#115341
September 17th, 2005 at 06:05 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Was it you, Weezie, who said how much you love compost? I admit that I thought it was a little over the top, <b>MEEEEEEEEEEEE , A LITTLE OVER And Longy is the best too.. Don't get any better info on composting..... Very glad you had great results, and hope you keep on posting and helping others with their new adventures in gardening too!!!
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#115342
September 17th, 2005 at 09:09 PM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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Well the roommate has alergies and they were getting worse while he was in the apartment and guess what. The Coleus was busy blooming again. That Fack Coleus wants to produce flower spikes much more often than any other coleus I've ever had. It has huge leaves too. Frequently as big as 1/3 the size of the whole plant. Well anyway the flower spikes and the leaves that had some brown on them went in the compost pail along with the tossed salad fixin's waste. Oh, did I mention the very large contribution coffee grounds? And then there is the wad of hair. Better that the compost bin gets it and not the vacumn cleaner. It can break the belt on my vacumn cleaner without a problem. And I shed as badly as any dog I've ever known lol. Ok that's it for the compost pail. Tomorrow I finally get to dump it out and play in it and I can't wait. Whoopie!!!!!
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#115343
September 18th, 2005 at 12:59 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Mar 2005
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Thanks Weezie & everyone! I doubt that I'll be able to add much to all this expertise but am always willing to help. I do have a question: Is it a bad idea to put your weeds into the compost? Wouldn't the seeds be a problem when you use it or do they die off in the "cooking"? Weezie: Tell us more about the "can of beer" getting things cooking. I've never heard of that. Does it matter if it's flat or not? If I give it too much will it start doin a dance out there & burping the top off? TK: I brought my Coleus all inside for the winter & some of the leaves are dropping off. Is it too warm or what?? (I'll have to remember to put them in the compost.) Have a happy weekend everybody
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#115344
September 18th, 2005 at 01:10 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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leaf drop probably has to do with the change in the amount of light they are getting. If you baby them for a week or two they will probably come back as strong as ever. I pinch mine back very very often and also take the large leaves out when a branch starts on the stem in a place that will help me look bushier. Although with the size of my current apartment that may not be the best idea I've every had lol. I put weeds in my compost but I usually pull them set them on the concrete for a few days until they are totally brown and dry looking and then remove the root and seed head before I put the stems in the compost heap. I'm not confident enough to put live weeds in my compost bin yet. Although I do know it gets hot enough to cook them. I did put some tomato stocks in the compost bin though and they did have some small green tomatoes still on the vine. I guess maybe that's the same thing. I just have a hard time seeing the tomatoes as a weed. I guess that's because I'm so new to gardening.
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#115345
September 19th, 2005 at 07:56 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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Do you think i can starve my compost pile??? lol Sorry, but I've been really busy and haven't fed it in a while. lol So I was getting worried. Dee
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#115346
September 19th, 2005 at 08:20 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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lol, from what I've been reading what you really want to do is make the pile all at one time and then let it cook turning it when it cools down. And it should make finished compost in anywhere from 10 to 45 days.
But I haven't been at it long enough to know.
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#115347
September 19th, 2005 at 08:44 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Ladybug, I can't stress enough that each pile can be different.... Mine in the fall are the quickest for me, cause there's a perfect ratio of brown chopped leaves and grass, I can dump it in and can have it rendered down very quickly... Depending on how much I have or how many of my bins are open and ready for loading, is depending on how fast I feed them... I also have one, that isn't always so fast, because I have kitchen scrap's in and browns from the garden and I don't need grass in cause of the scrap's... so I keep browns such as chopped leaves, saw dust or wood chips *home made from a chipper* etc, type stuff right next to my bin.. then I add kitchen scrap's and load some browns.. some times I might not do anything to them.. It's really a personal preference... how you do you compost piles.. While Tammy and Mary like to get compost reasonably quickly they are willing to do the work for it, by adding and turning and chopping things up finely or thinly or with the most exposed edges on the item to be decomposed cause they decompose faster.. While someone like my self, who has several to work with *8* and may not need to work them all fast... (cause I'm slow sifting and getting it out* ) but if you don't feed it, don't worry.. it should be okay.. The only one bit of advice I can say is, not to let them sit around tooooooooooooo long.. especially if there is a big plant or tree near it, cause those plants tend to send roots to the pile and filter up thru it and use your compost and if it gets rained on, after a while, say the full year and them some, the nutrition leaches out of it thru the rain water washing thru it..
