Composting and Earth Day

[dinsky]

Earth Day is coming up and I was wondering how many people compost? What do you put in your compost pile? Is it a loose pile, in a bin or drum? Do you use accelerator or other additives? Does anyone have a worm bin? Where do you use the compost?

I have a large loose compost pile out back under some trees. The idea is to compost it over the next several months so that by this fall, I can plant azaleas and rhododendrons underneath. I put just about all of our organic scraps in it - from coffee grounds and filters to vegetable scraps, egg shells, even the cellulose capsules left over when I empty medication into yogurt (nothing that can leach into the soil and be harmful). Also, grass, yard, and garden scraps. I have an accelerator but have not used it. I bury whatever is going in on one side and turn the other. I have thought about a worm bin but it gets a little too cold here in the winter and I don't want to keep it in the house. After the shrub beds, I plan to use it throughout my wet garden as well as in the sunny garden around my mailbox.

Dinsky

[RobertaD]

I used to loose pile compost, got out of the habit during my last pregnancy and I haven't gotten back into the swing of things. I would put all kitchen scraps (non-meat) into a cut open gallon jug to easily carry the scraps to the garden. When the yard would need to be raked I would also add the grass from the yard to the compost if I didn't use it around the plants first.

Roberta

[jnlowe]

I have a compost started in my backyard, near my vegetable garden, for easy access to it to add nutritious, hopefully rich, soil to my garden patch.

I got a book from the library and followed its instructions.

First layer was sticks and twigs, followed by dry leaves, then plant matter (dead stuff), then egg shells, banana peels, orange peels, vegetable remains from my cooking, etc.

It said to place a stick in the middle of the compost pile so you can aerate it as it grows.

There's also Green and a Dry Plant Matter formulation that you can order from Gardens Alive on the internet -- only $5.95 or so, that speeds up the molting process and helps you get richer, more fertile dirt faster. I haven't ordered any yet, but if anyone wants to check it out, go to: http://www.gardensalive.com

There is also a neat, natural insect repellant called "Hot Pepper Insect Repellant" available on the net from Gardeners' Choice. You can get 10% off your order by typing in "mcoup" in the coupon box, too. Their web site is at: http://www.gardenerschoice.net

Hope this is helpful to some of you.

Julie

[LJsmom]

When we moved into our house 9 years ago we were blessed with a compost bin already in the back corner. My strawberries are the best and biggest around-they grow all around my bin!

Everything non-meat goes in there, plus all yard waste. From my experience here's what does NOT compost well. Twigs and corn cobs take forever (several years) to decompose. Pine needles also take a long time.

As an accelerator I mix warm beer, water and ammonia. Got that info from the Jerry Baker website. Works really well.

If you are starting a new bin a smart thing to do (if you have room) is to make 2. One for the current years stuff, and the next one for last years. That way you always have one ready to go and are working on next years at the same time. Don't forget to shuffle it around occasionally-air needs to get in to help decomposition.

[dinsky]

LJsmom,

Have you tried chopping the corn cobs? I try to chop everything big (watermelon rind, brocolli stems, etc.) and have seen most of it decompose fairly well.

Dinsky

[LJsmom]

Never thought of chopping them...
Usually I get several dozen ears at a time. Sounds funny, but when I visit my Gpa in Iowa, I stop at a roadside stand and bring tons home. Much better than what I can get here in Chgo. I cut all the kernals off then freeze most of it . My hands ache so much by the end chopping cobs may be out of the question.
Next time I get just a couple I may give it a try.

[dinsky]

I have a great, big vegetable cleaver...very big and very sharp. It makes quick work of whatever I have to chop without stressing my hands. I love it.

Dinsky

[fishyjags]

Hello I am very new to gardening and was thinking of starting a compost bin. Can you do this in a huge, like Rubbermaid container with a lid? Does it stink? Maybe I will go to the library and see what books I can find today. Any good suggestions for books for beginners? Thanks!! Happy gardening
Susie

[dinsky]

Susie, Welcome! Glad to see you here. I have seen you around the boards in the last few days. As far as a composting bin goes, I would not use a rubbermaid bin as there won't be enough air flow and it will stink. A compost pile doesn't require a bin, it can simply be a "pile" if you would like with layers of brown and green stuff (ie. leaves, then grass clippings and organic food scraps NO ANIMAL!, then leaves). There is a web site that I have visited for products that also has a good section on how to compost. www.gardenerssupply.com. If you type in "composting" in the search window and then go to the bottom of the page, you will find a good deal of information about it. I layer my pile starting with dried leaves then grass clippings and fruit/vegetable scraps, then more leaves, etc. I wouldn't use straw or pine needles as they take a long time to decompose. I try to use more brown than green but it doesn't always work out that way. There is an "ideal" ratio but...And I don't regularly use an accellorater. I do turn and water the pile on a regular basis to speep up decomposition.

Let's see...I don't put any animal matter, grease, etc. in it or it would attract animals. I do put tea bags, coffee grounds and filters in it. Egg shells are okay just no meat or bones. I bury/turn under any new additions. I should have enough compost to establish a rather large azalea/rhodedendron bed this fall. And then my pile will move to behind the bed.

Take a look at the site. Post here or pm me. I am more than willing to help with this.

Have fun! It truly is golden soil when it is done.

Debbie

[fishyjags]

Hi Debbie! Thank you for the reply! And thank you for the website......lots of info. I also finally got to the library yesterday, and they didn't have squat for books on composting. I did pick up a couple books for beginner gardeners and they each had a small section on composting. Do you have any books you would highly recommend for beginners? I would like a good book to purchase to have here all the time. One book I got at the library was Rodale's Garden Problem Solver......Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs. It seems like a good book. The other one is The Beginners Guide To Gardening by Sephan Buczacki. I haven't looked at this one much yet. My hubby said his dad always had 3 compost piles going.......he LOVED gardening.....mostly roses and his berry patch. When they sold the house the people got rid of all of it......they didn't want their kids to get hurt from the thorns his dad was soooooooo mad!! They would of only done it once Sorry.....Got a little chatty there.....lol. Anyways, so my hubby knows a little bit about what to do, he also already decided where to put it......at least he is onboard with me!! Any help would be appreciated!! Thank you!!!!
Susie