I finally outsmarted myself a few years back.. I'd have to waitttttttt foreverrrrrrrrr for my compost piles to thaw out and dry up a bit too, to be able to even get to it to sift..
I was like waiting toooooo long...
So, I started putting some garbage bags' *half filled* into my basement and then come spring, I could let the piles thaw as long as they needed to, cause I was already sifting... *and I like to sift in the early spring.. It works up a good sweat and workout and keeps me warm in the cooler weather.. Then I'm not doing it in the midst a HOT SUMMER...
Weezie
Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it. - Bible - Hebrews 13:2
We mulch our grass clippings back into the turf, so I don't have much material to compost. My mom said to do it, and her lawn is wonderflully beautiful.
Would it be bad to add weeds to a compost pile? Will I end up with a ton of new weeds when I put the compost on the gardens?
Yes is the quick answer. Now if you got to the weeds before they created seeds and made sure no roots went into the compost you could do it. But, it's way to much hassle. Guess how I know? lol
holy cr@p! mine smells like cr@p it stinks! whats it supost to smell like?
i spread it around the vines, wanted to give the cup n saucer a boost! this is pretty much the first time i let it get black, i think i had to much water? cause i literately spread it on like icing on a cake! dont think i did it right but it was a real nice lookin black
that's definitely not compost of the conventional kind.
What did you do?
Compost should be 25 to 50% grass clippings and food scraps and such and then 50 to 75% leaves, dried grass or something else along that line. The ratio seems to be a matter of choice. I don't want mine to smell because I have neighbors so I probably come closest to 25/75% ratio. I used dried grass to make up for the lack of leaves during the summer.
And you should only add enough water so that the pile stays slightly sponge. NOT like a soggy sponge.
not sure of what % of what i put in there, i just tossed in whatever i came by, some grass clippings, vegies, some brown leaves, lots of coffee grounds n eggshells. the water thing i cant do much about cause its all in a tub thing n when it rains it dont drain well, the little holes in the botton tend to clog up, but im gonna enpty out hubs can n use it its bigger with a lock lid,
Well I guess your just making compost tea without waiting for the compost to decompose all the way before you add the water lol. Nothing wrong with that except the smell I guess.
I think the ratios/% were mostly just to keep the smell down and to cut down on the amount of weeds you would get when you used it.
Wow.. I have never attempted to compost before.. the link on this site says not to use animal waste.. and alot of other things on that list up there.. meat, dairy products.. just to name a few.
I made a compost pile with leaves,weeds that haven't gone to seed,& kitchen wastes like eggshells.It's starting to decompose. I found earthworms in the pile the other day.
you all are lucky you all can make a compost heap or pile in my neighborhood you can have stuff like that on the outside you have to keep trashbins inside have to keep your lawn a certain hieght your not allowed to park a car on the lawn... stupid deed restrited communitys i hate them at least im allowed to have flowers..
pleaseee... Betty Crocker aint got nothing on me =)
Wow.. I have never attempted to compost before.. the link on this site says not to use animal waste.. and alot of other things on that list up there.. meat, dairy products.. just to name a few.
You can use cow,sheep. chicken, rabbit manure, provided it has aged, do not use fresh manure,
as far as meats( left overs ),I'll only add shrimp, fish, I don't use red meats, or poultry meat.( I use an old blender and chop up fish and eggshells and banana peels, veggie's, orange peels etc.. so it will break down faster in the compost :wink:)
as long as you have 25 percent green products which is what the above is, and up 75 percent brown, paper, leaves, lint, etc, it will keep the gnats, bugs, smell to a low minimum,
I even add a small amount of bonemeal to my compost every three turns of it, but that's just my preference
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
Well, what time of year is best to start one? We are going thru alot of oranges and bananas right now.. so I would have those peels.. what else would be good to start..??
you can start a pile any time of the year. if you are in an area that freezes, it will just freeze until time for thaw. that's fine. and you start it with what ever you have and add as you can. bananas and oranges are considered green, so you would want to mix them with brown which could be leaves or shredded paper. 3 parts brown, one part green.
you can start a pile any time of the year. if you are in an area that freezes, it will just freeze until time for thaw. that's fine. and you start it with what ever you have and add as you can. bananas and oranges are considered green, so you would want to mix them with brown which could be leaves or shredded paper. 3 parts brown, one part green.
