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New to This Method....
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Posted by westy1941 z5 NO IL (cdwestg@att.net) on Thu, Nov 19, 09 at 19:04
| I've been composting in a plastic compost bin (approx 3 ft wide and 4 ft tall, covered, not a lot of air holes, for two years and get black gold using leaves, grass, shredded newspaper and a few kitchen scraps. I begged DH for another one - it's never enough - so he put some stakes all around and under an old Spruce and wrapped chicken wire around, then filled with the leaves we just mowed down. In this type of compost pile how do I handle it so that I have compost by Spring? I know it wont heat up (because it will snow) and apparently that's not necessary from what I gather reading posts here. But what do I add to ensure I have black gold from this pile? Will shredded newspaper decompose by Spring? Or does everything take longer when exposed?
Westy
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: New to This Method....
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 19, 09 at 21:05
| We have an open pile, that is never turned. Every spring, in April, I move the pile aside, with a garden fork, and dig out the finished compost from the pit under the pile. It is always there, ready to be used. Typically, we get between 25 and 35 gallons of finished compost, for a pile that is 6 feet diameter, by 4 feet high, at the maximum, in the fall. I am not sure the best way for you to proceed, but I don't think it will be very easy for you to turn the compost in your chicken-wire bin. It might be convenient for you to open the bin in the spring, fork the uncomposted material aside, and remove the finished compost from the bottom, like I do. |
RE: New to This Method....
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If it is possible to redesign the chicken wire bin now, make it a U shape, leaving a side open for tossing and turning. If not, ericwi is correct, you will get compost and can return any non-composted leaves, etc. to the pile to work off.
The shredded newspaper, if in small shreds, will most likely compost. If not, it's great starter for the spring compost pile! |
RE: New to This Method....
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| The greatest bacterial activity, the activity that converts organic matter into compost, occurs in the center of the pile, so at some time to assure the material on the outside of the pile gets digested you will need to turn that pile moving the "stuff" that is on the outside to the inside. If you have a very active compost operation that turning is something that could be done a week, or at most two, after you initially set the pile. If you follow a more Lassiez Faire compost procedure then that undigested outside "stuff" is moved away so the digested "stuff" can be reached, much as eric does, and then that undigested "stuff" is piled up to become the center of a new pile. |
RE: New to This Method....
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- Posted by pt03 3 Southern Manitoba (My Page) on
Fri, Nov 20, 09 at 8:39
| If it's filled with nothing but leaves, it will break down but it is going to take time and it should be kept moist. I have found that wire bins exposed to wind dry out real easy. Straight leaves have a pretty high C:N, adding paper (another high C) to it will do nothing to help it. I'm not sure that "black gold" can be obtained in the time frame given with a cold winter climate. I know I can't. Lloyd |
RE: New to This Method....
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| All very good info - thank you so much. I will keep it moving weekly and try to add as much N (is that what it needs to break down faster?) as possible. Of course, DH forgot to let me have the grass clippings and put them on the curb. What else will help instead? Thanks again!!!
Westy |
RE: New to This Method....
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- Posted by pt03 3 Southern Manitoba (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 23, 09 at 3:47
| "What else will help instead?" New DH? Just kidding. Lots of people swear by used coffee grounds. I do use them but grass clippings are my main source of N. Lloyd |
RE: New to This Method....
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| A sad loss. Grass and leaves make an incredible compost mix. Print this out and tape it to the handle of the mower: HEY BUDDY! SAVE THE GRASS CLIPPINGS YOU KNUCKLE-DRAGGING MORON! OK, you might tone it down a bit. Use your discretion. :-] |
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