How to Start COMPOSTING

[ReneeH]

O.k., so I've been COMPOSTING now for a month!!! It's going really GREAT!!! I have a Composting Bin and decided to add that to my Alissa Cohen Level 2 Curriculum. I'm hoping to be an EXPERT at it once I have a Class!!!! Here is some information that got me started...

http://www.compost-info-guide.com/make_better_compost.htm

and

http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html (THIS SITE EVEN HAS A CHART ON WHAT AND WHAT NOT TO COMPOST!!!!)

Here's what I found out: Composting involves mixing yard and household organic waste in a pile or bin and providing conditions that encourage decomposition. The decomposition process is fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (bacteria, fungi) that will live inside my compost pile, continuously devouring and recycling it to produce a rich organic fertilizer. This way when I'm ready to plant my garden again I will have a bed that my Fruits and Veggies will LOVE!!!

It's really NOT as complicated as I thought!!! All I needed to know about composting is a basic understanding of a few simple principles, and a little bit of elbow grease. Nature does the rest. Composting is just speeding up what naturally happens to everything around us!

I started mine by using Organic Kitchen Scraps, Lawn Shavings, recycled Newspapers, and water. I also got this Compost Maker from UltraGreen that I added to my Compost Materials to help suppress plant disease and pests and accelerate the composting process. It's all natural and Organic. I've been turning my Compost pile once a week and wetting it (moist, not sopping wet) when I turn it. So far, So good!!! I'm NOT looking forward to worms, but I think when I see them it's a good thing!!! :D LOL!!!!!

After I've added kitchen vegetable waste, I've been throwing some leaves or grass clippings on top of it. This will help keep things balanced, reduce smells and make my compost bin less attractive to critters who are trying to sniff out a free meal.

I've been wanting to start this for a while! So many on RFT are doing it, so please chime in and let me know how you're doing yours!!!

[streetsurfer]

Congratulations! It's fun isn't it? Sounds like you're off to a great start.

I keep a pile going also. Turning it is good core work, though I've broken my pitch fork and haven't been turned it as frequently as I should.

My wife found one of these kitchen scrap bins at a discount store. I thought it might make a good suggestion for a
Alissa to carry in her e-store..... http://eartheasy.com/grip-ez-stainless-steel-compost-keeper
We line it with the bio-bags from WF.

[ReneeH]

OOOOOHHH! Interesting!!!!!!

I've been using a Plastic Container with "Veggies" on the side of it!!! I keep it on the Counter and it fills up really quickly with kitchen scraps and juicing pulp!!!

I've been putting my Coconut Shells in it too... Have you guys tried that? Do Shells break down or should I chop it in pieces (I just thought of that.....)

I need something to "turn" my pile with... Where can I get a pitch-fork? I guess Home-Depot? I've just been using a big stick or putting gloves on and turning it that way... It's probably gonna get "gross" soon, huh? :eek:

Thanks for the feedback! I'm so happy to do this for myself and the environment!!!! :)

[DebB]

Hi Renee ~ I've tried composting my coconut shells because I have at least 1 a day and I found I did not have good luck with them.

Avocado pits? How funny - but I think I had a dozen avos growing in my garden (where I used the compost) last year. So, I don't always compost them either.

Last year I was saving my coconut shells on the back deck - letting them dry and we would take them camping with us and use as "firewood". They burn great - but.... they were getting unsightly with so many accumulating on the deck, so now I toss them in the garbage.

Another thing I did not have good luck composting and that was my wheat grass dirt with roots after harvesting the wheat grass. They just would get stuck on the tines of my turning fork and were generally a pain - so those get tossed in the garbage (sadly!).

We've got 3 large (5'x5') wooden bins where we compost in varying stages of break-down. In a year or two, my husband wants to change out the wood (he just put it up quickly with scrap wood) and use mason blocks for something permanent.

Good luck - it sure makes a difference in our garden's soil! *Ü*

[Shels]

Thank you Renee. =] Those are some great sites.
Anybody have experience composting in an apartment? Top-story, we have no yard. Where would you put it when it was "done"?

[levamssg]

I have a compost pile --- just put in all my scraps and cover with shredded paper and leaves every time I add scraps. We don't turn the pile at all ... it just sits there. I will start a new pile this fall, and the summer pile will "cook" over the winter. In the spring, it will be ready to spread in the garden, and the process starts over again with the new "bin". I just have sturdy plastic type netting formed into roughly a 2-1/2 to 3 foot circle, held in shape with plastic spikes, with one edge twist-tied to our chain link fence. Works great.

I'm a lazy composter. :)

[margoss]

I'm going to have to start one too since our sheep disappeared. I was giving everything to her. I read that you can use a large plastic round garbage can. Poke some hole in the side for air..roll it once a week. going to try this. Too much going to waste now.

[ReneeH]

I have a compost pile --- just put in all my scraps and cover with shredded paper and leaves every time I add scraps. We don't turn the pile at all ... it just sits there. I will start a new pile this fall, and the summer pile will "cook" over the winter. In the spring, it will be ready to spread in the garden, and the process starts over again with the new "bin". I just have sturdy plastic type netting formed into roughly a 2-1/2 to 3 foot circle, held in shape with plastic spikes, with one edge twist-tied to our chain link fence. Works great.

