Ok I'm not good with the whole compoting thing, we had one as a kid where we just threw everything on it but never really used it, I'd like to use it and I've read that a lasagna compost is the easiest/least fuss But I am a moron and don't know the difference between brown and green. I'm assuming green is like grass clippings but what's brown?

Hey PlantFaerie,

The rule of thumbs that I have always used is that if it has dried out, it's "browns." If it hasn't dried out, it's "greens." But for a more expert description, here's what Compost Guide says about the "greens" and the "browns" used in compost: Check out their site . They have lots of information about composting.

Good luck,
Robert

Thanks Robert. I alsways feel like such a dunce when it comes to some of the stuff I never did when we had our own huge garden when I was a kid. I swear all we did was plant 4 rows of corn and 2 of everything else and keep it watered and weeded (and pick of those dammed tomato worms!)

Yep, been there, dont that, got the coffee mug, t-shirt, cap, and wrist band!! I have a brother 3 years younger than me and it was always our job to reduce the worm population in the tomatoes. We'd hold them in our closed fist, squash them, and then show them to our mother or sister! Mean little turds, weren't we??

Robert

I'm starting to get the brown and green thing but I'm unclear on one thing; WHEN should I start? Because I live in a house with a narrow-ish yard visible to neighbors on both sides I decided to get a compost tumbler rather than doing a pile, but when should I start it? I live in Zone 5, but the experienced gardeners in this area tell me its really more like Zone 4. Spring has really not sprung here yet and we still have some very below freezing nights. I have five big Agway bags of leaves in my garage that I stored when I cleaned up the yard in the fall and I am starting to feel anxious whenever I put vegetable waste and coffee grounds in the trash. Is it safe to start the tumbler now?

Hi shieldmadien 96!

Welcome to the Forum! You can put everything in your tumbler now and start turning it! Then wait for the "black gold"!

patches

Hey Robert, I went to your Web Site and I was the 221th visitor. I read some of the things, but I wasn't able to sign your guestbook. There was no place to sign. Nice site!

patches

Hey Patches,

Thanks for visiting my site! Sorry about not being able to sign the guestbook. What browser and what version of the browser are you using (ie. Internet Explorer 6.0)? Also, are you using any type of accelerator program such as Bellsouth Accelerator?

Thanks,
Robert

Hi Robert!

I am using Internet Explorer, but I don't know what number it is. I am not using any type of accelerator program.

patches

Hey Patches,

Thanks for the information. I'll check into the guestbook problem.

Robert