Ok, so 3:1 is the ratio to stick with?? I need to find a list of what is considered green and what is brown.. I will refer back to the list in this thread.. so how long before it all turns to dirt?? A long time?
And should I do what someone else said, put bigger stuff in a blender?? Or does that matter??
Green is foods, peelings. eggshells, grass clipping,left over coffee, sodas. things like that,,primarily things that have natural moisture of some kind, Browns are paper products, shredded newspaper, white envelopes. napkins, browned leaves, stale dry cereal, stale dry dog food,stale bread hot dog/hamburger buns. biscuts etc,..
extras are coffee grinds, tea bags, lint, hair from brushes, etc,
Depending on how small the pieces are when you put them in and how your weather is ,,,if it's cold it will freeze and you'll wait until it thaws.. if it warmer you'll want to turn( stir it) once a week or twice a week, and depending on what you store it in,, I have a very large rubber maid trash can with a lid,, I made holes on the sides and bottom, because it has to have air circulation. I fill mine to halfway( eventually) but continue to 'turn' it once or twice a week . I also chop up Green smaller so it will decompose faster, and I let brown leaves/breads dry so I can "crunch ' them up when I put them in,, That is my preference :wink: Because 1/2 trash can makes about 60 lbs of soil I want it to compost quickly so I can start another batch, When the compost is black and has a sweet rich smell to it it is ready to sift. The bigger pieces that didn't go thru the sifter I set aside until I'm finished sifting,, then take thosebigger pieces place back into the trash can as a "starter" for my next batch, I only fill half way because it's get to heavy for me to deal with, BTW I bought a deep fat fryer basket at a restaurant supply store to sift with and I sift over a wheelbarrow, it just makes it easier to take to the area I want it to be tilled in at ,
Mine takes about 6 weeks. probably because the lid keeps the heat in so it "cooks" faster Tho there are open methods by bulding a box to keep it in reasonable controled quarter,, where as some choice to not build anything to store it in and just have a pile,, tho I would advice to have it piled away from the house,, as it could draw rodent,
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
I have a average size yard, and I did have an open one and it attracted rodents so I said OHHHHHHHHH Heck NO! I then got the trash can and found it holds the heat in more as I wanted it done quickly and here in TX with warmer weather it works pretty good,, I just wish I would have got a smaller trash can , I can't reach all the way to the bottom so I use a shovel sometimes,,
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
Enrigue,, you can use pallets too or watch for a house being demolished and go get wood from there,, Just be careful there aren't termites,, welllllll even if there are a few,, when the compost heats up it'll cook em!!
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
Enrigue,, you can use pallets too or watch for a house being demolished and go get wood from there,, Just be careful there aren't termites,, welllllll even if there are a few,, when the compost heats up it'll cook em!!
Today someone gave me a black plastic cone composter and my husband said the neighbors will hate me and I will hate the flies even more. Does anyone have experience with the cone? I always wanted to try to make my own compost but this one has a lid so small it looks hard to get into the container. From what I read here it isn't supposed to stink and his only experience with a composter is a friend who tried it for a season, never got any compost out of it but neighbors couldn't stand her because of the smell. I don't want that.
Composting correctly should not cause horrible odor or flies. I don't know what a cone composter is exactly. Never put any animal meat, dairy, grease, etc. into your compost. No meat eating animal waste like your dog droppings. All of these will certainly attract flies and other unwanted critters and smell. If you use the proper materials in your compost it shouldn't smell anything other than earthy. Even if you use manure any smell dissipates quickly if it is properly used. Compost is only beautiful to a gardener. So most are kind of hidden out of sight in the way back of your yard. If your composter didn't come with directions, try a google search of the brand name and see if it will give you online directions on the proper use of it.
~Tina
Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
Hello! I'm new to the boards here, and just wanted to say I am thrilled that there is a composting topic. My father brought me a composter today so I am going to give it a try.
