I just went out and turned ~2/3 of our compost pile, and I must admit, I'm very excited about when I can finally use that dirt. Some of it's already really good. I'll probably go get some red worms this week - I never did before, because I wasn't composting primarily for the dirt, but just as a way to deal with waste.

I've been going through a lot of produce and eggs lately, so seeing such good dirt in there is exciting, as most of what was put in last year was just yard waste, and the occasional corn cob from a cookout.

4/29/2008 4:44:37 PM

we use to in our old house. I want to start up at our new house when we get back.
its harder to compost when you live in an apt. but i try to keep my trash to a minimum.

4/29/2008 4:47:54 PM

They make undersink compost units

I've been considering getting one, just to get stuff a headstart before putting it outside.

4/29/2008 4:49:30 PM

Quote :

"you mean you don't pocket mulch?"

4/29/2008 4:49:47 PM

I do, but I need to learn more about it. My compost bin is a nasty fly attractant rather than a steaming pile of compost.

4/29/2008 4:54:31 PM

^^ ya but i haven't found a place to dump it. that was my main problem.

4/29/2008 4:56:32 PM

bttt

8/13/2008 12:38:34 PM

I made a diy bin out of a large plastic trash container. I probably should have purchased one or used a more study container because it’s starting to get more difficult to manage. Anyway, I started in march, the bottom half is dirt now. It’s amazing how much trash can go in a compost. Besides vegetation, I also put in cardboard egg cartons, newspapers, egg shells, and coffee grounds. The newspapers take a while to decompose. I won’t use it until next fall, so plenty of time.

8/13/2008 3:06:08 PM

compost tumblers are where it's at

8/13/2008 3:10:47 PM

I'm debating on whether to purchase one, diy one, or just stick with a bin and turn it over myself.

8/13/2008 3:14:27 PM

^^^ So is it OK to put only that type of thing in a compost bin? I wanted to start one for a while, but when I researched it it said that stuff was the "green" material, and you needed to cut that with a much larger amount of "brown" material like dead leaves and twigs and such. I abandoned my desire to have a compost bin because I don't have any ready access to much of the brown material ... but does that not really matter?

8/13/2008 3:18:14 PM

You need moisture, carbon, nitrogen, and air.

The moisture can come from water you add to the mix. The carbon comes from the brown stuff, cardboard, dead leaves, newspaper, etc. Nitrogen (and moisture) from the grass and waste veggies and stuff you might be throwing away. The air comes from turning it over. It works best if it's pretty hot, 100-130F.

I'm trying to figure out how to produce a large (relatively) amount of the stuff for a single home. I'm even contemplating getting my office-mates to put the used coffee grinds in containers for me and seeing if the cafe downstairs can give me any vegetable leftovers that they'd ordinarily throw away. I'll have a pretty big supply of leaves this fall and I'll probably try to hit my neighbors up for theirs.

The goal is to start a nice 10x15 or 10x20 plot in the backyard for veggies and shit.

[Edited on August 13, 2008 at 3:33 PM. Reason : x]

8/13/2008 3:22:49 PM

Quote :

"They make undersink compost units"

i've heard good things about these, i actually wouldn't mind having one myself

8/13/2008 4:58:52 PM

I just dump scraps in the edge of the field. They rot and contribute to the soil and get stirred in the next time I plow it.

8/13/2008 7:12:04 PM

Mine is doing ok. I guess I have 8-10" of nice black compost. I dump a bucket of water in there when I dump scraps, leaves, etc. Then I just stir it up and forget about it for a couple of weeks.

8/14/2008 8:27:45 AM

The only problem I have is that the bones aren't decomposing.

How long should I expect this to take?

I'm worried about cops.

8/14/2008 8:29:49 AM

I had an old chest style freezer at my last house that I made into a worm farm for way fruit/veggie scraps as well as tea/coffee grounds.

Trying to plan a spot at my new house for a compost bin.

9/1/2008 12:51:30 PM

I have a compost heap 3 feet high 3 feet x ten feet. I have not turned it cause I'm lazy, there is snakes in there and poison ivey. this is used mainley for leaves and yard debris.

the second is a barrel and I need to turn it.

I am in awe of anyone that makes thier own soil with worms! that just plain rocks.

9/2/2008 10:14:57 PM

i compost right down my toilet & garbage disposal

I'm walls1441 and i approve of this message.

9/2/2008 10:17:55 PM