|
Post by Wheelgarden on Feb 23, 2020 17:56:28 GMT -5
Thought I'd start this thread here on Over the Fence 'cause that's where last year's compost talk was posted. Compost ain't technically a veggie, so...
Admired my February compost pile...Been able to keep a good open pile this winter to cold-compost...kitchen waste, shredded leaves, twigs, clean leftover grass clippings, about 3x3x3 in area. Turned twice weekly, left mostly open except for during downpour rains when I've covered it with clear plastic to keep it from leaching or washing away. Lots of vegetable volunteers, but I just turn them under. Lots of worms, too. All that gets sifted at planting time and put in with the seeds/sets. Afterwards, the spring/summer hot pile begins, for rich top-dressing during the growing season. All that stuff is black gold to me.
Consider of all the plant matter that is wasted and not used regeneratively. It's a real shame.
|
|
|
Post by tom π on Feb 23, 2020 18:20:20 GMT -5
My compost pile is a tire with sidewalls cut out and covered with a storm window. Kitchen scraps accumulate in a covered scraps bucket on the back porch. Fermentation begins in the bucket so the pile needs to be tightly covered to prevent smell. I have tomato seedlings with true leaves growing in mine. I'd like to grow all my seedlings this way, but don't have it figured out yet. 21 degree weather did not hurt those seedlings.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Feb 23, 2020 19:24:13 GMT -5
My compost gets spread in my flower gardens too, so I'm thinking this is the perfect spot for compost talk!
|
|
|
Post by James on Mar 21, 2020 9:52:32 GMT -5
Compost according to Webster: a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land
Sorry I had to look that up since I do not do compost. Excess organic matter gets spread on the garden in the fall and tilled in. Some things may be put back on the plot in an unused area at any time or perhaps spread between rows of corn.
|
|
|
Post by Wheelgarden on Apr 4, 2020 17:56:40 GMT -5
Harvested more big bags of finished compost, then turned and amended the pile with grass clippings and crushed leaves. It was billowing steam this morning and really hot --- looks like I've achieived "critical mass" for the spring/summer hot pile. The fire ants have absconded for other digs, worms moving to the bottom floor. "Pawpaw grows dirt, too, Nanny!"...I guess that makes me a dirt farmer. I don't mind that at all --- I rely on my compost more than any amendment. Black gold, it is. One of the keys to sustainability.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Apr 4, 2020 18:02:23 GMT -5
I wish I could get a hot pile going, Wheelgarden. Back when we gathered fresh cut grass, we had hot compost. Life has changed and now I depend on Mother Nature. I just have to be patient.
|
|
|
Post by Wheelgarden on Apr 4, 2020 18:24:33 GMT -5
binnylou, I usually wind up doing long-term cold-composting too, and though slow, it's well worth the wait. This past few weeks I've been fortunate to have a surplus of browns and greens (thanks to DS) to heat the reactor up nicely for a change.
|
|
|
Post by desertwoman on Apr 4, 2020 21:13:15 GMT -5
I'm a cold composter too. I've always labeled me a "lazy composter" as in I don't do much with my pile except to maybe turn it once or twice with a pitch fork. Maybe. Compost happens. I have three piles- 2 by the house and a larger one further out in a fallow field. There's always a pile happening, a pile to use close by, and another much bigger pile happening - just leaves and grass clippings. These were made with pallets.
|
|
|
Post by gardendmpls on Apr 5, 2020 7:56:26 GMT -5
Someone moved a plywood sheet from the top of the chicken pen to the top of my compost pile. One of those mysteries of life, as no one will admit to it. Lifted it up the other day and there were a ton of snails on the underside of the board, so now I have another food source for both the gecko and the chickens.
|
|
|
Post by binnylou on Apr 5, 2020 9:23:33 GMT -5
That sounds like a winning situation, gardendmpls. Now you know where they hang out while waiting for the garden goodies.
|
|
|
Post by tom π on Apr 5, 2020 9:55:39 GMT -5
Lifted it up the other day and there were a ton of snails on the underside of the board, so now I have another food source for both the gecko and the chickens. I planted figs in the chicken yard to give the chickens cover from hawks. Figs draw June bugs. I caught June bugs and fed them to the chickens. Another source of free food was kitchen scraps from the neighbors.
|
|
|
Post by meatburner on Apr 25, 2020 22:04:37 GMT -5
Tom, that is the first time I have heard anyone state that figs draw june bugs. Mine have never drawn them. Maybe your figs and climate are different than anywhere else I am unfamiliar with.
|
|
|
Post by tom π on Apr 26, 2020 6:42:23 GMT -5
Tom, that is the first time I have heard anyone state that figs draw june bugs. Mine have never drawn them. Maybe your figs and climate are different than anywhere else I am unfamiliar with. homeguides.sfgate.com/june-bugs-fig-bushes-77654.htmlJune Bugs on Fig Bushes Maybe June bugs aren't well established in your area. Insects can move into and out of an area. One year my pole beans were mobbed by kudzu bugs. It hasn't happened again. I grew asparagus for several decades with no problem. Then the asparagus beetle showed up. Whiteflies were a novelty thirty years ago. Now they are destructive pests.
|
|
|
Post by lilolpeapicker on May 6, 2020 8:44:47 GMT -5
Do you add leftover olive oil braised veggies that you may be tossing out at the end of the meal? I have never done this as I don't usually have any veggie leftovers but I have family members will not save them, believing that they can have more germs than fresh.
My sister just got a composting pail and asked me about the braised veggies in compost. Generally speaking no oils or butter should be put-on. Has anyone here added them?
|
|
|
Post by emmsmommy on Jun 17, 2020 13:00:58 GMT -5
Wow! Didn't realize there was a composting thread.
Until this year, all composting has been cold as life was hectic April - October. This year I'm hot composting one pile that consists of last year's shredded chestnut burrs, raspberry prunings and multiflora rose that have all been run through the chipper. I've added in produce scraps, comfrey leaves and grass clippings and would say it's about 50% composted. I'm only turning when the pile starts to cool down, but maybe I should be turning more often? I'd like to have this one ready to add to the beds for next year.
Second pile is still in construction and consists of leaves and twigs sifted from older compost, produce scraps, grass clippings and basically whatever will rot. Third pile consists of shredded locust mulch and chicken poop. Not sure if technically it qualifies as compost or not, but that's how I refer to it. I plan to turn it every once in a while as I want the chicken poop to break down for at least a year although it is at least three years old now.
I'm sure we'll be building more as we're doing a lot of trimming and clearing this year. I also watched a video on YouTube where the maker was claiming compost could successfully be made with only cardboard and grass clippings. I'm short on cardboard right now but we have too many grass clippings than we can compost now so may have to try that in the future.
|
|