Extreme Composting

myheaven · #**3161** 02/10/14, 04:25 PM

I was given 7 gallons if veg oil that was deemed un fit for humans. As in other stuff was dumped on the package and can't be sold. I have no need for
That much oil. Besides I don't use soybean oil. I add It to my animal ration for added energy. Sure was needed this winter.

Forerunner · #**3162** 02/10/14, 05:04 PM

There yuh have it.

If the stuff'll energize the warm bloods, in moderation.......it'll energize the Little Guys.

DEKE01 · #**3163** 02/10/14, 10:34 PM

I'm away from the farm for a couple of weeks. Got a call this afternoon from a farm neighbor. I have one less wild hog as of last night, supposedly a 350 lb boar. The butcher remains went on one of my piles and another neighbor is telling me there were 100 (a man prone to exaggeration) buzzards hanging out there. I'm happy to have buzzard poop added directly to the pile.

As to the veggie oil, I'm going to pass on it for a while. The restaurant doesn't want to cancel their grease pick up unless I can guarantee I'll always be available to haul it away when needed. Until I'm full time on the farm later this year, I can't be a reliable hauler. FR, I'm going with your logic and unless I can figure out a way to properly clean most of it for tractor fuel, I don't see enough benefit to make it worth my time.

am1too · #**3164** 02/11/14, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEKE01

I'm away from the farm for a couple of weeks. Got a call this afternoon from a farm neighbor. I have one less wild hog as of last night, supposedly a 350 lb boar. The butcher remains went on one of my piles and another neighbor is telling me there were 100 (a man prone to exaggeration) buzzards hanging out there. I'm happy to have buzzard poop added directly to the pile.

As to the veggie oil, I'm going to pass on it for a while. The restaurant doesn't want to cancel their grease pick up unless I can guarantee I'll always be available to haul it away when needed. Until I'm full time on the farm later this year, I can't be a reliable hauler. FR, I'm going with your logic and unless I can figure out a way to properly clean most of it for tractor fuel, I don't see enough benefit to make it worth my time.

Run it through a couple filters. Gravity will work.

bja105 · #**3165** 02/12/14, 06:07 AM

I need some ideas for unloading a 4x8 trailer of sawdust. I will be building sides for my little trailer, and I can load it with my tractor, but it does not dump, it tilts a little.

Does anyone know how much sawdust weighs per cubic foot or yard. This is sawmill dust, stored in a pile outside, probably wet.

Forerunner · #**3166** 02/12/14, 06:28 AM

4X8 trailer is just a short, but effective cardio-respiratory invigoration.

I recommend a standard-issue aluminum grain scoop.

am1too · #**3167** 02/12/14, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bja105

I need some ideas for unloading a 4x8 trailer of sawdust. I will be building sides for my little trailer, and I can load it with my tractor, but it does not dump, it tilts a little.

Does anyone know how much sawdust weighs per cubic foot or yard. This is sawmill dust, stored in a pile outside, probably wet.

I bought a tarp attached to a bar with an insertable turning handle for $40. They say it'll handle a ton of material. It mounts on the tail gate of a pickup.

I found it at Harbor Freight.

am1too · #**3168** 02/12/14, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

4X8 trailer is just a short, but effective cardio-respiratory invigoration.

I recommend a standard-issue aluminum grain scoop.

For saw dust it works great. Takes maybe all of 15 minutes.

myheaven · #**3169** 02/12/14, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bja105

I need some ideas for unloading a 4x8 trailer of sawdust. I will be building sides for my little trailer, and I can load it with my tractor, but it does not dump, it tilts a little.

Does anyone know how much sawdust weighs per cubic foot or yard. This is sawmill dust, stored in a pile outside, probably wet.

Find an old thrown out trampoline top. Lay that down first. Put sawmill dust on that. Attach a cable to the top closest to the tow vehicle. Attach other end to stationary object. Pull away, it will dump the dust.

DEKE01 · #**3170** 02/12/14, 12:36 PM

I've had good luck with nothing more than a piece of 4x4 across the tow end of the trailer, attached to chains that hang off the back. Load on top of the chains. When you want to dump, use a heavy tie strap around a tree, attach to the chain, drive away and the trailer is empty much faster than my dump trailer tilts a load.

The only time that disappointed me was when I had a very light load of brush. The 4x4 just pulled right out from under the brush. Heavy loads have not been a problem.

SmokeEater2 · #**3171** 02/12/14, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

4X8 trailer is just a short, but effective cardio-respiratory invigoration.

I recommend a standard-issue aluminum grain scoop.

Yup. A scoop shovel has put every single ounce of material on my piles so far.

They work just fine but I'm really looking forward to a FEL.

TxMex · #**3172** 02/14/14, 09:37 AM

A picture of my current pile. It's about 4 foot tall.

Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

Forerunner · #**3173** 02/14/14, 11:16 AM

Is your immediate climate more wet, or dry, Tex ?

Here where we've had ample moisture for some time, I'd have that pile coned up as high and tight as I could push it, to provide runoff and more mass in the heated core.

But if you are in need of moisture, letting it sit open to absorb all the rain it can is better.

I have been known to spread a dry pile before a forecast rain, then push it up, after, to conserve my moisture.

TxMex · #**3174** 02/14/14, 11:24 AM

I did that very thing before it started raining a while back Forerunner. I spread it out so it could get moisture. This area of Texas is hit and miss. We tend to have extremes, so I adjust the shape of the pile depending on the weather that week.

I mostly keep it shorter so I can more easily toss buckets full of waste water mixed with veggie peelings onto it. I desperately need more carbon to add to the pile. Now that the rain has stopped I'm going to work on that.

Oswego · #**3175** 02/16/14, 01:40 PM

Got another load of sawdust/shavings this weekend. 6x12 trailer with 4'sides. It took two hours to get it pulling the trailer with the tractor and I unloaded it in three minutes by hooking chain up and pulling trailer out from under the load.

Forerunner · #**3176** 02/16/14, 06:25 PM

Apparently, I did show some particular tendency toward working smarter than hard, early in my career as a boy.

My old Pop used to tell me, "Son, you keep usin' yer brain with such blasted efficiency, yer never gunna have a physique !!!"

Cascade Failure · #**3177** 02/16/14, 09:40 PM

I saw this over on the Hearth and thought of you guys...

http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/s...tricks.124368/

Forerunner · #**3178** 02/18/14, 07:23 AM

I never did worry about the bar oil residuals in my homespun sawdust efforts.

As for those tough maple chunks he was dealing with, I just split them with the chainsaw and take those long, lofty shavings straight to the winter chicken nesting boxes, or use 'em for bedding.

A sharp saw can make split wood out of stubborn wood almost as quick as a maul can on the cooperative stuff.

Cutting with the grain....ripping..... is the easiest on the saw and chain.

Allen W · #**3179** 02/19/14, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

4X8 trailer is just a short, but effective cardio-respiratory invigoration.

I recommend a standard-issue aluminum grain scoop.

If you need a more intense work out I've got a steel scoop around here some where.

Forerunner · #**3180** 02/19/14, 11:03 AM

I had one of those that my old grandpop gave me, somewhere in the early nineties.
Handle finally broke out of it.