Is there anyone out there?
I think I posted the question about quick kitchen composting, but have not seen any replies. Surely someone has heard of this method of adding sugar and ammonia to kitchen composter for very fast composting.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Plumtreed on -
No I haven't, perhaps others have. I would be happy to describe my method but I have a lot of natural help with pet sheep that provide manure and land and friends that supply spent straw.
In Texas things might be very similar. Do you have some space or do you live in a city. Composting is very important but does take time.
My compost includes a lot of elements including a dozen ducks, 8 sheep, some dogs, smell and patience. Let me know if I can help!
-
Permalink Reply by Maya on -
I think Cynthia is in an urban area, which would preclude the sheep and ducks. By far the best route for small space indoor composting is a worm bin. They are cheap and easy to make from a medium to large rubbermaid bin, and there are plenty of sites with instructions if you do a web search. I've never heard of the ammonia route, and shudder to think of the fumes. In a southern environment, I'd also worry about attracting cockroaches and ants with the sugar. Worms don't stink if they receive the right mixture of nitrogenous (kitchen scraps) and carbonaceous (in an urban setting, that would be primarily shredded paper) food and the right amount of moisture.
-
Permalink Reply by Penelope on -
doesn't seem to be much activity on the site this week. everybody must be out gardening ... i hope so. i have been.
-
Permalink Reply by zuni on -
Hi, I am not sure why this is necessary. A well-balance composter should have what is needed for a good compost, and Mother Nature can only be hurried along to a point. Since you are what you eat, and your plants are what THEY eat, it doesn't seem like adding supplemental sugar and ammonia is advisable.
-
Permalink Reply by Janice on -
Someone has mentioned vermiculture---we tried that route a couple of winters ago. My conclusion, after nearly killing most of the worms by giving them too much food, is that they can't be hurried either. And one worm bin, about the size of a newspaper recycling container, can hold the leavings of one day's vegetable kitchen waste (2-person house) at a time--that'll be good for about one or two weeks.
RE ammonia, we tried giving the worms some urine-soaked wheat-based cat litter to chew on. The fumes in the enclosed bin became quite strong before the ammonia finally subsided. The worms DID eat the clumps, but it took them a long time. We don't challenge the indoor worms with cat urine anymore.
Slow and steady is the best way. And if you've only got an indoor space for composting, I would consider investing in one of those undercounter composting systems.
-
Permalink Reply by Cynthia on -
Thanks, Janice, could you tell me more about the undercounter composting system and where to find one. I've also been in contact with the horticulturist who was on the Tipical Mary Ellen. The formula is 1 cup (wet) kitchen scraps with 3 cups dry material, then 1/4 tsp. each of ammonia and sugar. He also said if it gets smelly, just add more dry material such as black and white printed paper.Can't wait to try it
-
Permalink Reply by Mama Al on -
I have never heard of this. But the method I use has been around forever. Just pile up or put into a container that alows a good airflow your kitchen scrapes and yard clippings, stir in a little dirt for good bactiria dose, work in a few woodchips and twigs (papertowel and toyletpapper centers work as well) for air. Then cover with a layer of leaves and then a layer of fresh cut grass, lightly sprinkle with water and lightly cover, let sit. Anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 monthes you will have composte.
-
Permalink Reply by Susan on -
A friend of mine told me yesterday about her experience with adding ammonia to her compost heap in an effort to speed up the process. She added about a cup of ammonia to her heap in January and waited.....
About 3 weeks later a neighbor of hers came pounding on her door. Her heap was on fire with flames shooting up 8 or more feet threatening her pine trees and creeping along her fence. January in Maryland has everyone's outdoor water shut off. Several neighbors were able to come with hoses and rakes to pull the pile apart. It took quite a while and the local fire department to finally cool the smoldering heap.
To be fair, she said she read that she should have added 1/4 cup to the pile, but she figured this was a big pile....and if some is good, more must be better....
I don't know if this is a cautionary tale, or not. But, if you do fool around with your pile, keep your hose nearby, check the temperature, and be sure your outdoor water is turned on. Maybe put 911 on speed dial.
-
Permalink Reply by Cynthia on
-
I just want to compost in a small way, a 2 gallon stainless steel old soup stock pot with small holes in the lid, so I wouldn't run that risk given the large amount, comparitively, of dry or brown material to vegetable scraps: 1:3. with 1/4 tsp. each of sugar and ammonia
© 2008 Created by Kitchen Gardeners International
