How much time and effort does composting take?
I travel a lot for work, but would like to start composting. I’m typically gone 4 or 5 days a week. Can I still compost successfully?
Composting is just leaving organic waste in a pile and waiting, it’s even easier than taking out the trash. You might not add much if you’re only throwing stuff on the heap three days out of the week, but the organisms that break it all down won’t care.
Can I use an old concrete well as a composting pit?
I have an old rectangular (5′L x 3′W x 4′D) well in my back yard that i discovered. It is not filled with water, but seems to have a mud/dirt bottom. I am wondering if this would be suitable for a composting pit for things like grass, branches or any yard material. If so, do I need to do anything to prepare it?
Sure no problem.
I might line it with something, and the reason – it will have a very high alkaline content do to the limestone in the concrete. Dont use it on Camilleia , Azaleas and other acid loving plants………
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For any of you seniors who compost. What is the difference between regular composting and worm composting?
What is a good composting container to get, and are there any advantages to composting vs worm composting? Thank you
Worms add great nutrients to the soil and they kitchen leavings except potato peels. They won’t eat the peels. Any other food items are fine including coffee grounds if you drink coffee. My Dad had a worm farm and had beds all around our house. He sold them for fishing but he mainly used them for organic gardening. Be sure to water them down every once in a while. Putting burlap bags over the beds keep them from drying out.
Composting 101: What are the basics that every beginner should know?
I’m interested in composting, but have heard that it is difficult regarding ph levels and such. What are the very basics of composting and how can I begin? And what are your best tips?
Composting is the art and science of turning waste vegetation into usable "gardeners gold"…a wonderful way to enrich the soil your garden grows in.
There are some barrels…which you can turn to "work" the compost…if money is no object, this is the way to go.
Larger scale operation…I recommend three bins. Use common sense as to what goes in the bins…If you would not eat it, don’t put it in .
No animal scraps. Most vegetable peelings are wonderful, some do put weeds in, but if you don’t want them back in your garden…I wouldn’t put them in…some grass clippings, but not too many…and layer the stuff you put in…layer of carrot peels, layer of dirt. Make sure it gets air…sometimes requires turning the soil by hand…a good potato shovel helps here…lots of work…
The reward is some good, fresh smelling compost…if you are trying to make some, you know what it is you want. If the earthworms like it , you are probably on the right track. You will see it steaming, due to bacterial action…but it should not stink too much…
Good luck, and maybe you will get more good advice on line here, or at an ag extension from a good university.
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What percentage of garbage does composting reduce?
I need to know how much the percentage composting can reduce from garbage. In other words, If I have a 1 cubic yard dumpster of restaurant garbage full, would composting reduce that to 50% full or 75% full, etc. I hope this makes since. Please provide data or a weblink to back up you answer.
Thanks
Well it all depends on the content of the garbage. Compositing can only be done with organic materials: vegetables, paper, etc, NO MEAT. If your garbage isn’t composed of a lot of stuff that can be composted then you aren’t going to reduce much of your garbage.
Do you have a composting toilet attached to your home? I was reading about a cohousing community in which all?
the units had composting toilets – however, when I’ve used them on hikes they’ve been kind of smelly (though much less than a traditional outhouse!) and not something I would like attached to my house. I also have friends who are reusing their waste by composting it with layers of sawdust. Have you done this?
A correctly installed composting toilet will have no odor, and the compost medium is usually peat moss. After each use the medium is stirred mechanically, mixing the waste, accelerating the compost process. The internal temp is also critical, and must be held at 75 degrees F or higher. In the long run they would save billions of gallons of domestic water usage. Their waste by product is a rich odorless fertilizer with the appearance of common soil. An idea who’s time has come. I have one going in here this summer.
How do I make a homemade composting bin?
I’ve looked at composting bins online and the prices are steep for a a house of college students, ranging from 150-200$. I was wondering if anyone knew how to construct one for a lesser cost.
A slat wood built bin?, Can one just be made out of a large rubbermaid bin? Other ideas?
Good Evening ShyGirl,
I was always to poor to know any other way. I have been gardening for 60 years. I don’t know why people love to spend so much money on gardens. I use nothing but natural ingredients. I use no chemicals or pestcides. I think people forget they eat whatever they put on their plants or in the soil. My garden is 20×20 ft, and I have nine (9) rare fruit trees. You see why I have two 55 gal compost drums.
You sound like you need help on making a good compost bin. Since you are new at compost, it may be easier for you to start with a plastic bin. A 32 gal is just find.
Make sure your bin is away from the house. Compost bins will give off odors. Cut out the bottom and add holes around the sides. You must vent the sides. Place four inch bricks shaped like the letter "I_I" or V" on the ground. Place your bin on the top of the bricks. You can shovel compost out of the open end of the bricks when your compost is ready.