My family composted when I was a kid, but we lived in the country so we simply had a big pile in the corner of our garden that we turned with a pitchfork every once in a while.
Suburban composting is a new adventure for me.
Thanks for posting that list of things I can toss in. Very helpful.
Hi Ivy516 ... Lucky you ,, You have a composter! I made mine out of a huge rubbermaid trash can with a hinged lid,, Poked holes all around it sides and bottom so air could circulate and it works excellent, It only takes about 8 weeks. I make sure everything I put in there is cut, shredded,, up very small so it will break down faster, and cook!, I love the smell of finished compost It;s sweet black gold!
Just remember about 75% brown( leaves, paper, lint,, floor sweeping,, etc dry things) to 25 % green,( raw foods, grass clippings etc) Keep it balanced like that and Like Tina said it shouldn't smell or have gnats,, IF it does smell there isn't enough Brown products put in it,! and Don't forget to turn it frequently ~ I turn (stir) every three days),
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
Angelblossom - Thanks for the tips. I didn't know about the brown/green ratio, and I definitely don't want a smelly pile. I will have plenty of leaves to throw in there, so I think I'll be ok.
The composter I have is basically an upturned trash can with holes, just like you made. One bonus is it has a little door at the bottom to shovel out the "gold" and also it comes with large plastic screws to hold it into the ground so it doesn't tip over in the wind. My dad got it for free from another guy who got it for free who didn't want it. So - my good luck! I hope it works well.
Your 8 week turn-around is fantastic.
I've been told I should put the composter in a sunny spot to help with the cooking. Do you do that? I'd kind of like to hide mine behind my shed, but it's shady back there.
I BELIEVE since you have a container it shouldn't matter TOO MUCH about it being in the shade? It should still cook. 8 week turn around is excellent, angle! I'm getting anxious for my compost. It'll probably be another month and a half before it's completly ready. I'm thinking of getting a big bucket and layering it with dirt from the ground and the unfinished compost. I'm thinking it should make nice soil in just a couple of weeks. what do yall think?
Cricket
Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker
I always have mine in full sun, it heats it up good,,! I also put in Bone meal every now and then,,,,,,,........ WOW you really got a good deal with that composter,, The rewards are fantastic with the gardens,
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
I threw about 5 oranges worth of orange peels and I've been smelling this 'moldy orangy' smell. When I looked, the peels were covered with a blue-gray- mold (penicillin?) I covered them with come larger clumps of compost that was spilling out of the composter. It's still there...any ideas how to fix it? I don't have much green to put in the composter: mainly old potting soil (i heard it can be revitalized after a trip in the composter lol), dried weeds/grass from my weeding, and bits of chopped up twigs, the occasional wet newpaper torn to pieces. I can't get kitchen greens unless they come from the fruits I eat. My mom won't save them for me - she thinks the composter will attract raccoons and pests. Nope, she wouldn't listen when I assured her it wouldn't, nor do I put any meats/fats in it.
Helping the world one seed at a time
When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant. Mary Ann LaPensee
kennyso...I've heard that citrus should not be added to compost, I don't know the reason. I mainly do "slow composting" or "lazy composting," tossing greens and browns into piles and never turning. I have an "Urban Compost Tumbler" apparatus, fairly pricey, but I have yet to get the right green to brown ratio, it has mainly provided me with compost tea, I have time and space enough to experiment, but over 2 years and more, I have yet to harvest a good batch of "compost." I'm not that concerned with the penicillum mold citrus forms, but perhaps I should be. I've always felt that the main problem was simply that the peelings never seem to break down. I guess composting them could eventually lead to strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, etc, all molds could be considered dangerous in that case.
Hi. I posted here about this time last year and you all were very helpful. I started my compost bin, and threw in as much as I could from angelblossom's great list. I even tried to keep a good green/brown ratio.
The last time I mowed my lawn in the fall, I threw in a bunch of grass clipping and chopped up leaves (I usually use the mulching feature on my mower and let the clipping decomposed into the lawn, but I thought my compost could benefit from that last crop).
