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Garden Gate:  Composting  |
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cheneygal
True Blue Farmgirl
503 Posts
Suzie
Cheney
Wa.
USA
503 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 17 2009 : 9:52:02 PM
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Well, I decided to bite the bullet today and build a compost bin, now, I'm wondering since we don't have a lawn, so no grass clippings, if veggie scraps will suffice for the green in the compost?? Also, has anyone used pine needles in their compost, we don't have many leaves out where we live either. I'm sure there is a way I can come up with "good compost", I'm just sure of it!! Any help?
live, laugh, love |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2009 : 06:54:19 AM
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We do kitchen scraps - which includes leftover rice, dried out bread, etc. We also do any plant trimmings (when you dead plants), also the Jack-o-Laterns from Halloween and any decorative gords that go bad. Annuals that have dried up from the summer. We rarely put grass in because we mulch when we mow. You should be able to put enough in to your compost if you start looking around the yard and kitchen.
Anne in Portland, OR
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2009 : 07:18:19 AM
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Don't know about the pine needles...I know they tend to make the soil under the trees too acidic for anything to grow (unless it specifically likes acidic soil).
When you compost your kitchen scraps, you can also put in coffee grounds and eggshells. |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2009 : 07:57:30 AM
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No meat or dairy. Ask your neighbors for their lawn clippings and leaves, even ask them for their veg and fruit scraps.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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SuzieQ
True Blue Farmgirl
175 Posts
Suzie
Texas
USA
175 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2009 : 4:56:17 PM
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| Just wait until the people in town put their brown leaves in bags on the curb. I am famous for driving up getting the bags into my trunk and then putting them in my compost bin. I have even shared them with my sister when she could not afford hay for the chickens, the leaves worked great and the "girls" scratched happily for days. |
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geminidream62
True Blue Farmgirl
74 Posts
Molly
Spokane
Washington
USA
74 Posts |
Posted - Sep 18 2009 : 5:10:56 PM
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Hi again Suzie,
Check the Spokane County Waste Management website (shoot, I can't remember the exact website but you'll be able to find a link thru them) for a link to the annual Fall Leaf Festival/Compost Fair at Finch Arboretum. It is so much fun and you get a FREE compost bin when you complete the little composting class. I have two of theirs already and took a good friend from work there last year too. They do it in October and then again in March or April. I think all you need is proof of county citizenship (der, Cheney is isn't it? me so smart)
Wait to compost your pine needles till you pull them off your roses next spring, then they'll be all softened up and ready to head off to worm heaven. They'll bless you doubly!
Edit: the compost fair is Oct. 17 from 11a.m.-2pm. Here is a link to that page and it has another link to a good local video made by the master composters. http://www.solidwaste.org/sub55ba.asp?id=5110
Molly
http://geminisdream.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - geminidream62 on Sep 18 2009 8:28:46 PM |
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cheneygal
True Blue Farmgirl
503 Posts
Suzie
Cheney
Wa.
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - Sep 20 2009 : 9:40:51 PM
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Thanks all, lots of good advice there!! I figure when the aspens start dropping their leaves in the road out in front of our place I'll just start grabbing them when I can.....I've got a few "spent" annuals in the bin, a little dirt, couple of tomato vines that have broken off, some coffee grounds, think that's all for starter, I'll add more every day, even gave it a shot of water today!!
live, laugh, love |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17476 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17476 Posts |
Posted - Sep 20 2009 : 10:07:28 PM
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hey Suzie,
don't forget coffee grounds...which you can get free from Starbucks...when they have some.
Also crushed egg shells and banana peels are great too!
Pine straw(needles) take quite a while to brake down and are asidic.
Oh and you can do layering with newspaper but not the glossy pages.
No like Teresa said, no dairy,or meat products.
Molly, thanx for the info on the composting program.
Suzie, missed ya the other day @ Dels.... hugz
>^..^< Happiness is being a katmom.
"I've never met a sewing machine I didn't like!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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cheneygal
True Blue Farmgirl
503 Posts
Suzie
Cheney
Wa.
USA
503 Posts |
Posted - Sep 21 2009 : 10:03:57 PM
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Gracie, I miss seeing each and every one of you beloved customers!! This has to be done tho....and I'll be back!! Thanks for the info, I did crush some egg shells up today, along with coffee grounds and some brown lettuce, now just have to figure out a lid for the compost pile!! In the meantime I just keep addin' to it!!
live, laugh, love |
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Annie S
True Blue Farmgirl
756 Posts
Annie
Custer
S.D.
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2009 : 7:22:56 PM
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I started with a metal garbage can that DH drilled holes into all along the sides. Then got a small composter from a kitchen store that I keep on my counter and put everything in it except dairy and meat. Then when full, I go out to my really fancy composter that my DH made out of excess wood and chicken wire. I also do the newspaper thing and also go and get manure from a friend every now and then to change things up. Just be sure you water your pile and turn it often so it keep moist.
Good luck. It's well worth all the work.
Annie |
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greenthumb25
Farmgirl at Heart
1 Posts
1 Posts |
Posted - Oct 07 2009 : 09:00:26 AM
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| hey guys! newbie here. i really want to get into composting but i dont know how to make one. ive been looking at different sites recently and found this: http://www.casemaker.ca/ - composters usa. It does cost some money so i really want to make one from discarded objects so that i can recycle them - because that's the point isn't it? |
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chaddsgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
843 Posts
Sarah
Farmgirl Sisterhood #639
MO
USA
843 Posts |
Posted - Oct 07 2009 : 1:47:02 PM
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This may insight some controversy, but I use an old tractor tire that has been turned inside out. We have a lot of these lying around, so I drug one up to the house. I have put all kitchen scraps, grass clippings and cow manure in it for composting. Works wonderfully.
A person is a success if they get up in the morning and get to bed at night and in between does what they want to do. Bob Dylan |
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FaziFarmgirl
Farmgirl in Training
25 Posts
Jane
Fort Worth
TX
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2010 : 2:40:08 PM
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I had a problem last year when I started my first compost pile (miserable failure) with not having leaves and such to put in there. We mulch when we mow also. I like the idea of borrowing other people's leaves and I hate that people bag them and set them on the curb. Buy a mulching mower for pete's sake. Anyway, my problem was that in the Texas heat the pile of fruit rinds and such drew flies and bugs and everything nasty to it and just didn't seem to be right. My husband hated it (gnats everywhere) and we declared it a failure. With 6 people eating lots of veggies and fruits I would love to be able to have a compost pile just to save the landfill space alone. I do have a thing called a worm tower, has anyone heard of those? It's a good idea for composting and getting worms into your garden.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt |
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CherryPie
True Blue Farmgirl
935 Posts
Kimberly Ann
Puyallup
WA
USA
935 Posts |
Posted - Feb 17 2010 : 2:58:16 PM
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I've been careful not to put meat, dairy or other rodent attractive food in the compost but I see that I have had some visitors in my pile, even though it is in a bin (not a secured bin, but still a bin). If I can't get a handle on this problem, I'm switching to a worm bin in the garage.
Kimberly Ann
Farmgirl Sister #225
Crochet Geek, Newbie Fiddler, Would-be Farmer, Backyard Chicken Rancher, Eager Podcaster
http://beesinourbonnetsintheburbs.blogspot.com/
Podcasts at http://thefannyfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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Garden Gate: Composting |
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Composting
