Composter

lol, I hear ya there!! I am sure you will find just the right place. It may take a little trial and error though. With a few smells to point out the error.

ROTFLMAO

I've had a great time reading thru this thread. I'm another compostaholic. For those who can't locate a source for alfalfa pellet/meal or manure. A 10 lb of the cheapest high protein dog food will work quite well. Got that from an old Mother Earth magazine some years ago and it works like a charm for a "jump start" to get your pile cooking. We have 2 homemade pallet bins and hubby (my scrounger) has got the makings of one more. We added an 8 ft piece of PVC pipe to the middle of the pile, poked full of holes. I can water directly thru the pipe with the hose and with no water wasted as we have a very shallow well, so water conservation is always an issue and this drought has really been a bummer. I'm not so patiently waiting for the local town to announce their leave pick up schedule. I hate to see so much 'good stuff" go to the landfill. Although I have gotten some interesting reactions asking if I may take plp's bagged leaves.......LOL

I particularly like the fact that we can have loooooong conversations about manure and not offend anybody!

x, C

Can I put leftover poached eggs and toast on my pile? (love the "tone" of the thread as well carrie)

Yes Carrie, and everyone here understands when I stick my hand down in the compost to take its temperature, and sniff my hand when I take it out, lol.

Ok, did I miss something .... ROTFLMAO?? Love talking dirt.

LOL Michael, just talking about all the stuff we can talk about here and people understand. you know-manure, smelling your compost ect....

It's been 2 days since I started (or even visited) my pile ... can't wait to get home and stick my hands in it. I assum it's too early to turn?

too early to turn. I learned my lesson, I just kept turning my tumbler, it was so much fun, but when I leave it alone, it heats up. Never too early to play in and sniff.

OMG ... On my way to work this morning and saw 2 big cans of beautiful green garden waste someone kicked to the curb for the trash men to take. I was so excited I almost drove off the side of the road. I couldn't stop to pick it up, but I sure hopes it's there on the way home. I can't believe I'm thinking about trash picking ... garden waste at that.

I LOVE THIS THREAD and not because I love my tumbler. I put toast in mine, why not? Someone shouts out "hey, wipe up that juice you spilled" and I joyfully add "and put they paper in the composter!"

Michael - since you have just put your kitchen scraps on the pile - maybe not sticking your hand in is a good idea - but you can always put something metal in (a spade or garden fork) and pull it out to see how hot it is.

Orrrrrrrrrrr, and I do yearn for one of these, you can check this link out - compost thermometers! The biggest on has a 72" reach! I wonder if Santa knows about these?

http://www.reotemp.com/compostshop/index.php?cPath=21

This message was edited Nov 6, 2007 4:08 AM

Looks like a meat thermometer. I read that you can actually use a meat thermometer (of course, one you'll never use in the kitchen again) and attach it to a long pole. Apparently works just as well and probably cheaper.

I put all my leftover stale bread, leftover noodles, napkins, paper towels, newspaper (shredded) bills, ashes from my fireplace, poop from our deer, llama poop, horse poop,water from boiling vegies, the water from my fish tanks, kleenex from the bathrooms, just about everything goes in there....I have the compostumbler and I am in love with it....makes compost at least once a month which then goes to the big lasagne pile until the following year....I've put bran meal & wheat germ in that were expired even...Maybe I'm nuts but it's done well for us.....Deb

You've been doing a lot of reading recently, MJ!

Deb, my daughter was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. To inaugurate our tumbler, and clean out the cereal moths, we threw ALL the expired/moth-eaten/questionable stuff in there. Haven't gotten compost yet, but I haven't given up. You put ashes in?

I know everyone says no but I do and haven't had a problem....I put the ashes out of the barbeque which is lit with propane not fluid, I put alot of pine cones as the bottom layer in the pile as well as trimmings off the pine trees 'cause they hold everything up off the ground and they just melt down, I swear.....the limbs don't but the cones do....we burn the limbs as well as brush from our property and rake it into the pile....as long as it works I'll keep doing it.....people who have lived here all their lives marvel that my husband & I have gotten trees to grow on this bench as well as vegetables...all my soil from houseplants, wine barrels, raised beds, everything goes into the pile at the end of the growing season and is used the following year......Deb

This is sooooooooooooooo funny. All you people are just talking trash! Just piling it on. And to what end? To end up with a stack of hot air? You people are entirely full of manure. And, it seems like the more you get, the more you put out! Well, I never......

I never had so much fun in the morning like today!

Keep the comments coming.

And for those who need a translation, this was a pun paraphrase (please smile...tee hee hee).

Humph... Gymgirl talks like her stuff don't stink! She is full of herself... hehehe (sorry that was the best I could do!)

gymgirl, I am smiling!! LOL

You think my stuff 'don stink? Well, here's a newsflash. It DON'T stink, cause I aerate. And I don't mean blowing it outta just one end. I let the air out all over!

ROTFLMAO You guys are just too funny!!

Ooooh, ROTFLMAO, I just got because I just did it. Gymgirl you are too funny ... welcome to "Talking Trash in Dave's Garden"

Speaking of hot air, trash and manure, I just check my pile ... it's moist and steamy, and no smell. I just couldn't resist, I had to put my hands into to it ... even though Laurie advised against do it.

Mmmm. moist and steamy? sounds so -- inviting, alluring even! Good work, friend. And what did it feel like? How was it, for you? We have a tumbler, so it's off the ground and we can't really reach in and feel it the way you earthy types can.

x, C

My first time was wonderful, it felt great. Can't wait to do it again ...

We are too funny. I've found that once you start doing it, you want to do it more and more often! Be careful. You know exactly where that's been!

I used gloves.

Did it still feel the same?

Hmmm ... no!

So you're with those who say the layer of protection changes the sensation?

Does someone need a cigarette?

(Are they compostable?)

Not in my garden, you don't. (I don't know, probably are, yuck!) I like a glass of wine about now.

x, C

Hey CapeCod, nice to see ya here!. Just had a smoke ... not sure if they're good for compost, heck ther're not good for us.

Oh michaeljo, I had no idea you smoked! That's the last time I go compost-feeling with you! (Huffily.)

Just started tonight ... compost feeling can do that.

OK, guys, (drum roll) here's the answer about cigarettes and compost. Got it off the web.

"Tomatoes can get tobacco mosaic virus from cigarettes, so I wouldn't advise it if you plan to grow tomatoes."

So no smoking after rolling in the tomatoes.

What are you all talking about? I'm lost here.

Oh Cathy4... honey, you don't want to know. I turn my back on these guys and they start doing double talk. If you insist on having it translated, I'll do my best in a d-mail and hope I don't get booted off DG!!!

OOOOOOOOOOOOh, I may never fondle my compost again.