So, my bin was full and I left it alone all winter. A few weeks ago I paid it a visit with a pitchfork to stir things up. To my disappointment, it seems to have nothing but leaves. There's a little door on the bottom to scoop out decomposed material, but when I opened it...more brown leaves. What the heck?!
Yes composting does take water. I am sorry that that was not clear here before. Water and stirring will help break it down a little quicker than just leaving it be.
~Tina
Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
I added water and have started adding more "green matter" also. I guess I need to keep a closer eye on it, turn it, make sure it's moist.
So, since I don't have compost to add into my soil this spring, which is what I was hoping to do, can anyone suggest an alternative? Should I just use a commercial fertilizer? What about just taking some of the leaves and grass and stuff that's in there and mixing it with the dirt?
I have a few beds that have had nothing added to them since I moved here two years ago, and I'm pretty sure that the previous owners were not doing much out there for quite a long time before that, based on the condition of the beds. I'm worried about the plants I've put in over the last two summers...
You can purchase composted manure to add to your beds. It is about the least expensive thing available. Just make sure it says well rotted or aged or composted. And toss a bit into your composting heap too. It will help jump start it.
~Tina
Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
Michelle~~~ I pour left over coffee, soda, beer, tea in my compost I rarely add water from the hose or tap,, I usually have enough moist veggies and fruit left overs that provide enough moisture as well as left over drinks, I keep a lid on mine and stir it often to help it break down more. I also put the corners of bonemeal left in the bag, potting soil that's left in a bag, soil from an old plant (provided there isn't any fungus or bugs in it) all go into compost, as why I never mentioned adding water,, it isn't absolutely necessary if you put enough moist green items in there. the ratio is normally 75% brown(leaves, paper, lint, broom sweepings) to 25% green,( veggies fruit peels, Grass clippings, left over drinks, wet coffee grinds, tea bags etc) I have compost ready in about 6 to 8 weeks, depending how much I make, what I use, how often I stir it and how small I break thing up (I use an old Blender and press Chop) BEFORE it goes into the compost bin. every thing compost down soooooooo much faster :wink: You can go to Homedepot, lowes, any garden center and Buy compost, Mushroom compost is good!,,BEFORE you purchase it make sure bagged compost feels Moist in the bag, Hopefully there is a bag there with a little 'rip' in it, Try to smell it, if it smells 'Earthy" and rich it's good compost, if it doesn't Don't buy it.
as far as taking clipping and leaves and adding to your soil before it is broke down remember it will heat Up (cook), as it decomposes, you don't want to cook roots of your veggies or flowers
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
Do you add grass clippings directly to your flower or vege bed? I've been doing that without composting them and it seems to keep the weeds under control. I don't put them directly around the plants themselves though.
Thanks again everyone - I will follow your tips, and I wouldn't have thought about dumping extra drinks in--that is especially good after a bbq! Is tea ok if it has milk in it? It's a small amount...but still.
Angelblossom--I think my big mistake was adding a huge amount of dry brown stuff to the top of the bin (all of the grass clipping and leaves I mulched with the mower during my last mow) when it was already cold in the fall, and then not touching again 'till now. I should have added some moisture and stirred a couple of times. Now I know. I am hoping that I will make some good compost this year with a little extra effort.
I also like the idea of using grass clippings in the beds as a mulch to keep the weeds down. I am going to try that with my first mowing this year. I might be able to get away with hauling "real" mulch for my front beds only. That would be a nice break.
Michelle, I even pour what's left in a coffee cup with creamer in it,, But that is rare, I hardly ever leave coffee in a cup
Just remember to stir your compost often and break things down small before it goes in if you want compost faster than the norm :wink: let us know when you get your first batch,, remember it's good to Sift it as well, I went to a restaurant supply store and bought a big fryer basket and sifted my compost into a wheel barrow,, the bigger pieces ( chunks) I put to the side until I was finished with the entire batch, then Started a NEW batch of compost with the larger chunks that didn't go thru the sifter, it gives a new batch a head start!
