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Garden Gate:  New Compost Bin-Newbie  |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 3:06:13 PM
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Hi Farmgal friends! I just purchased my very first compost bin so I figured who else to ask but my farmgirl sisters for some composting advice.
I plan on getting a book out of the library and reading up on it, but I always like first hand advice best. Here are some of my questions...
Where is the best place to put the bin (in a sunny or shady spot?)
What is the proper ratio of material to place in the bin...in other words right off the bat can I just start throwing my kitchen scraps (eggshells,vegetable clippings etc) right in? should I put leaves etc in the bottom first? How often should I "turn" it (which will be by hand since its not a fancy one on a "turner".
Any other suggestions etc that you can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks and Happy Gardening!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2011 : 6:41:02 PM
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I do square foot gardening and the book says this about compost-Mix, Mash, Moisten and Move. I have a large compost bin that I have been composting in for a couple of years. I use leaves, grass clippings (no pesticides or weed killers), shredded newspaper, Kitchen scraps (no meat or fat), coffee grounds, egg shells and recently rabbit doo doo. I get the best black gold from my pile. I have to water it and turn it often. I am not familiar with compost bins, but in his book "All New Square Foot Gardening", Mel Bartholomew, the author, has a whole chapter on compost bins. Just be careful with the garden scraps. Two years ago, I threw some rotten tomatoes in my pile and last year had a hundred volunteer tomatoe plants growing from my compost pile! Boy, were they healthy!
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2011 : 10:59:25 AM
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Hi Diane-
Thanks for the good advice- funny thing is that I actually have the square foot gardening book and never thought to look in there (dont know why- I guess I was just focused on "Composting" books!) lol
I already started saving my tea leaves and egg shells etc this morning in a sealed/rubber gastket jar on the kitchen counter, and will be sure and empty it tomorrow. I am hoping to get some good reading done later today while I sit and wait for my daughter at her crochet class at the local library this afternoon. Hopefully by this time tomorrow my compost pile will be "in the makin"!
Thanks again Diane!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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HDA
True Blue Farmgirl
59 Posts
Heidi
Hood River
OR
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 02:20:31 AM
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| Hi Laurie! I do a lot of composting. One of the beauties of it is everything rots so you really can't go wrong! I can be a lazy composter meaning I don't turn it often enough, but if I let it sit there long enough, it rots anyway! I try & do a 50/50 mix of browns & greens & then throw in any fruit/veggie scraps, eggshells, tea bags from the kitchen. I also have chickens & a rabbit so throw all the droppings in there too. Keep it damp..I was taught the consistancy of a wrung out sponge. Turning or aerating it often will get you faster results and also, the smaller the surface area will get you faster results. If I throw a big pile of yard clippings in I usually just do some chopping with a pair of loppers all over the surface. My parents go a step further and often use their lawnmower over their yard clippings to chop them up even more! As for the shade/sun question, I'm pretty sure it will do it's job either way. That said, I have compost bins in both conditions and the one in the sunny spot gets hotter & therefore does seem to compost faster. Good luck! I've been busy spreading compost in the garden the last couple days to get ready for the growing season :) |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 7:30:42 PM
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Thanks Heidi!
Funny thing happened..the "store bought" compost bin that I bought 2 days ago had a lid on top with a "spring loaded" top that popped open when you hit the button. WELL... after just 1 day the lid broke! SO- I took it back to Lowes and got my money back today. Instead I rigged up my own version of a compost bin. I took some chicken wire that I had along with some "posts" that attach to the chicken wire. I made a small circle out of it and - VOILA a new compost bin home made for FREE! I am now $50 richer, thanks to the return of the store bought bin. I did a little reading and saw that I should loosen up the ground under the bin and then add a layer of 3-4 inches of straw (which I have b/c I use if for extra bedding etc in the chicken coop).
I then threw the eggshells, tea leaves and potato peels on top of the pile. We shall see. I'm eager to see how this whole thing works.
Thanks for the advice- I'll keep y'all posted!
Smiles,
Laurie
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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HDA
True Blue Farmgirl
59 Posts
Heidi
Hood River
OR
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - Mar 27 2011 : 9:34:19 PM
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| Laurie-it sounds like in the end you got the best deal, a free bin! |
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Garden Gate: New Compost Bin-Newbie |
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New Compost Bin-Newbie