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#115348
September 20th, 2005 at 08:33 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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Oh really so i should keep my piles away from and trees. thanks Dee
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#115349
September 20th, 2005 at 08:49 PM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Oh yeah......the roots will be in seventh heaven, finding a stock pile of good eats right there... And sometimes, if you plant something that is too close to the compost pile or in it or around a compost pile, depending on the plant, it can kill them believe it or not... **Well, for people/places that there's a winter and cold, freezing temps..** It will keep the plant will stay too green too long and won't prepare it's self for winter in time and have too much new green growth on it and the winter weather, winter freezes.. will more than likely kill it or weaken it badly....
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#115350
September 21st, 2005 at 09:11 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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Well I couldn't quite believe it but the compost compacted really badly this time. I must have had way to much green in there I guess. I've put at least half a bin of new stuff in there the last two days and it's plenty hot so it's working good. But I can't believe it shrunk that much.
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#115351
September 23rd, 2005 at 08:36 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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Why is it that one should not start a compost pile near a building??? I read that somewhere on the internet. As I have mine near my LARGE storage shed. By the By last night, a Bear moved my whole compost bin...lifted it right up..pulling the pegs right out of the ground. Nothing in there..food like..other than potato peelings, and tomatoes. What I put in today (please let me know if anything is wrong) Dryer lint cardboard box (ripped up) potato skins cucumber skins coffee grounds x3 paper towel small handfull of crushed chips 2 crushed up egg shells
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#115352
September 23rd, 2005 at 09:14 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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Hi Noxema. Sounds like your compost got a tasty meal today. Everything sounds right on! ) That's crazy about the Bear! Just ask Mary & TK & Longy & Weezie. My 'Special Of The Day': I always threw leftover buns (hamburger/hotdog/rolls/etc) into the freezer until they got burned, and then I would finally toss them out. Not anymore! I just mixed a whole bunch of those in my compost today instead of the garbage for a change. lol. I've never even considered bread before. It's amazing what you can find to compost. Hope you all have a great night, ~SuzyQ~
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#115353
September 23rd, 2005 at 10:33 AM
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OP
Member
Joined: May 2005
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I understand the reason you don't build near a structure is because of the heat they generate You have learned well, grasshopper. They say you should build it away from your house because of spontaneous combustion...but the chances of that happening in a compost pile are slim to none, though I guess the heat/moisture/insects that thrive in a compost heap might not be good for your foundation/siding/etc. either Sounds like everything you added is right on noxzema (and welcome to composting and the forum while I'm at it!) the only thing you might want to be careful about is the chips - as weezie pointed out to me, the salt on the chips isn't really good for your plants - a little bit won't hurt, but you dont want to go crazy adding lots of chips or that could be bad. Otherwise, great job! As for the bear, well, I know they're super sensitive about sniffing out food. Whenever I dump food in the heap, I take a pitchfork full of compost and cover it up - though Im not sure that's quite enough to keep the bears at bay, it might help
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#115354
September 23rd, 2005 at 11:45 AM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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I think there was something on CSI about use having so many odor sensors in our noses and animals have many many more of them. So even though we can't smell a thing the compost bin is hollering dinner time to the local animal population lol. Or something like that.
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#115355
September 23rd, 2005 at 07:23 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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The bear was back again last night. She is a Mama with 2 cubs. Guess the babies were hungry!
I know I wont be bothering her LOL. Dont want a swipe across the head. Mother bears are very dangerous when they have thier young with them.
And I guess I am going to have to move the composter anyway...way to close to the shed. Thank you for letting me know that.
Hot or Cold...ummm...I am clueless as to what exactly that means? Could someone help a fool out with that???
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#115356
September 23rd, 2005 at 07:31 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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Oh and another question.
I dont have leaves here..but I have pine needles out the wazzoo. Can I put pine needles in the pile? Or would they have too much acid?
Hope you all dont get sick of all of my questions
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#115357
September 23rd, 2005 at 08:20 PM
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Official Blabber Mouth
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Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
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I've heard that compost is normally pH neutral but I've never heard about composting pine needles so I don't know what to tell you.
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#115358
September 23rd, 2005 at 09:07 PM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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I put them in, do you have a lawn mower or something you can run over them a few times/?? That's what I do... and sprinkle in in layers as needed..
And Tammy's right, most compost piles, no matter what you put in them, end up closer to the Neutral side.
