Any composting experts out there?? (cross-posted in Lounge)

[PeaceNikki]

OK, I want to start (I have a bucket going of kitchen scraps already). But, I need to do it cheap (or free) and I haven't a lot of space. Commercial compost bins are expensive and I haven't the carpentry skills or equipment to build. I've seen sites talk about using plastic bins and wire bins. One site has an image that gave me an idea:



The wire bin reminded me of an used critter cage I have:


Will this work or should I explore plastic bin options? In either case, what tips/tricks/suggestions do you have for a total newbie?

[Inchworm]

1. I'm interested as well

I have been following directions in mine, but am not sure I'm doin it right.

I'm a total newbie as well :)

:hi:

[PeaceNikki]

3. I have a GD thread going, too:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3338490&mesg_id=3338490

[Botany]

2. hints

Compost is a natural product so you don't need a "structure" per say.

Make it big (heat of decompostion)

Layer it w/ different materials (sod pieces are awesome)

Keep it wet

Turn it if possible

a couple of 4 or 6" PVC pipes with holes underneath the pile helps
keep the O2 level up

Do not put in lawn clippings

Do not add any fat or proteins to the compost

[PeaceNikki]

4. Lawn clippings are bad??

Huh...

I do think I need an enclosed structure as I am in a 4-unit condo and my only personal space is right near my building.

[Botany]

5. Lawn clippings are 80% water .... they should be left on the lawn

also any lawn food in the clippings can help feed the lawn again.

also they turn your compost from aerobic to anaerobic ....
unless they are spread out ... they clump into smelly little
hunks.

[PeaceNikki]

6. So... help me out here.

I have kitchen scraps:
Some salad that is too wilted for consumption
Watermelon rind
Egg shells
Coffee grinds

... but what else? Shreds of newspaper? Cardboard? I have a dog and a cat and I know their poop is no good for this. I might be able to talk to some local farmers about getting some cow manure... but how much?

Are the commercial products for acceleration expensive?

[Botany]

7. All that stuff is fine .....

no pet shit ..... manure is fine too.

Commerical products are a waste of money but if you can add some
organic fert to the pile it helps too .... any fert will do though .....
I like Espoma products ..... plant -tone and or their urea is real good
stuff.

layer your compost and turn often .... 2 composts are better than one
green fresh compost and then finished compost

[Inchworm]

13. I've been doing mine for about a month

When you say layer what do you mean?

I have been burying my kitchen scraps after I turn the pile. Well, not so much turn as move around. Should I be adding more plain dirt to the top or are dead, dry leaves ok?

I live in the woods and can get dirt fairly easily under the laurels, but thought I was supposed to only do that the first time.

:shrug:

[Botany]

14. I shovel full of soil helps

Because it is loaded w/ the microbes that do the "work."

[I_Will]

17. Do you rinse the egg shells first?

Total noob here.

If no fat and protein, do the eggshells have to be "cleaned"?

I am *so* looking forward to the results of my first year of gardening.

[crispini]

19. Nah, you don't have to be that tough.

Just not meat scraps.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Botany gave you the expert advice, so I'll add only a few things.

For aesthetic reasons a totally enclosed plastic composter would probably be better with close neighhors. This can be as simply as a plastic trash can with a few ventilation holes. The advantage to the trash can method is as long as you buy one with a lockable lid you can turn the pile by rolling the can on its side. A closed plastic container in a dark color will retain heat well and cook the compost faster.

Our waste management authority sells composters for about half of retail price. From the waste mgmt company I bought a Smith & Hawken biostack, which is a 3' cube of plastic stacks and turning involves moving one stack, forking over the material, then adding the next stack and forking over more. It works well for us because we have the room. Our pile cooks quickly. We have wire enclosures for woody branches and other material that composts slowly.

Botany is right about lawn clippings. Tossing a little into the pile is usually okay but a larger amount will soon have that pile smelling like ammonia. I learned that the hard way!


how to on trash can composting:
http://www.ehow.com/how_16876_make-compost-bin.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

[badgerpup]

9. You might want to crush the eggshells though...

I turned out my composter (got one of those rotator ones) and while the soil is nice and smells right, I still had a lot of eggshells.

[dgibby]

10. Worms

If you are only composting kitchen scraps, then maybe worm composting is right for you. You can keep them in a "worm farm" that you can purchase. It's compact, self-contained, and can be kept under the kitchen sink (also odorless,since it's self-contained). Worm castings are great fertilizer. Just google "worm composting" for instructions, sources, etc.

[PeaceNikki]

11. Just got back from the bait shop with 16 dozen red worms

:)

[Inchworm]

12. ewwww

:P

:yourock:

[hippywife]

15. Layering is really only practical

if you have the room to gather and pile up various materials. Since you live in a residential area, I would go with the suggestion of a dark garbage can with a lock-tight lid and drill holes for ventilation and drainage. And cut kitchen scraps very small before putting them in there. Lay it on it's side and roll it around to turn the contents to speed up composting.

The methods out there vary on how fast they cook the compost. We just use a couple of wire fence enclosures and even though it doesn't cook it terribly fast, it still turns out some great compost. We don't pay the slightest bit of attention to layers, just throw the kitchen scraps and leaves in it when we have them and they need to be dealt with. I think if it's kept moist and turned frequently enough, it does just fine.

Good luck! :hi:

[EstimatedProphet]

16. I bet it would

All you really need is a space. Personally I'm using an old barrel that I've cut in half like a clamshell. Every few days I roll it around the yard to mix it up.

[Kolesar]

18. Can I compost a fish?

I was invited to go fishing and I thought I would keep one of the "less desirable" fish for the compost. We have a small lot.

[crispini]

20. Well -- I *think* you could, but why not

make your own "liquid fish"? I think it might be more useful this way!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-Your-Own-Organic-Liquid-Fertilizers&id=318625

[Kolesar]

21. Yes, fish-eaters, the days of troublesome scaling, cutting and gutting are over

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75qbassamatic.phtml

thanks. The fish I would catch would be freshwater, not ocean going, so they would not have the much-touted long list of mineral ingredients. The Solar Gardening book said to compost fish in the compost bin. That jar in your link would be quite a sight. I will have to think about this one.

[crispini]

22. Ha. Well, compost, why not?

Just thought it might save you buying some liquid fish. My, that's some stinky stuff, but it is lovely fertilizer. :D

[LuckyLib]

23. We've been composting for years. With room at the back of our lot, we purchased three

round large bins. Similar to the one shown here with the door at the bottom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Container_composting

We do nothing but put all of our kitchen waste in there, many of the weeds and yard waste at the end of the season, some leaves, a shovel-full of dirt from another part of the garden, etc. The lid has holes for rain water drainage, and we occasionally water them. Once in a while I turn them with a stick that pulls out the under material and brings it to the top. No hassle. Each spring, I open the bottom door, and shovel out wonderful compost.

I didn't have the time or energy to turn composting into a big project. My objective was minimal work and getting rid of all kitchen and most garden waste. It's a great system. Part of life.