Why don't you compost dad?

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Permalink Reply by Tamra on January 11, 2009 at 9:56pm

You can use everything you have listed.

Compost happens, all the time all around you. Most people make it way too complicated. Yes having the right mix will help the pile get hot and compost fast. But given enough time anything organic will decompose.

I just pile my stuff up layering brown and green stuff. Usually I build a pile where I want to start a new growing bed. I don't cover it or water it. When it is brown and crumbly it is ready. The top layer will not decompose, so I check the stuff below and when it looks done, I move the top layer to a new pile.

A pile really needs to be at least 3 feet wide, 3 feet high and 3 feet long, to get hot enough. Of course you can make it much bigger. So whenever your pile is at least 3 feet cube you can start building another one. Most people have one cooking and one they are building as they have the materials.

With all the stuff you listed you should be able to make plenty of compost.

You have a great daughter!!

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Permalink Reply by Nancy H on January 12, 2009 at 9:09am

Does a compost pile need to be in the sun?

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Permalink Reply by Tamra on January 12, 2009 at 9:24am

No, but it can be. I am lazy so I like to build piles were I have lots of organic matter, like in the vegetable garden, or close to where I want to use the finished compost. This way I don't lave to move things great distances. When I stick a pile in the far corner of the yard, it does not get used.

In the winter it is nice to have a place close to the back door to dump kitchen scrape, otherwise my kids tend to put the stuff down the disposal. Often I will take a bare spot in a flower bed, pile up a lot of leaves and bury the kitchen scraps in the leaves all winter. Tennessee has mild winters so pile of kitchen scraps and leaves will often be finished my spring.

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Permalink Reply by Linda Peach on January 12, 2009 at 3:01pm

No, mine is in the shade and does fine.

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Permalink Reply by Maya on January 11, 2009 at 11:14pm

Don't you just love it when kids bring good stuff home from school? The only caveat on your ingredients list is the horse manure. Horses don't chew very thoroughly, so their manure is full of weed seed. If your pile is not hot enough to kill the seeds you will end up planting a hayfield.

On the C:N ratio, just use what you have, layered with lots of leaves, and if it starts getting violently stinky, add more C (brown) by pulling more leaves out of the woods.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart Millar on January 15, 2009 at 7:23pm

I've already got growing weeds cracked, always have a great crop so will take your advice on board.

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Permalink Reply by John Walker on January 12, 2009 at 12:35pm

Oh, thanks for the explanation of the post heading. I assumed it begged the question "why don't you put dad in the compost pile?"
;)

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Permalink Reply by Tamra on January 12, 2009 at 1:52pm

That is funny John. I did not read it that way, but see how you could. I have told my family that when the time comes to cremate me and sprinkle me on the compost pile.

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Permalink Reply by John Walker on January 15, 2009 at 12:42pm

I'm going to be buried at sea.
'cos of the number of people who've said they'd like to dance on my grave.....:)
But in all probability I'll end up on the compost heap.

But to be serious,,,
I'm a lazy composter. I figure nature does well and has a few years on me.
I do try and chip and shred as much as I can, layer as much as possible and then leave it alone. It helps to have 7 compost piles at the end of my garden though.
I would make a new pile after it gets to be more than 3x3x3ft
pax
John

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Permalink Reply by Tamra on January 15, 2009 at 1:01pm

I hear you about being a lazy composter. Most people work way too hard to make compost, like you said, it is something nature does just fine without our help.

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Permalink Reply by Stuart Millar on January 15, 2009 at 4:25pm

Thanks to all for their input so far. I'll be putting your suggestions in to practice once the snow clears and we can get to the ground again. Abby would like me to get 'Roly Pig' like at school, but with no $ investment she and i will be creating nice 3x3x3 piles at handy spots around the veg. patch. Hopefully we will get a head start by visiting the hiding places behind walls where we've always dumped the chicken bedding and leaves. You never know, what we dumped last year could be well on its way!

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Permalink Reply by Stuart Millar on January 12, 2009 at 3:01pm

Maybe some days that is what Abby means. I'll have to stay on her good side.

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