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| Okay, I'm having lots of fun wandering the forums and learning new stuff. But, it's become apparent that I could lose the rest of the weekend doing this and not actually working on our garden :)
So, here's my question. What else do I need to add to my new compost piles to have the recipe right? So, far I have several dozen garbage bags full of leaves ready. I also have an overgrown 3000 sq ft area of yard that we are weeding, so I'll have lots of weeds I can add. I also have 6 guys in the house who have "volunteered" to pee on the piles as much as I will let them. (I got that idea from reading here, so if there's anymore detailed instructions I should impart to them, please feel free to let me know!) Money's tight, so I don't have lots to spend on getting this all going. But, my husband is building me three compost stalls this weekend (each will be 4x4x4 in a row). I just need help knowing if there is a order to pile the stuff in and if there is other stuff I should be adding. My eyes are starting to cross from lurking around here, so thank you to anyone who could reply with some basic directions for what else to get and what to do. If there are any threads that would be the right ones for me to be looking at, that would be great, too. I know there's a lot more knowledgeable people than I am here regarding gardening AND quickly finding the right stuff on these boards! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by nancyjane_gardener USDA 8ish No CA (My Page) on Sat, Nov 12, 11 at 20:58
| Well, the pee's free! 6 GUYS?????? Zounds! LOL Can you get coffee grounds (UCGs) from a coffee shop? Some grass clippings from a neighbor who doesn't use chemicals? All of your kitchen vege waste goes in. Actually, just read one of the "What have you fed your compost pile" threads and you'll get a good idea of what to put in the pile I'm a "lazy composter" and just dump stuff in and turn from time to time. I usually get some good stuff by springtime! Have fun and don't sweat the small stuff! Nancy |
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| So, I guess "the order" I pile things in and the amount of each "ingredient" isn't critical? I have goats, chickens and turkeys, too. Would it be better for me to add their manure in the compost pile or keep it aging separately for just fertilizer? Thanks for reminding to not sweat the small stuff! I think I'm a little preoccupied with gleaning wisdom because we're working on a perennial garden and I really want to set us up doing the correct stuff. The guys are building me raised beds and I'm hoping we'll do most of it well so we can end up with a garden we can harvest from for many years. PS. I'm not a den mother at a frat house. I've got dad, hubby, and four sons who said they'd "water" the compost piles for me :) Although, now that I think of it, I probably will end up with more than that. I'm sure it'll be on top of the list of things to do for my sons' friends, too! LOL! All, I know is me and my daughter removed ourselves from the list of participants. I'm going to try and find some of the threads you suggested. Thanks. I got a little overwhelmed. It seems like everytime I read a thread I get sidetracked with interest in all the interesting sidetalks and other ideas new to me in them, and then I'm confused about the compost recipe parts. Thanks for the info. I'll keep checking back for replies. Your knowledge is greatly appreciated! |
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- Posted by jonhughes So.Oregon (jonehughes@hotmail.com) on Sat, Nov 12, 11 at 22:52
| Hi gibbsgirl , I would put everything you have in the pile, (all mixed up) and then just keep on adding whatever you get your hands on, throw some carbon (leaves,paper etc) on any greens (anything that was just recently alive) and you will have a smoking hot pile in no time, show us some pics when you get a moment...
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| If you want a hot and fast compost particle size is important. Basically your mixture should be roughly 30 parts Carbon to 1 part Nitrogen. Since leaves do have some N and the weeds will aLso have some N mixing them together and lightly moistening that mix, a too wet pile will not compost very well since the bacteria need air to work in addition to everything else, watch the moisture levels. |
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- Posted by mommyandme2 TX 9 (My Page) on Sun, Nov 13, 11 at 12:45
| Try to think of compost as vegetable soup. If you asked everyone here how to make the best veggie soup, you'd get a different recipe from every person, using different ingredients & different techniques. For great compost, use whatever ingredients are seasonally available to you. Try a few different techniques until you find what feels most comfortable to you: hot & fast vs. slow cook, for example. Chunky ingredients vs. shredded. Most people don't have access to such a variety of manures as you do & most don't have 6 men willing to pee on the pile. These special ingredients will make your compost "unique". Over the winter, use this forum to gather ideas on what else is available to you: toilet paper tubes, egg cartons, old feather pillows, old cotton clothing, broken wooden clothespins, dryer lint, vacuum cleaner dust, dog & cat hair, popsicle sticks, etc. I wish I knew 35 years ago what I know now. I threw tons of stuff in the trash that I could have composted. - Laura |
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