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Garden Gate:  Composting question  |
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country roads
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Melissa
Shinglehouse
Pa
USA
443 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 07:10:17 AM
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I've read that it's ok to put tea bags in your compost pile, but is it ok for coffee filters too? Also my pile doesn't seem to be doing anything yet. It's been almost a full month. Is it to soon to see any changes?
Take care, Melissa.
~Think Happy Thoughts~ |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 08:10:48 AM
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coffe filters are something I have put in my compost since there were coffee filters, ( am I aging myself, lol), but, tear them up first, they take a long time to break down...fyi, they also work great for potted plants at the bottom to keep soil from getting out of the drain holes...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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country roads
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Melissa
Shinglehouse
Pa
USA
443 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 08:37:58 AM
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Thank you Tina. I'll get my next batch tore up then!
Take care, Melissa.
~Think Happy Thoughts~ |
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churunga
True Blue Farmgirl
3938 Posts
Marie
Minneapolis
MN
USA
3938 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 10:34:04 AM
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Decomposition requires air. Poke a sturdy dowel into the box or pile as far as you can and wiggle it around so the air can get in. If you have a box, poke it on the sides. When the compost smells like autumn and you see worms in it, then it is going well. The air above a working compost pile should also feel warm from the heat released as a result of decomposition. I had a compost pit which I aerated and covered in the winter. The compost area stayed warm and steam rose from it when I added more material to it over the winter.
Marie, Sister #5142
Farmgirl of the Month May 2014
Try everything once and the fun things twice. |
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country roads
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Melissa
Shinglehouse
Pa
USA
443 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 3:29:23 PM
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Marie, my compost pile is in a six inch high frame with a screened top. I stirred it today and added more veggie "goodies" to it.
I'm hoping it takes off soon. I'll check to see if it's putting off heat tomorrow. The wind is blowing really hard here today.
Take care, Melissa.
~Think Happy Thoughts~ |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 4:54:32 PM
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Melissa,
A smaller compost pile takes longer to break down because it takes longer to heat up. A large pile will heat much quicker. If you want to jump start it, grass clippings or beer will get it going. If you have ever mowed your grass and raked the clippings into a pile and come back to it a day later ... you can feel the heat by just sliding your hand into the pile.
As for the coffee filters, I think you are asking about the filter after the coffee has been perked, and it is soaked with coffee grounds. The answer is yes, it will take a little longer to break down but it will. The problems is if you put to many in your pile. You would be better if you just dumped the grounds out.
Anyway, good luck with your compost.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
www.whitesheepfarm.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/whitesheepprimitive |
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country roads
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Melissa
Shinglehouse
Pa
USA
443 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 5:59:51 PM
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Thank you Teri, I will try some grass the next time we mow. I guess I never thought about the piles of grass being warm, but now it makes since. What does the beer do for it? And yes those were the coffee filters I was talking about.
Can I use guinea pig droppings and the wood shavings from their cage?
Take care, Melissa.
~Think Happy Thoughts~ |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Jul 04 2014 : 6:53:45 PM
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You can add the shavings, THEY just take longer to break down, longer than say sawdust.
I use to put old beer in mine for the N. Also, the moisture onto a dry compost. But really to get it to heat up, your clippings will work great.
In KY. the grass grows so fast that I have to rake almost every time I mow. Over the years I have filled in several holes in my yard, just by adding clipping to the holes. I'm talking big holes.
I actually no longer have a composting bin I just have a BIG spot in my yard.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
www.whitesheepfarm.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/whitesheepprimitive |
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country roads
True Blue Farmgirl
443 Posts
Melissa
Shinglehouse
Pa
USA
443 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2014 : 07:52:04 AM
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I won't bother with the wood chips then. It's moving slow enough on its own. Our lawn mower comes home from the repair garage today, so I will finally be able to add the grass clippings. Hopefully that will get everything going then!
Take care, Melissa.
~Think Happy Thoughts~ |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2014 : 09:59:05 AM
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Some great tips here. I would like to add that I have a reusable coffee filter so I always put my coffee grinds in the composter, but also from time to time add the grinds directly to the base of roses. They love it! If they are in a pot, I sprinkle them on top of the dirt as well. Tea bags and coffee filter do go in the composter, however, I snip the paper portion of the tea bag, where the tag is, and throw in the trash. I do this because we use the compost on the veggie garden, and I want everything as organic as I can get and do not always know what is in the ink that is printed on the paper they use. This may be overkill, but I do think about these things.
Farmgirl Hugs.
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Farmgirl of the Month, January 2013
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
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HorseCollector
Farmgirl at Heart
8 Posts
Heather
Loxahatchee
FL
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - Aug 05 2014 : 12:58:02 AM
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Hi there! I'm an avid composter, and I make much of my own garden dirt.
The break down of your pile depends on quite a few things. To mention a few, the temperature makes a difference. Mine is slower in the winter (I'm in florida ) Whenever it gets slow I add compost accelerator. There are all kinds. I mix a scoop with warm water and add it each month, which really works. In my composter when I can feel the warmth bulilt up I know it's going well. Some of the accelerators hatch worms! Vermicomposting. I joke with my husband that "its time to feed the worms."
Also, breakdown slows if the material is too dry- my bins are covered. I like having it covered bc I manage the moisture.
I do throw in coffee grounds and my natural filters. Many plants would enjoy your coffee grounds as well. |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2014 : 08:00:29 AM
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Melissa - one other thing that really helped move our compost along, too, was to add a light layer of dirt between the layers of composted materials. Can't wait to hear how it all turns out for you! It's the greatest stuff in the world!
Hugs -
Nini
Farmgirl Sister #1974
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
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Garden Gate: Composting question |
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Composting question
