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Post by oliveglow on Mar 23, 2015 1:41:39 GMT -5
I apologize if there's a thread about this already.
Firstly, I live in Las Vegas so it's pretty dry. I've been aching to begin a compost pile but there isn't really a place that I find suitable to start it in my very small, mostly cement backyard. There is a good-sized strip of dirt raised about half a foot off the ground though. I bought a good-sized bin from WalMart the other day and poured a 40lb bag of organic soil into it mixed with about 3 pounds of coffee grounds from Starbucks and a few kitchen scraps in an effort to get things going. It's heating up pretty well by itself considering it sits in the shade all day (or it's at least pretty warm and moist in there... there's condensation on the inside). The kitchen scraps that I've thrown in there definitely haven't broken down yet considering I did this only a few days ago but they do have mold growing, which is bad in most cases but I'm not sure how good it is for gardening. I'm very new to gardening and I just want to know... was I too eager to get things going and did I ruin it at all? What am I doing wrong? It would be a bummer to ruin a good 40lbs of soil.
I would appreciate any feedback!
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Post by berrygal on Mar 23, 2015 5:37:51 GMT -5
First of all, don't worry--you haven't "ruined" the soil you added!
A couple of questions:
Is the bin covered with a lid? If so, did you punch holes in the sides or top of the bin so oxygen can get in there?
Do you have access to any "brown" material to throw in the bin along with your "green" material?
How big is the bin?
Are you wanting "hot" compost or will cold composting be okay?
One good thing about making compost is if it isn't just right (too many greens, too many browns, too dry, etc.) you can add whatever is needed and go from there...it's fairly forgiving.
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Post by kimmsr🕊 on Mar 23, 2015 6:10:41 GMT -5
A "bin" is not necessary for composting and some things sold as composters simply do not have enough volume to work. Perhaps this tutorial will be of some help.
sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/compost-info/
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 23, 2015 10:22:48 GMT -5
Not much more to add except to say Welcome! and also reassure you that you have not ruined anything.
"Browns" include leaves, straw, newspaper, cardboard "greens include grass clippings, coffee grounds, kitchen scraps
So you are heavy on the greens You want an approximate ratio of 2 parts browns to 1 part greens
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Mar 24, 2015 13:18:21 GMT -5
Mold is fine. I think you just need more stuff. Personally I wouldn't have bothered with the soil but it's there now so you can keep adding to it. I just keep mine going and going. I like in a pretty dry climate so I have to make sure I keep it moist or things just dehydrate and petrify without decomposing.
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Post by mrsk on Mar 24, 2015 21:00:30 GMT -5
I am dry here, and I have never gotten a hot pile! ugh! This winter I am composting in a large cardboard box to try and keep things a bit more damp.
But the thing is compost does not have to be perfect, I plan on dumping it soon, stirring it up, and putting back the parts that did not break down the first time.
During the garden year, I compost directly on the garden. I chop and drop. Any leaves or roots, that we are not eating, just gets dropped back on top of the mulch.
It does not all turn into black gold the first time. Browns can be hard to come by if you live in the city. Some people on here, are leaf collectors to get more browns.
Mrs K
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 25, 2015 9:59:08 GMT -5
As I have mentioned before, not sure if in this new site but rather the old one, I have a bin that I add lots of leaves in the fall. filling it 2/3 - 3/4 full. During the fall, winter and early spring I add grasses and veggie scrapes, mixing them well with the leaves. Then I let it stew until the following fall. After, I put all that compost into the garlic bed tilling under about 2 weeks before planting garlic.
And start over again.
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Post by oliveglow on Mar 25, 2015 15:17:59 GMT -5
I'll have to go check out some local nurseries to see if they might sell dry leaves because I have a tree that has dropped its leaves but they're all gone now. I might even ask some neighbors. Thanks so much, you guys! I'll definitely get on drilling holes into the bin for some breathing in there. Is it okay for me to just keep throwing scraps in there or should I just wait for what I've already thrown in there to break down?
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Mar 25, 2015 17:03:06 GMT -5
Try putting out a sign asking your neighbors if you could have their leaves. Some people wait til spring to clean up from fall. I wouldn't pay. Also wood chips and paper bags can be used which sometimes can be found around the road where trees may have been trimmed. Here is a website that will tell you what greens and browns are: www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9089
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 25, 2015 18:41:44 GMT -5
A bale of straw from a feed store is usually reasonably priced and can be used instead of leaves (in the fall you can often times get them for free after they've been used for displays). I've never seen bags of leaves for sale.
You could also use shredded cardboard and newspaper also considered "browns" too and are free!
Brownrexx has had great success getting many bags of leaves left at her driveway, with a sign requesting them.
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 26, 2015 10:56:00 GMT -5
Two years ago I put up a sign that said "Bagged Leaves Wanted" in the Fall and I had 85 bags dropped off!
The following year I had to take the sign down early after I got about 40 bags.
I seriously doubt that Las Vegas has as many leaves as we do on the East Coast though.
I ran over them with my riding mower and blew them into my garden and compost pile. Shredded leaves break down quicker and don't mat together.
We roto till in the Fall so lots of them got buried too.
I use lots of straw (not hay which has lots of seeds) too.
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Post by davidjp on Mar 26, 2015 13:40:39 GMT -5
One thing to watch out for in your dry climate is to keep the pile moist, if it dries out it won't compost, regular turning and watering as you return the layers will speed things up, you'll be surprised how quickly you will get compost. Compost will happen no matter what but regular turning and watering will get it there much quicker. I'd go with a New Zealand Hot box, easy to make, keeping it together will aid in keeping it moist www.reddeer.ca/media/reddeerca/city-services/environment-and-conservation/your-yard/Composting---Build-your-own-compost-bin---Edmonton.pdfwww.askorganic.co.uk/newzealandbox.pdfI have three side by side with tarp covers to keep in the moisture. One for collecting stuff, one for actually composting making sure its moist and has the ciorrect greens to brown ratio and the last one with finished compost ready for use. Makes it easy to turn from one to another so theres a regular pipeline.
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Mar 26, 2015 23:01:45 GMT -5
I've had good luck just asking around about leaves. I get as many as I want.
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Post by OregonRed on Mar 27, 2015 10:11:33 GMT -5
there is no shortage of leaves in the fall here in Oregon, I go collect my own from a neighbor with lots of trees, he shreds them and piles them by the green bin, let's me take whatever I want.
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Post by mrsk on Mar 29, 2015 9:13:12 GMT -5
I live on the prairie of SD, and have a devil of a time getting compost. It is just too dry. This winter, I used a large cardboard box, watered it through out the winter, and only some decomposition. Yesterday I put it on top of a new bed, a partially decomposed highly organic matter composition, but many still recognizable parts, not black gold. However, I watered it well, covered it with cardboard, and in a couple of weeks, I will open up parts of the cardboard and plant potatoes there.
My point is, not always does compost have to be perfect. Gardening is more satisfying if one goes with what happens and not worrying about getting the perfect garden.
The original poster is in Vegas, and that is hot and dry. Can make it hard to get good compost.
MRs K
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