composting

[pattys214garden]

hi you`ll - i want to start a compost where i live i can`t get much grass to put in [ PINEBLUFF N.C. ] i want to get leaves - pine straw maybe a few needles [pine ] - and i can get chicken manure - what do you guy`s think -

[elkhound]

look at top of this forums section.....at least a week of reading ....link below to thread...enjoy



Extreme Composting

[Elizabeth]

Certified Master Composter here (25+ years)-

I think you should do it. You don't need grass. Just start a pile or a bin, or whatever enclosure you wish, then start adding organic materials to it. It "helps" the material break down faster if you have the "perfect" ratio of carbon-nitrogen, but, as the saying goes, "compost happens". If you are adding organic material and keeping it moist (around the consistency of a wrung-out sponge), it will eventually break down, no matter what you put in there.

If you are in a hurry (due to limited space, need for finished compost, etc), just tweak your mixture until you get it right. One cool thing that happens to a lot of people who are new to composting is that, once started, they begin to look at everything around them, in their homes, yards, workplaces, etc, for more organic material to compost. You will find that you can add spent coffee grounds and tea bags (cut off the string and staple), egg shells and just about anything from the kitchen, paper, cardboard, old cotton clothing (if there is no better use for those). I add bones to my closed bins. Meat scraps never make it to the bins- with two large dogs, guinea pigs, and chickens most of our food waste is diverted to the animals, but if we did not have them to feed, I would not hesitate to add them to a closed bin.

If you read the internet you will find a lot of misinformation out there regarding composting. Many, or most, of the things people advise against composting can absolutely be included. It really depends on the type of bin you use- an open bin with meat/bones and other food scraps can attract pests, so for those types of items you might choose a closed bin.

There are only a few things I do not compost. Here is a list of the ones I can think of at the moment:

Any diseased plants. Since I use my compost in my gardens. If I was just composting to reduce waste I would add them.

Pressure treated anything

"slick" paper (advertising, magazines, etc). I stick to plain white paper, newsprint, manila envelopes, and similar materials.

Cat litter and dog or human feces. Urine is okay.

[ct01r]

I agree with Elizabeth. Just do it. A lot of people overthink it. One thing that's always worked for me is to start a new pile by digging into the soil. I'll dump whatever I'm starting with, then dig it into the soil to start the decomposing faster. When I dump more, I'll mix it in again. The soil kick starts the action. If you have a neighbor that composts, maybe you can get a couple of shovelfuls of compost from them. Having the right ratio is helpful, but certainly not a deal breaker. Good luck! Curt

[Tricky Grama]

I will do great!
Patty

[jwal10]

Manure is better than grass, make sure to add water as needed, let it go through heat cycle and turn at least once, can add more manure if needed, then....James

[pattys214garden]

hey you`ll thanks much - i have [ because of where i live ] boo koo pine straw and pine cones will this work also

[jwal10]

Pine cones take a while, might work for top dressing compost around plants, could have a few trees sprout though....James