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| Hello, my name is D and I am new to this. One day last week I decided to start throwing all my fruit rinds and used coffee grounds, banana peels, dry dead piles of brown grass, etc. into a pile up against my south fence in my back yard to get a compost pile going. I have been adding red worms I have found around the property also. The pile has grown a bit in the week.
My question is, I have the pile, the size of about 3' x3' x2' (Its a start) up against the wall. Today I put a layer of about 3" worth of shredded junk mail and fresh cut grass on top of all the old food rings and coffee grinds. I also put very thin layer of soil on top of the rinds before the paper and grass, then a very thin layer of soil on top of the grass. I then wet the entire pile today. I didnt drench it but I wet it just enough. Is this a good start? And what should I do with future apple cores and banana peels and other used food items? I was thinking about just kinda "lifting" a side of the pile and putting it in the middle? I am totally new to this and am looking for advice. Thank you so much |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I say a 3x3x2 foot pile is an excellent start. There are no strick rules for putting new stuff in. I usually put the new on top and pull some stuff from below and bury the new with it. A pitchfork and a hoe are helpful tools to have handy to the pile. I break up larger things with a sharp hoe. The fork is great for turning. Best of luck... |
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| That's a great start. Give it a good turn every couple of days. when adding new stuff just take a pitchfork full off the top (make a hole) and drop the new stuff in. Cover the new stuff. |
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- Posted by blazeaglory 9b/10 Z22 OC Ca (My Page) on Mon, Apr 9, 12 at 22:45
| Nice!! Thanks. I was worried I was going to get berated for having such a small pile.hehehe. Its amazing how quick the pile grows. Its just me and my grandmother too. |
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| 'Tis better to have a small compost pile then none at all, because compost happens. Ma Nature does not create very many 4 x 4 x 4 compost piles out in the fields and woods and that material still gets digested and converted into nutrients for the flowers, shrubs, and trees that grow out there. The lionk below is to a very good tutorial on composting that you may find helpful. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Composting Tutorial
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- Posted by blazeaglory 9b/10 Z22 OC Ca (My Page) on Tue, Apr 10, 12 at 11:47
| Thanks. Awesome link :) |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Tue, Apr 10, 12 at 12:38
| Up against a wall may not be the best location. What wall is it? What is it made of? |
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- Posted by blazeaglory 9b/10 Z22 OC Ca (My Page) on Tue, Apr 10, 12 at 13:26
| The wall is made of brick. And it is a south wall but gets sun all day. The only time it doesnt get sun is from Nov-Feb. Its the only spot I can use. Its not really "up against", its just close to the wall. I have a long stretch about 10 feet long but it is the only area I can use for compost. So moving the pile is not an option. |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Tue, Apr 10, 12 at 13:55
| It's a good idea to cover future food waste additions. You can either dig a hole in the pile or keep some dry brown materials (leaves, paper, sawdust, shredded wood etc.) hand to cover it as well as keep the green/brown balance. The soil will not hurt but you really don't need it if your pile is on the ground. There are plenty of microbes that will come up into it. Great start and good luck! |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Wed, Apr 11, 12 at 10:51
| Ok, in your original post, the first line of the 2nd paragraph says up against a wall. I know how it is trying to decide where to compost in a tight area, frustrating decision. Just didn't want you to get a bug problem in your home because of a compost pile too close. It doesn't have to be in the sun. Sounds like an awesome start to me! There's no reason to add more soil, unless you just prefer the look of it. I used to do that too when I lived where the houses were closer together. No need to make the neighbors more nervous. Once you get some rot going, it will just look like a pile of dead leaves, especially if you bury new additions as you described. Keep up the good work! |
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| Sounds good. Has it started to heat up yet? If not, mix the grass clippings in when you can to get it started. The bigger your pile gets the hotter it will get. |
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- Posted by blazeaglory 9b/10 Z22 OC Ca (My Page) on Thu, Apr 12, 12 at 8:38
| No heat yet. I was going to turn it in a week or so and see what happens. The grass was just added the day before yesterday and the junk mail shreds the day before. Under that is dead brown leaves, dead brown grass, and apple cores and banana peels and coffee grounds. Most of it is grass on the top followed DOWN by a thin layer of soil, then alot of paper shreds then another thin layer of soil and then all the leaves and brown grass and apples and stuff. I think I started the very bottom on the 1st of the month |
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| might as well turn it now. |
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- Posted by blazeaglory 9b/10 Z22 OC Ca (My Page) on Thu, Apr 12, 12 at 23:16
| Rain for 2 more days:( |
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