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Beginners Compost

comments (4) September 3rd, 2009 in Gallery

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GmaSandi GmaSandi, member
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This white plastic barrel is my compost container, my husband drilled holes around base and on bottom. It sits upon some 2 X 4s waiting for more lawn clippings or tomatoes, or geraniums, or...
Here you can see whats happening to the mix of lawn clippings, chopped corn stalks, tomato prunings, a bit of used potting soil and other things. Its all dissapearing into this wonderful very dark black gold! I dump it upon the patio so I can stir it with a shovel to mix or add in more green things, and sprinkle with water. Here my buddy and I are ready to dig in and stir some dried grass clippings from the front. Yes, my little buddy loves to dig when I do.
This white plastic barrel is my compost container, my husband drilled holes around base and on bottom. It sits upon some 2 X 4s waiting for more lawn clippings or tomatoes, or geraniums, or...Click To Enlarge

This white plastic barrel is my compost container, my husband drilled holes around base and on bottom. It sits upon some 2 X 4's waiting for more lawn clippings or tomatoes, or geraniums, or...
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I've been reading about composting and trying it out. The first try went gross and slimy with too much, not mixed in well,  chopped fruit peelings. Try two, in this barrel, seems to be getting the desired effect. I got about a gallon of rich dark stuff in one month (of 90+ hot weather.) I am diligent in checking it for dampness, temature and "stirring" with my shovel. I hope to have a great product to add to my garden soil for spring, or something! Perhaps fall planting. I really want to grow some sweet little pie pumpkins! Thanks to vegetable gardener and How-to for information!


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posted in: Gallery, compost, clippings, how to, mistakes
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Comments (4)

JohnReberry writes: Building a compost bin was one of the most ecologically responsible things I've ever done. All the "ingredients" which can be placed in the bin reduced my garbage output by over half. Kitchen scraps, grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and almost anything else that one would usually throw out with the trash, can be tossed in the compost & recycled in a useful manner. Often, I only have to put my trash out for municipal collection every 2 or 3 weeks instead of every week like before. You can keep your trash in a plastic bag in your basement because there's rarely anything that will cause unpleasant odors.

The real joy is the soil enhancement product the composting process produces. My raspberry plants start producing big, lucious red berries around the 4th of July. This saves me loads of money at the market during the season; and, I have more raspberries than I can eat for the entire season!

Posted: 4:13 pm on March 8th
Scarlett007 writes: Thanks; you've given all us apt. dwellers an idea on how we too can compost, on a smalle scale!! Best of luck to you!
Posted: 11:01 am on October 19th
ChrisMcLaughlin writes: Hi Guys,

When things get wet and slimy you'll need to add some "browns" (carbon materials) such as straw, dried leaves, or newspaper, etc. Also I wanted to mention that when you're composting you want to let the bottom of the container (assuming it has holes or no bottom at all) touch the bare earth. It helps the decomposers (microbes and macrobs) move in much faster.

Have fun - composting is one of may favorite past times!
Posted: 1:43 pm on September 13th
Harrisdog43 writes: I had the same luck with "gross and slimy" but I just left it and it was just fine this spring. I must have done something right because it now goes really fast in the same set-up. Maybe that added some enzymes or bacteria to the mix because it goes much faster now.
john
Posted: 9:42 pm on September 10th
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