Practical Composting

[Durgan]

30 August 2011 Practical Composting 30 August 2011 Practical Composting
There is too much misleading information written about home gardening composting, which has more to do with selling silly containers than practical composting.

Composting is a simple process. If the garden is any reasonable size there is a fair amount of vegetation that must be removed each year, and disposed of in some manner. It takes a large amount of vegetation to make any reasonable amount of compost. I get probably less then four cubic yards of compost from about 0.4 of an acre of home garden vegetation.

The main process is to chop all vegetation into small chunks. I use a chipper/shredder but a block and a machete can be used. It is just a matter of expenditure of labor. The larger the chunks the longer the composting takes. Layering is nonsense, since often the suggested material is simply not available. It is totally impracticable. I never put materiel, which is attractive to insects, and rodents in the compost pile. The kitchen waste goes in the garbage.

Leaves are special case and I never compost them, since they are too much trouble for the amount of material obtained. Leaves are better centrally composed where the pile can be manipulated using machinery. Grass clippings are always welcome and do compost well. I get a neighbor’s grass clipping, since mine are left where they are cut.

I build as lattice container system using metal fence posts and plastic ties. It is readily accessible. The pile is rototilled when it is considered appropriate. It takes about eight months to get good compost using my simple non-intrusive method. I have a tarp to cover the pile if there is periods of too much rainfall.

The compost produced if insufficient for my needs, and each year I pick up about ten yards from the City each Spring.

[mndtrp]

Interesting. I put all kitchen scraps in my compost bins. All garden waste, all of my neighbor's leaves, and any paper waste that can't be recycled. Originally, I had a two-bin wood composter that I built, but the bottom started rotting out. I then switched to two of the tumbler type, which kicks me out compost about every two months. I only chop things up enough to get in the composter hole.

I will agree that it isn't enough for my needs, though.

[zakity]

We put kitchen scraps on it also. We also have what is termed a "rural compost pile". We know critters are going to dig around eat all the nummy bits out of it and they are going to "turn" it by digging around for the nummy bits. We don't have bears to worry about here, we just have skunks, raccoons, and opossums.

[sinopa27]

I use a composter and I throw my veggie scraps and old plants into it. I have little gnats in it. Is this okay?

[Durgan]

I use a composter and I throw my veggie scraps and old plants into it. I have little gnats in it. Is this okay?

I seldom if ever consider insects or other creatures in a home compost pile pleasant. That is why I avoid food waste, also it is not nice to put your hand into some of the yuk, and odor in some cases, so I only utilize vegetation. The difference between being practical and theoretical.

[mndtrp]

Gnats, bugs, ooze and muck is generally caused by too much moisture and not enough heat. Adding more browns would likely help.

I don't have much of a problem with most bugs. Gnats and black soldier flies help break things down, too.

[itlw8]

I compost leaves but we have maple that break down fast. the oak leaves at Mothers she shredded to speed up the process.

Kitchen peelings go in my worm composter in the garage cooked scraps go to the dog or down the garbage disposal. We find worms as big as baby snakes in our compost and yes I always jump until I make sure it is not a snake.

I wish I neighbors bagged their grass I would love to have it.

We never turn eventually it breaks down on its own.