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
This last summer I stumbled upon composting using what the Japanese call Bokashi. Using a culture of "effective microorganisms" that contain Lactobacillus casei (Lactic Acid), Rhodopseudomonas palustris (Photosynthetic bacteria) and Saccharomyces cerevisae (purple yeast) and other naturally occurring microorganisms in one liquid culture. I had read an article about water kiefer and what a nice pro-biotic it made. I thought gee, I bet that would work nice on my plants. So I started researching Lactobacillus (the same bacteria that is in yogurt)and eventually found the Bokashi Method. Rather than composting with aerobic bacteria, it instead relies on anaerobic bacteria which "pickles" organic waste rather than decompose it. Two weeks in the bucket and you bury it in your raised beds. You can even mix it with distilled water and molasses to multiply the bacteria and spray or pour it directly to your plants, just like compost tea! What is unique is that you "compost" anything that is organic. Now I have a nice way to recycle all my orange peels, cheese, meat scraps,fish waste and other things that I wouldn't put in my compost pile. it's some pretty nifty stuff.
Do you add grass clippings directly to your flower or vege bed? I've been doing that without composting them and it seems to keep the weeds under control. I don't put them directly around the plants themselves though.
I have used grass clipping as mulch for years--and it works great--the only thing is, I do not use tall grass that may be going to seed---
I especially like to use it at the base of my blackberry plants (well I did back when I had blackberry plants)--I added new clippings after most grass cuttings, so as to keep the moisture in & the weeds down.--made the berry line look nice too.
________
Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!! .....
I have read over this most recent forum on composting... I always try and compost but it never seems to make very quickly. So in reading over the posts I've gotten some ideas on how to improve my compost heap. My DH (69 yrs young) would very much like to retire by July of this year. So we are looking at all our expenses to try and figure out how to reduce. One of the ways is our solid waste expense... $425 a year! And we don't have very much, I save anything that can go into my compost, I recycle, so that leaves very little in the trash container every week. We burn coal and wood for our heat so we can burn everything burnable.....now coming to my point. I have always had heavier paper not break down in my compost heap...like regular copy paper. So, if I were to shred it some, then put it in the blender with water, would that be ok in my compost heap? But what about the inks? If newspaper is ok, is the ink on other pieces of paper ok? It seems too early to be thinking about my garden here in NE WY, but it is hard not to start drooling with the thought of fresh vegies! Have a Warm and Wonderful day
Shredded paper should be good for the compost, in layers with other things. Most states have laws about what inks can be used any more. The plasticized or shiny paper is not a good idea though. There really is no need to blend it as well. It will break down more quickly than the leaves you add in there. I put my junk mail in my worm bin. Once in a while when I turn it, I run into little plastic 'windows' from the those envelopes that I just pick out and toss.
~Tina
Drama Free Zone. What every gardener loves the most, Begins and ends in rich compost. (Tina)
I laughed out loud, Tina, when I read your post. We have almost no trees.....high prairie desert. Also our town is now about 25 years old...we are just youngins'! I do have a neighbor that has a few cottonwoods that are big enough to have a nice gathering of leaves, and I go rake them up for them. But leaves are hard to come by here. Also I have to be quick, if we have a wind come up the leaves are in Nebraska before I can get to them. OK, so I won't whirl the paper in the blender, but I am going to add more of the paper and make sure it is wet! Have a Warm and Wonderful Evening
I have a pile of compost from cleaning up last year but I have no idea what state its in. We just added to it and added to it last year. This year I'd like to make proper like bins or fenced in areas for the compost. I think we ended up with a wood pile next to the pile of compost and they both kinda moved in on each other. Hopefully we can set up a better system them year. I'm glad this thread got moved back up, it was an interesting read going back to the beginning.
May the wind always be at your back and your keel in the water
I'm going to move mine closer to the garden spot so I don't have so far to haul it. Wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow - it gets tiring.
I know what you mean Sheri, I moved my closer as well,, I DO however makes everything that goes in as small as possible I find that it actually does break down faster,, it could be because of the warm weather we have here? it heats up every day but I have mine in a very large rubbermaid trash can. I rake leaves up and bag them for year round, a lot of times by the time I get to some of those bags of leaves they have already begun to break down.
"Grace without perfection is more to be desired than perfection without grace."
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