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Compost pile drain and collection system
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Posted by brandond 6 (hdavis34@hotmail.com) on Fri, Feb 5, 10 at 8:01
| I have a large composting setup. I have three stalls and was thinking of designing something. In a book I read called "Let it Rot", it shows a setup of placing a layer of gravel beneath the area you place your compost pile. You place a drain in the middle with a screen over it to collect the leachate from extra moisture going through the pile. Now I didnt want to use gravel personally. I was thinking of either placing a 4x4 plastic box with a drain or even taking some concrete and making a mini slab, and design it so that it funnels the extra moisture into the drain. The drain would go downhill into a catch sistern, either a 30 gallon barrel or something smaller. Now my crops and berry bushes are all downhill from this setup. The other cool thing is my rain barrel setup is right next to my compost pile. I could even bi-sect the compost collection runoff with the drip irrigation system. I dont know how beneficial the runoff would be from the compost pile. TO me once the compost is close to fully cured, then it would be compost tea that is collected from the system. What does everyone think of the idea. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Compost pile drain and collection system
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| If you lived in a rainy climate, and had problems with excess moisture in the pile, it probably would be beneficial. I don't have enough moisture in my pile to justify a leachate collection system. If you had runoff it would be beneficial, like a compost tea, but I think for most people they won't have that much excess moisture. |
RE: Compost pile drain and collection system
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| If you had enough water flowing from your compost pile to collect it then your compost pile would be too wet to properly, aerobically, digest and it would be in anaerobic digestion and smell putrid and offensive. |
RE: Compost pile drain and collection system
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| .. I have long had the tendency to over water. I'm in a dry climate so I'm always expecting things to dry out. Water draining from the pile represents excess so it's a good thing that it is draining because as kimmsr explained, too much moisture kills the aerobic process. A better strategy might be to reduce the excess water in your pile. That's tricky because not enough moisture slows things down too. When I'm doing things right, I'm adding a little water at a time on a daily basis. Too much water at once just washes stuff away onto the deck but too little and my piles slow to a crawl. Too much water is a waste and in this dry climate, that's a sin. to sense
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RE: Compost pile drain and collection system
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| If you've got that much drainage, your pile is too wet. Too much moisture, too cold, not enough air. Why not save all the extra effort and just cover it so it can do what it should be doing? Sue |
RE: Compost pile drain and collection system
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| Consider twelve inches or so of wood chips as a base, if you have access to them. Those who compost deer and other road kill, as well as large amounts of fish parts, do this. |
RE: Compost pile drain and collection system
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| I've started using a thick layer of fine wood shavings. During our dry summer last year I overwatered a couple times after we had been away and had some runoff. The base layer will be used for mulch and replaced every time I empty the bins. "Keep It Simple" is my motto. |
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