Composter

 

  Oh yeah,  Just scored a pile of ready made compost, grass clippings and brown leafs that ran through the mower!  I'll use this pile to jump start my composter at home again.  Plenty of "Browns" on the ground at home, just no "Greens" Everything is Redwood duff!   Now that my new office space has lawns around it, they get cut on regular basis, I'm going to have a nice full composter at home and plenty of fresh potting soil in a few weeks!  The mixture in my truck has already started the process, I suspect the pile will have some heat built up by the time I get home! Water+Greens+Browns= hot!

we have been composting for years. its amazing how much less "trash" you have when kitchen scraps go to the compost bin vs. the trash

What type of compost bins do you use? Did you buy or build?

I've been thinking about it for a while but havne't done any real research.

I've been making plenty of of mulch with my tree chipper though.   

 

  My composter has been empty for about a year now, every now & then, if I'd catch some kitchen greens in the garbage, I'd take them out back to the composter, but really wasn't vigilant about it.  When I add this pile, it'll fill the bin, in a few weeks the bin will be down by half, just in time to add more!  A steaming compost pile is wonderful thing!

What type of compost bins do you use? Did you buy or build?

I've been thinking about it for a while but havne't done any real research.

I've been making plenty of of mulch with my tree chipper though.   

I have 2 that were left at the house. My father in law has a large yard, and he is using two mesh cylinders he made out of small opening wire fence material. He just rolled the fencing into a tube, then used wire and stakes to secure it. I was just visiting and there was steam coming off the piles when we turned them.

 

  The bin I have was purchased at OSH.  it's plascti, and has a lid.  Bins have been made from anything that can hold the material, from pallets, to chicken wire.  Simplest is to do what Piscean Father-in-law did, roll your own.
  The ket to a successful composter is air circulation!  (Having proper mix of materials helsps also) and 50/50% mix of "Browns" and "Greens" Sprinkle in some water and temps of up to 140*F in the center can and do get reached!
  Once the temperature starts to drop off, it's time to "Turn the pile" To start the process all over again!

check with the city and county. I got mine from the city of SJ for a MAJOR discount.

This is the city one I got...I think I had to pay $25-30 for it. The size is good for a suburban house/yard. I have never "filled" it

http://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/compost/images/EarthMachine_000.jpg

What type of compost bins do you use? Did you buy or build?

I've been thinking about it for a while but havne't done any real research.

I've been making plenty of of mulch with my tree chipper though.   

I have one that I haven't used in years. Been sitting in the backyard for years. You can have it if you want it.

I have one that I haven't used in years. Been sitting in the backyard for years. You can have it if you want it.

Nice!  Is it real big? My yard is pretty small.   

Let me know when I could drop by and take a look at it. 

To get an idea of what is going on inside your bin, google carbon to nitrogen ratio.   The brown stuff will not break down unless you feed the bacteria with the green stuff. 


Eric Morgan
Trident Ultra 4.7
Not the guy selling the Outback
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have one that I haven't used in years. Been sitting in the backyard for years. You can have it if you want it.

Nice!  Is it real big? My yard is pretty small.   

Let me know when I could drop by and take a look at it.

It's about 3 ft x 3 ft square with base plus 2 stackable levels and a lid. Anytime between and and the end of the weekend. Not sure where I will be next week.