Extreme Composting

Yes, tarp those piles in wet climes, as well as cone them up from all sides, if possible, to naturally shed water if a tarp isn't available.

Humility ?



There's an accusation I don't get every day.

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“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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what is coning them up?

Push the piles into a cone shape to help them shed water.

For once I finally found more than enough nitrogen to put into my pile. I have a carbon shortage right now. I could relive some newspaper form the local recycle dumpster. How thick of a layer of newsprint could I cover a hot pile with? Then I would put al thick lay of nitrogen on top of it. Then cover that with the last of my leaves from last fall.

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Patriot Guard Riders http://www.patriotguard.org/

”Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”
~Noah Webster

Off the top of me head, without shredding the stuff, I'd say you could do 4-6 inch layers of newspaper between moist higher nitrogen layers.

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“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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I've used 6 inch layers of paper as weed block and to raise a low area of the yard. the stuff lasts months and months that way. To compost it i would use one inch layers lasagna style.

....and I wouldn't argue with that.

__________________
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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But if you shred it, it breaks down so lovely and fast!

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Je ne suis pas Alice

http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/

I wish I had a good shedder, but even more I wish I had a good wood chipper; if I did, I would never run out of carbon. Thanks for the help.

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Patriot Guard Riders http://www.patriotguard.org/

”Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”
~Noah Webster

I have a good wood chipper but it takes so much wood and time to make a big pile. I can easily do 10" logs. Just took down an oak tree that had a 20" trunk, 60 ft tall, and all it made was a pile about a half cubic yard.

If you have smaller kids set them loose with scissors on the paper. It would be in pieces in no time. My crew is good at that!

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I'm so done here.

Hey forerunner good to meet you this weekend. My children had a great time with your kids. Thanks for keeping my kids busy with the carder. They had so much fun. I have a few kids with new addictions. My 7yo begged me to spin tonight. I promised her tomorrow. Dh told mr to start looking for fiber animals. Darn you and Cindy!

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I'm so done here.

I do see the gray hair setting in on that beard. I guess you had to slow down sometime.

The trip to the newspaper recycle dumpster was not very productive. It was filled mostly with magazines, and I didn't want to try my luck with them. There were enough newspaper to nearly cover the one half of the pile I am working on, with about an inch of paper. I added the nitrogen to that end.

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Patriot Guard Riders http://www.patriotguard.org/

”Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe.”
~Noah Webster

This newspaper idea sounds like a really good one for helping hold moisture in a pile too!

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Trisha in WA
Visit my blog @
Diamond Belle Ranch

What else does a man have to do in his short time here on earth than build soil and feed people~Forerunner

Well, after meeting you and your family, I see why you post compost pichers upside-down.

If we was neighbors, we'd turn the world upside-down while we're at it.

__________________
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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If illAnoy wasn't so messed up we would look at moving closer to you folks. But for now well just keep making our neighbors angry with mooing cows and calling goats. Oh and naked children. My dd 7 asked for a carder and fiber for her birthday! Lol. Next year lets get her addicted to knitting.

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I'm so done here.

I have question about soil...

I have an acre or so that is loamy...on a plowed portion of it last fall I dumped quite a bit of horsemanure (sawdust) and worked it in the soil....and have kept it tilled till now to work out the perennial weeds. You cannot tell there was manure there as the shavings have decomposed that much, but the soil is now clumpy as heck..The rest of the acres remains nice and loamy and easy to work...will my "improved" soil ever get better in terms of clumpiness?

Is it wet?

I was just adding to my pile and noticed that my horse stall cleaning were packed pretty tight. They are wet. The dry stuff is very lose. The wet stuff is 138 degrees.

I am a little concerned about the packing and do wonder if it is the same way in the compost pile. I have layered it with grass and weeds. The compost pile is 130 say 4 inches from the top after bout 5 days.

I also noticed where I put the stall cleanings down in the pasture it is packed with grass growing through it. Good moisture retention.

My experience is that time does wonders mellowing soil that has been composted under less than ideal conditions.
I build soil for the long haul.
For those who want immediate results, let the material decompose to finish before spreading, and spread/incorporate when the soil is dry enough to avoid compaction.

__________________
“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
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