Extreme Composting

CesumPec · #**2181** 03/06/13, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Suburban gardeners have the same chances as rural gardeners to produce good compost but just on a smaller scale. In the 70s and 80s, my cars all had big trunks and there were always six 5-gallon pails and a short-handled shovel in them. (Car of the 90s could only hold 5 pails.) Any time that I was near a pile of cow or horse manure, it was a little smaller after my visit. Doesn't seem like much but it adds up. For this century my "car" is a pickup and will hold 18 pails or 3 times the old way. Presently, one of my piles is about 450 gallons. It's 2 parts tumbler compost to 1 part horse manure. Pretty much all of it came here in 5-gallon pails.

Martin

Your extreme composter certificate and listing in the redneck registry are in danger of being revoked if you tell me your pickup bed is carpeted so you can't haul truck loads of poo. Please tell me it ain't so.

Paquebot · #**2182** 03/06/13, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

Now see, Martin ?

THAT's the kind of make-do-with-whatcha-got-and-grow-from-there story we like to see around here.

In terms of experience, you guys are just rookies. I've been composting in the same exact area for 18,138 days and doing it in accordance to the person who wrote the book on it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CesumPec

Your extreme composter certificate and listing in the redneck registry are in danger of being revoked if you tell me your pickup bed is carpeted so you can't haul truck loads of poo. Please tell me it ain't so.

No carpet but suburban gardeners usually don't have a road to their gardens or a dung heap beside the street. It would have to be shoveled into something else in order to get it from the street to the compost area. Having it already in something makes more sense than having to shovel it twice. Also sets an example for others who have small gardens and only need 20-30 gallons rather than 20-30 yards.

Martin

Forerunner · #**2183** 03/06/13, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

In terms of experience, you guys are just rookies. I've been composting in the same exact area for 18,138 days and doing it in accordance to the person who wrote the book on it.

I'll be sure to write that down, some place, so's I don't forget.

am1too · #**2184** 03/06/13, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

In terms of experience, you guys are just rookies. I've been composting in the same exact area for 18,138 days and doing it in accordance to the person who wrote the book on it.

No carpet but suburban gardeners usually don't have a road to their gardens or a dung heap beside the street. It would have to be shoveled into something else in order to get it from the street to the compost area. Having it already in something makes more sense than having to shovel it twice. Also sets an example for others who have small gardens and only need 20-30 gallons rather than 20-30 yards.

Martin

Wish that was all I needed. I am shooting for 10,000 yards.

RomeGrower · #**2185** 03/06/13, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

Rome-G, welcome to the club.

On a side note, when your friends and relatives finally drag you in for therapy, don't resist.

Just nod your head and smile a lot, and remember........when you get home, a good hot compost pile will cook those silly meds, pills or liquids, and you can get straight back to work.

Thanks Forerunner. I'm just a little guy here, but my nose is to the ground and I love the dirt and growing things. We are transforming a grass and ornamental treed yard into a productive and atractive yard and can stop buying so many bags of soil amendments from the box store now.

Our oldest son is majoring in horticulture at UGA and wants to homestead when he graduates, so he is all over what you guys are dong here.

StayPuff · #**2186** 03/06/13, 03:57 PM

Martin,

I for one, being a rookie, would love to see some pitchers of your composting area and method. You've really 'peaked' my curiosity!

Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

RomeGrower · #**2187** 03/06/13, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CesumPec

Your extreme composter certificate and listing in the redneck registry are in danger of being revoked if you tell me your pickup bed is carpeted so you can't haul truck loads of poo. Please tell me it ain't so.

No carpet in the back of my son's truck. It has a bedliner, but we'll use a tarp. There's not too much redneck in us yet.

FoxGardener92 · #**2188** 03/07/13, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RomeGrower

No carpet in the back of my son's truck. It has a bedliner, but we'll use a tarp. There's not too much redneck in us yet.

I am the son in question and I can assure you all, I am every bit as excited about this prospect as my dad. This will be one of the better uses for my truck bed!

