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Garden Gate:  Questions about composting  |
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ali2583
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Alison
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Canada
404 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 07:13:54 AM
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I know you girls will have some great advice for me about this...
DH and I just recently moved, and now that the snow is melting, we can actually see our back yard (We took possession of this house in January, so my yard has been a snow-covered mystery until now)
Anyways, I've discovered that the previous owners left behind 3 compost bins. I think they made the bins themselves - they are little square bins about 3 feet by 3 feet and about 4 feet tall, composed of wooden slats, with spaces between each slat. They are all full right to the top, and it doesn't look like they have been turned or mixed up. Also, the only way "in" to the bins is through the top - don't compost bins usually have an opening at the bottom too, to take out the composted material?
I'm wondering if I should just get rid of everything that they left behind, and start again, as I would really love to begin composting my green kitchen scraps and coffee filters. Or, is there anyway I could salvage what was left behind?
Please share your wisdom - thanks! 
"God's gift to you is life. What you choose to do with that life is your gift to God" |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 08:57:47 AM
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Mine don't have an opening. I take the front off so that I can turn the bins. You can keep this and make it into good compost easily. Take the front off (if possible), shovel all of the compost out of one bin. You can add a new bin to the end to shovel this into. Then turn another bin into the newly emptied bin, and do that again. It's always handy to keep one bin empty just for turning.
Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 09:49:41 AM
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That sounds like how I have done them in the past too...I usually just use pallets and wire the fronts so they can be easily opened, but some folks nail those panels shut. I wouldn't throw it out!! What Robin says sounds perfect. Lucky you!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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vintagechica
True Blue Farmgirl
438 Posts
Eren
Poolville
TX
USA
438 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 11:49:02 AM
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Yes, lucky you! Ours doesnt have an opening at the bottom either, but I do know of the ones you are describing. Use that gold you found! Im sure you will have a bumper crop!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A sure way to avoid housework...live outdoors.
Visit me anytime at my blog:
www.vintagechica.typepad.com |
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ali2583
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Alison
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Canada
404 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2007 : 1:50:49 PM
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Thanks so much for the advice, I shall definitely salvage what I can. The fronts of my bins don't come off, but I think the idea of having an extra bin to help with the mixing sounds good and should help. Normally I'd hop outside and start on this right away, but we have an early April storm blowing through, so I might have to wait until next week...
Anyways, thanks again!
"God's gift to you is life. What you choose to do with that life is your gift to God" |
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Garden Gate: Questions about composting |
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Questions about composting
