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Coming Home to the Land:  Compost!  |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 30 2007 : 2:13:27 PM
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| Just started a compost pile last night - the first ever. Never knew rotten veggies, hay & chicken poop could be so fulfilling! Can't wait to "feed" it to our fruit trees & garden. |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2007 : 2:24:28 PM
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Jen- I don't think you will regret you decision. Composting really can be a ton of fun! I love to turn a compost pile and feel all that great heat radiate out from them as they break down all that veg matter. That and seeing things go from "waste" to usable compost is amazing!
If your area is worm-poor I would suggest going and buying some earthworms from a bait shop to toss onto a compost heap. Earthworms are not the best composters but they are wonderful movers and will help to slowly "stir" your heap for you. You can also order red worms online which are the garbage eaters that can really speed up your composting.
Have fun!
Elizaray |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 08:22:27 AM
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Thanks, Elizaray! We've transplanted some big worms from the far corners of our land to the compost heap & garden, but we were thinking we could use more...
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
Posted - Jun 08 2007 : 2:01:02 PM
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how high is the pile?
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2007 : 05:41:22 AM
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Right now it's about 2-3 ft high & 3-4 ft wide. I read it' ssupposed to be at least 3x5 ft to function efficiently, but we're getting there. I'm off now to check out a book called Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza on Amazon.
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Ellen
outstepping
124 Posts
124 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2007 : 03:24:43 AM
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I have a friend here who is known by her jars: chickens can process food. 
We corralled our *pile* with 7 salvaged pallets.3 across back w/4 to divide into 3 sections to separate and mix wastes. first is the oldest brew middle is animal waste,last is the sticky, needle, weed.
How did you set up yours?
I noticed yesterday I got pumpkins coming up outside the middle one. Debating letting them grow where they are planted or moving to a bed.
I never read the Lasagna book. Tho I suspect it is how we have to do most gardens here with our sandy soil. Layer on Layer and more Layering on the mulch! Mulch literally disappears before our eyes.
I had a newspaper route and would invariably get over supplied with extras of the ad inserts by the bundles. I dumped these like sandbaggs around an edge, backfilled over top. A 2' pile of papers disintegrated adding good fiber soil.
The Humanure Handbook was a good read. Are you using septic? |
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2007 : 4:21:41 PM
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wow! It must be fun to watch that sort of composting happen so fast! I think it is fun to build up a nice big compost heap and just let it get cookin! I love turning them by hand and watering them. I know it is kindof geeky- but I am just facinated by the process! Turning trash into treasure!
Elizaray |
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Jen
Expedition Leader
1384 Posts
Jennifer
Calico Rock
AR
USA
1384 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 12:10:30 PM
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Yep-septic. At this point in my life, that's as creative as I want to get with human manure!
I was just thinking today, as my mailbox was jammed with local ad newspapers, that these might could be ripped up & composted. So, thanks for the tip, Ellen, I'm gonna do it.
We're relocating our pile from this year's garden area to our open-sided horse stall at the barn, which is already covered in old horse manure, can be worked more easily, is a bit closer to the house, and is also closer to where we think we'll put the garden next year.
The View From My Boots: www.bovesboots.blogspot.com
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Elizaray
outspoken
680 Posts
Elizaray
680 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2007 : 5:11:45 PM
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Someone mowed down the wild part of my lawn where my fledgling compost heap was. I am not sure who... I am a bid sad that my compost heap got mulched, but I am glad that someone took care of the high grass. I guess I can always start another heap :)
Elizaray |
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Coming Home to the Land: Compost! |
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Compost!