Forerunner · #**2189** 03/07/13, 08:37 AM

A Father and Son team.

How positively inspiring.

My first composting efforts were with an old, homemade two wheel trailer and a Model "A" Deere......hauling horse manure and bedding (we didn't segregate the urine

) all of a half mile from the neighboring horse farm where I was Chief Executive Stall Mucker.

That started about the time I was 14.

My extreme efforts in the very late 90s began with a heavy old Chevy 4WD pickup...and a pitchfork and shovel.

Neither rig had a dump.
Neither rig had a carpeted floor.

Both rigs, applied regularly, made massive piles in a short amount of time.

am1too · #**2190** 03/07/13, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

A Father and Son team.

How positively inspiring.

My first composting efforts were with an old, homemade two wheel trailer and a Model "A" Deere......hauling horse manure and bedding (we didn't segregate the urine

) all of a half mile from the neighboring horse farm where I was Chief Executive Stall Mucker.

That started about the time I was 14.

My extreme efforts in the very late 90s began with a heavy old Chevy 4WD pickup...and a pitchfork and shovel.

Neither rig had a dump.
Neither rig had a carpeted floor.

Both rigs, applied regularly, made massive piles in a short amount of time.

Like you've said a pitchfork can do lots of work.

am1too · #**2191** 03/07/13, 10:13 AM

Say if my pile has simply dired out can I revive it by just turning and soaking it?

Forerunner · #**2192** 03/07/13, 11:20 AM

I've seen many a quiet pile take a couple inches of rain.....or a generous melting of snow, and begin steaming vigorously the next morning.

A good soaking may be all it needs.

Studhauler · #**2193** 03/07/13, 08:46 PM

I have let the garden hose run on my pile for an hour at a time, but I am there moving it around and shoving the hose into the pile. My piles would not compost if I didn't add water.

Joe Prepper · #**2194** 03/07/13, 11:06 PM

I got a load of horse/cow manure yesterday. Planning to mix in some wood chips as soon as I can get my hands on some more. It is all but impossible to find free ones now. All the tree companies, pole mills etc sell them. Looks like it's time to find a big chipper. For now Ill add in some hay and leaves...which are in short supply. All the others around here magically turned to dirt!

CesumPec · #**2195** 03/08/13, 05:58 AM

I have been reading up a bit on Bokashi, a form of anaerobic composting. http://www.compostguy.com/bokashi/making-bokashi/

It looks interesting and I can see the value for a suburban home where a backyard pile might not be possible. Bokashi can also take bones, milk, and oils which you probably don't want to do in small suburban piles.

To our CEO (Composting Extremist Originator) or any other extremists among us, have any of you tried this composting method?

It looks like for my needs that it would be more labor without any significant benefit over aerobic composting. Am I missing something?

Forerunner · #**2196** 03/08/13, 06:46 AM

Ziplock bags.

Wheat bran.

Grandma's Molasses.

Boiling water.

Did I miss the microscope and tweezers ?

By all means, for those interested, don't let my clunky, clumsy massive methodology stand in your way.

*whistles a distractingly neutral tune as he tiptoes for the door*

(eta) *whispering* C-P.....whatever possessed you to read up on, ummm, Bokashi ?

Forerunner · #**2197** 03/08/13, 06:58 AM

Joe Prepper....I'm curious now.

Did your manure supply come with any bedding carbon or is it basically straight manure ?

CesumPec · #**2198** 03/08/13, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

(eta) *whispering* C-P.....whatever possessed you to read up on, ummm, Bokashi ?

furthering my composting education. for small scale, inside the kitchen composting, it seems like a cool idea. But I'm not creative enough to find an extremist methodology to make it useful to me unless the entire town starts bringing me kitchen waste.

Forerunner · #**2199** 03/08/13, 08:27 AM

Well, so long as you get your blender from Morbark or Vermeer, rather than Betty Crocker or KitchenAid, I suppose I could live with it.

unregistered41671 · #**2200** 03/08/13, 04:04 PM

You guys get me tickled, once in a while.