I'm a lazy composter. :)

HUMMM..... *VERY* interesting!!! I wonder if I'm "tending" to mine too much? I was afraid to just leave it and open it after a while....afraid of what I'd find when I did!!!! Which, now that I think of it, sounds a little crazy!!! :rolleyes: That's what I should want, right??? I like your idea, though... I would like to get my garden started back in the spring...

Thanks for Posting, I mean: COM-posting everyone!!!! :D LOL!!! (get it?)

[streetsurfer]

Renee, I like to use a five tine pitch fork. You could get by with a shovel, but forks make fluffing the material as you turn it much easier (adds air and speeds the process). You would be able to find one at a Home Depot or a hardware store.


If you want to speed the breakdown of your kitchen scraps, you can chop any suitable ones in a blender or processor first. A machete comes in handy for chopping scraps too. You can hack away at the larger scraps after you toss them on the pile, then cover them over.

As for the coconuts, I would just cycle them through a few slow piles as it seems they are gone for me by the end of two slow piles. You could also burn them (deprived of oxygen), in a fire pit to make biochar for your garden soil. If your interested I will explain how.

Don't forget to stop by the coffee shops and get some free grounds, or hit up the stables for a little manure and bedding.

[Dianne K.]

O.k., so I've been COMPOSTING now for a month!!! It's going really GREAT!!! I have a Composting Bin and decided to add that to my Alissa Cohen Level 2 Curriculum. I'm hoping to be an EXPERT at it once I have a Class!!!! Here is some information that got me started...

http://www.compost-info-guide.com/make_better_compost.htm

and

http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html (THIS SITE EVEN HAS A CHART ON WHAT AND WHAT NOT TO COMPOST!!!!)

Here's what I found out: Composting involves mixing yard and household organic waste in a pile or bin and providing conditions that encourage decomposition. The decomposition process is fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (bacteria, fungi) that will live inside my compost pile, continuously devouring and recycling it to produce a rich organic fertilizer. This way when I'm ready to plant my garden again I will have a bed that my Fruits and Veggies will LOVE!!!

It's really NOT as complicated as I thought!!! All I needed to know about composting is a basic understanding of a few simple principles, and a little bit of elbow grease. Nature does the rest. Composting is just speeding up what naturally happens to everything around us!

I started mine by using Organic Kitchen Scraps, Lawn Shavings, recycled Newspapers, and water. I also got this Compost Maker from UltraGreen that I added to my Compost Materials to help suppress plant disease and pests and accelerate the composting process. It's all natural and Organic. I've been turning my Compost pile once a week and wetting it (moist, not sopping wet) when I turn it. So far, So good!!! I'm NOT looking forward to worms, but I think when I see them it's a good thing!!! :D LOL!!!!!

After I've added kitchen vegetable waste, I've been throwing some leaves or grass clippings on top of it. This will help keep things balanced, reduce smells and make my compost bin less attractive to critters who are trying to sniff out a free meal.

I've been wanting to start this for a while! So many on RFT are doing it, so please chime in and let me know how you're doing yours!!!
Hi there ,I know we are past season(where I ive anyhow),but I thank you for the compost info. e moved to our home here,but we need to make a compost bin,and the 2 sites you have here look real good.Thanks

[Conscious Midwife]

Been composting for a couple of years and love it. Between that and diligent recycling we reduced our 5-6 bags of trash per week to 1- 2 max. (household of seven with occassional large group company).

I do nothing extra to it. Hubby does the turning and adds grass and leaves ocassionally. We had one summer of extra flies but nothing really bothersome. We need to get more aggressive with using the compost to feed our trees and bush lines. Usually it just sits there making the grass around the bin richer and fuller.

http://www.woodlanddirect.com/core/media/media.nl?id=171982&c=483668&h=ed0a8c7aa64f9e18b06b
Above is a pic of what we use, Earth Machine with link below to the benefits
http://www.earthmachine.com/what_is_composting.html

We only paid like $40 at our city dump
Had we had the were withall and tools we could have easily made the same thing just by cutting the bottem off a big trash can and add a few vent holes.

Also have this pale on the counter, just dump and rinse as needed
http://www.earthmachine.com/web_images/inset/kitchencollector.jpg

[Dianne K.]

I will have to look into some of these ideas. I want to say we bought a green counter thing this year it has charcoal to help compost,but its in the garage. I know I want to look into using it for sure. Thanks for your imput.

[fastfreedom]

If your doing the hot pile type of composting then turning it like once a week will speed up the process a lot. Also there's sometimes stuff called compost activator to help the pile get hot quicker and doing what it's supposed to be doing. But if you don't find this gross, then just pee on it and don't wast your money on the activator. Or pee in something then pour it on the pile. If the pile is cold then you just turn it a bit and mix it up, make sure it's adequatly moist then pour your pee onto it and it'll be cooking. It's kinda neat to watch it snow and freeze then look over at the compost pile with no snow and just creating a ton of steam. :D