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#115359
September 23rd, 2005 at 11:33 PM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="COMIC SANS MS, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="3" face="COMIC SANS MS, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> You have learned well, grasshopper. ) The microbe action started to work and heat up for me when I finally got the ratios closer to 3-parts browns (carbons) to 1-part greens (nitrogen). This is by mass and not weight though. Plus air and moisture. I don't know if you've looked through this thread yet, How To Make A Compost Bin , but there's a wealth of information in there if you've got some time to read through. Lots of great questions and answers to get you going. It eventually became long enough that it's now continued here --> How To Make A Compost Bin II , and is another great place to ask your questions. I know I still refer to these threads often. So keep posting, Noxzema, and let us know how it's going! It really is a fun and interesting project, with many wonderful benefits. Looking forward to reading about your successes, too. ~SuzyQ~
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#115360
September 24th, 2005 at 12:43 AM
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Compost Queen!
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Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
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Why is it that one should not start a compost pile near a building??? I read that somewhere on the internet. Also one of the reasons' is, that compost piles invite and need some buggies.... to them.. One of your best visitors' are worms.. EARTH MOVING CREATURES!!!! Who, love to eat dirt.. and that means near foundations...and regular area's don't mean any difference to them, if there's something for them to eat, tunnel thru, ooooooooooooh, they're in 7th heaven.. and other one's that would eat decaying browns, which can be wood structures next to your house, they'd be like "Hey, I can't tell the difference.. it's dark down here..." Always best to keep it a distance from your abode. The only one that I would suggest is those tumblers maybe..and some of those aren't air tight, and when it rains, it drips in, and when you add anything with a liquid it drips... so, hence there in lies the same problem, maybe just smaller amounts..
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#115361
September 24th, 2005 at 01:02 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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I will definately be moving it this weekend. Thank you all. I will also add some of my pine needles. There is no way I could add them all. We hauled them away when we first came here..and it took 18 1/2ton loads. Dats a whole lot of pine needles..lots and lots and lots of trees here. SuzieQ I will definately read those 2 links! Thank you. Cardboard (I always have alot) is that considered a "brown"? Yet another question LOL LOL. I am full of them, seems like as soon as I read on here..questions are just popping out of my head LOL. You are all so great. And I know now that I am going to be addicted to composting. I am making steak and potatoes tonight. The boys wanted baked potatoes...I said "Well I will bake them..but they will be peeled..my composter needs those peelings" IMAGINE...addicted or what. What I fed the composter today: Banana peels egg shells crushed leaves that fell off my colius (SP?) plantRipped up pizza box Brown paper bag (lunch bag) cucumber peelings Tomato paper coffee grinds coffee (is this aloud?) dryer lint dried up weeds that I pulled from the garden and let bake in the sun (is this aloud?) Grass clipping from weed eating around the shed
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#115362
September 24th, 2005 at 01:37 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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Yep, cardboard is definitely a brown. Good that you're ripping it up too so it has more exposed edges to break down quicker. Same with paper. But don't use the glossy stuff. And I know now that I am going to be addicted to composting. I am making steak and potatoes tonight. The boys wanted baked potatoes...I said "Well I will bake them..but they will be peeled..my composter needs those peelings" I Know! I'm a crazy woman standing guard over the trash when the kids help tidy up the supper mess. lol. "HEY! Get that outta there! That goes in the COMPOST!!" lol. They're catching on. Coffee is definitely allowed. Mine gets a daily slurp right after I've had my fill. Pop and beer is also good. I'd watch out for the weeds though. Even sun-baked those seeds can rise up again in your flowerbed if your compost doesn't get hot enough to cook the bejeebers out of them. Luckily I don't know that by experience... I read it here though and that's good enough for me. I smiled at TK saying she had to force herself to leave the compost alone last week. lol. I find I'm doing the same thing. I want to keep digging into the centre because that heat action in there is sooo cool to see. lol. But I know I'll slow the process down by doing that. Oh well, I'll just go find something else to do then. ~Suze~
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#115363
September 24th, 2005 at 04:31 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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Go pee-pee on your compost heap. The nitrogen helps the heap warm up and rot down faster. This is probably easier for the guys to carry out logistically, but if you can get some on there no matter how, try it.
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#115364
September 24th, 2005 at 06:09 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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Well then, that would certainly help deter me from wanting to reach in and feel the heat now, wouldn't it! Hmmmm.... Perhaps down the road once the novelty wears off. lol.
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#115365
September 24th, 2005 at 06:24 AM
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Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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Oh my...I seriously could not see myself doing that. Hee Hee that is wild! I could just see my husbands face if I asked him to relieve himself out in the composter LMAO.
Yet another question...sick of me yet LOL.
What about when you sweep the floor and the sand and such you get off the floor..can that be put into the compost?
I know..weird question. This is such an obsession.
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