Layer in your soil, your vegetable and grass cuttings, dead plants, egg shells, and coffee grounds. I do not use other materials because they can draw mice, and the smell is bad. Never use meat or cooking oils. I mix my compost with chicken manure. Chicken manure is by far the best. Therefore add chicken manure every (about 2 cups) few inches. Keep the mixture lightly moist. You will never buy soil again. A 1cu. ft. of chicken fertilizer will cost about $4. The plastic can will cost about $20.
Do not use wood of any type. Wood will draw termites in the summer in certain areas of the country. It does not take them to long to find wood and dirt. I hope I helped. Good luck to you and your family, from Los Angeles.
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Where can I get an inexpensive Composting Bin in Bergen County, NJ?
I am interested in doing more for the environment. I want to start using a composting bin to create some "good dirt" for around my yard, but the bins online and in catalogs are a bit pricey for my tight budget.
Having a fence-type compost pile in my yard is not very feasible for my situation.
Where can I get a compost bin in Bergen County, NJ, without spending a lot of money?
Maybe you should try this:
http://www.vermiculture.com/
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/Compost.html
I have one of those expensive compost tumblers and it doesn’t work any better than just dumping stuff on the ground. At least on the ground, earth worms and wood lice get in there and do their part to break down the clippings, leaves and veggies from the kitchen. This year, I bought a cheap blender at walmart and chop up egg shells, peelings, tea from tea bags, and coffee grounds and any other vegetable matter that’s left over in the kitchen and put it in with lawn clippings and leaves. I’ve just left it in and tumble it when I add new stuff and I’ve got some decent looking stuff so far. I just feel earth worms would make this better. I also have two rabbits and I use their manure as well in my garden.
I also add a packet of yeast to the tumbler every now and then to help it out. My problem is trying to get enough moisture in the tumbler as we are in the midst of a terrible drought. You have to add some water to the blender when you’re chopping it up so that helps, but sometimes, I add water to help it rot.
The great thing about having a container is that it keeps it out of site. If you use a bin, get a storage bin that is wide and shallow and drill holes in the sides, top and bottom to allow good air circulation and drainage. You could collect the "tea" that seeps out of the bottom and use it as fertilizer. A healthy compost bin/heap should not smell bad. It should smell earthy.
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What is the best method for composting in a small space shared with pets and kids?
I have a relatively small home with a small yard, two dogs and two small kids. I am VERY interested in composting methods that are pet and kid friendly. Any suggestions?
I actually did an expo on composting. one way you may be able to is an inside worm composting bin. you can put it anywhere and the compostbins have tops so little kids will not really be able to get the tops off. you will need worms to do this though. Good Luck! HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!
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How can I easily & inexpensively get started composting?
I want to start composting, or at least try it out & see if it is something that I can get the other members of my household to participate with. I spoke to someone at a garden center and was recommended a plastic composting bin for $90. Can composting be done, at a very small scale, in a regular plastic container while we try it out to see if composting is for us? Any other advice for a beginner is also welcome. Thanks!
More people should Compost!…..It’s a great way to give back to the earth…..No need for expensive "composters" Just find an out of the way spot in your yard where you wont mind a pile of debris forming. Take all your Raw Kitchen scraps like fruit and Vegetable peelings and leftovers(apple cores, Lettuce + cabbage leaves,banana peels…etc)…NO meats or fats or pasta/rice.or anything cooked pretty much.(tends to attract vermin) … Now take all your "junk Mail" (no plastic)… like credit card offers,flyers,unread newspapers and shred or rip them into small pieces and layer this(it is your carbon source, also called "brown" material) with the food stuff (your Nitrogen source, also called "green" material) and you will have success-full composting going on in no time.Take all you garden debris when put your garden to bed in the fall and add them to the pile also. keep adding shredded papers/cardboard/dried leavesor "browns" etc.. to the pile along with the daily "green" and keep it wet…thats right… water it in the summer(water helps theings decompose) Dont worry about it over the winter… You will see the pile shrink down over time… go out in spring and turn or "fluff up" the pile and use whatever is ready on the bottom of the pile(looks just like dirt) and start watering it again when you notice it is very dry. and turn it now and then…. My compost pile is behind my shed in the corner of the yard. The shed is on an angle just wide enough to get a wheelbarrow through….. Composting is easy…dont be frightend off by all the people with their technical mumbo-jumbo.I have been doing it for over 20 years…. and P.S…. your pile will decompose weather you turn it or not……..Good luck with it!
Just rember, the smaller the pieces you put into it, the faster it will compost (decompose)
