So, should we collect it in buckets and add it to the compost pile when it needs water?

I can't really say. N is very...mobile? transient? what's the word? It tends to be used quickly or lost, whereas C hangs around. I think the N would gas out.
Some smart person please jump in and save me, I'm floundering fast...

Sounded good to me ... I'm an accountant not a scientist.

Jump, sally, jump!!!

What part of H20 is N, again?

>evil giggle<
.

(may have to go do actual research. grr..)

This sentence quoted "Rain storms contribute atmospheric nitrogen through rain drops that reach the soil. "

is found on this website, about the nitrogen cycle
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/envqual/wq0252.htm



This message was edited Nov 2, 2007 11:52 PM

Ya, PC, what Sally said !LOL... I read the article, it was a pretty basic nitrogen lesson, thanks.

wow, we have nitrogen lessons! My mom is going to be so proud

You are all such cuties and always good for a laugh.

Ruby

Educated, smart gardners (and compost-junkies) make the world a better place. Glad to have met (chatted) with all of you ... I'll check in later. Getting ready to go build my first compost bin ...

Well, shut my mouth! Thanks for that, sally!!!!

Good luck michaeljo. I have put a good amount in my compost pile this past week, and plan to be putting more next week, My hubby has promised to go in to town where there are bagged leaves sitting on sidewalks waiting for trash men to pick up. He even said that he would take the pick up truck to ensure that he gets a good many. I can't wait!!!

Sally made a good point about only taking clear bags, so that you can see what is inside of them. Very good idea.

I also use my paper shredder a lot for paper and cardboard. Just this past week I hit upon two free paper boxes and took a few copies of each of them to shread and then compost. We drink canned sodas like fools around here and I am also shreddinig the cardboard containers that they come in. Of course, the majority of what I get in mail box is junk mail which I shred too. I throw away all slick and colored papers frrst.

So, once things start happening, they add up pretty quickly. I am going to try adding some alfalfa pellets that I heard people discussing here recently. It is supposed to help things cook quicker. I just need to find a store that has them.

Well, that is all the dirty talk that I can do now. Until next time.......

Ruby

dirty talk, Ruby, ha ha!
VOLATILE_ is the word I was looking for. It popped into my head this morning. Isn't it weird how your brain keeps working on something without you trying and pops it up like a Window on the 'puter?

See you should have woken up for the nitrogen cycle in high school science. Like they said, You might need this some day. : ^)

I have free paper recycling collections here so my clean paper does go out for that. Theoretically, I could save it all, but I would need to have more nitrogen and that's harder to come by free. Without more extra N, it will just hang around longer, and I don't have the room to deal withthat.

Now I have shut Pagancat's mouth. My work is done here, folks. I'm going to bask.

Oh Sally, you foolish girl if you think you can KEEP Pagancat's mouth shut!!! LOL... She is way too talkative to stay "quiet" long!!!

LOL LOL LOL LOL
I love it when you kids talk dirty.

Mmmm mm mm mmm m.

>my lips are sealed!<

MMM! mm . mmmm.

You all should know that Sally corrupts each forum she goes to. ha-ha She corrupts us in to being laughing fools rather than stodgy old prisses. There have been several times this past week that I will be reading something and then laugh out loud. Nine out of ten times it will be sally doing the egging on.

I am not complaining at all. I love to be entertained and am sure finding it wherever she treds this week. I think her hubby is slipping a happy pill in her orange juice in the morning.

Don't ever change Sally, you are a great gal.


Ruby

check's in the mail

Well I did it, build my first compost bin -- there's 2 actually. Took about 2 hours to build and the rest of the weekend to fill it. My first pile is almost 3 feet high.

Yay MichaelJo! Congratulations, and please keep us posted! (Happy to be corrupted by PaganCat and Sally....)

x, C