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Sun, May 13, 12 at 16:44
| I am just starting my compost pile. I have a plastic bin. Do I need a base of some sort to begin? I am sure I will be needing advice along the way! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| No, but if you know a composter near you, a little of their compost is full of the micro that can help with your finished compost. When you start the pile you will need a balance of c/n to get the heat up & going. |
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| You do not need a base. Now or ever. There is a gross misconception among some new composters that a base will keep "unwanted" thingys out of the compost pile. A base can slow drainage which might cause your composting material to be too wet which is a larger problem then some unwanted thingys. The materials you will be putting into that composter already have all of the bacteria needed to get them digested, if you provide the propeer conditions for them to work. There is no need to get any quantity of compost from another source to start your batch. |
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- Posted by purpleinopp 8b AL (My Page) on Mon, May 14, 12 at 10:07
| Agreed, it's not sourdough bread. If it rots, put it in there. Everyone has their own rules, but here's what I *don't* put in. Anything that has touched meat because our dog has access to the pile(s). Bones, sticks bigger than a finger, dairy, anything really salty or greasy, meat, weeds with viable seeds, anything that gives me a rash, any material with thorns, walnut shells. HTH u get started! You might want to start considering what you'll do when your bin gets full. At some point, you need to leave the compost alone to "finish." What will you do with compostable materials you accumulate during that time? A holding tank - like a garbage can, a ground pile next to your bin, a 2nd bin? Depending on how fast you fill up your bin, this quandry could present itself next week or next season... |
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