Extreme Composting

Kmac15 · #**581** 08/02/10, 10:04 PM

LOL does Lori know about that plan?

misplaced · #**582** 08/03/10, 09:11 AM

katy · #**583** 08/03/10, 02:21 PM

Nice to see you post, Lori. In this heat I think i'd be real happy to stand under that pond-shower. What else can you do to cool off ?

that's for his twisted sense of humor...............

Panhandler · #**584** 08/06/10, 05:32 PM

Here in Northwest florida and im enjoying the good reading and debates on here. Need help with my compost pile . really hot down here and was wondering if i should keep piles covered up and im thinking i need to water every few days. just added some rabbit pellets and some saw dust.Piles also contain dry leaves ,paper shredds,vegetable and fruit scrapes,grass clippings.Just started my 2nd small pile ,turnning the first pile today.

Panhandler · #**585** 08/06/10, 06:09 PM

turned first pile and it was dry in spots and alot of ants and roaches.

Forerunner · #**586** 08/06/10, 06:32 PM

Hello Panhandler.

Yup, sounds a bit on the dry side.
Any organic liquid will do, but don't saturate the pile.
Just envision how much moisture that pile would hold without dripping or seeping.
In the hot and drier regions, tarping is a good idea.
Shade is good, too.
Any time that insects are found deep in your pile, it's a sign of low heat and usually due to a lack of adequate moisture.

Panhandler · #**587** 08/06/10, 06:55 PM

Forerunner, the pleasure is mine. Its good to hear from you and im IMPRESSED with what you are doing.Thanks for the wealth of knowledge you bring to us all. I will keep the pile watered evert 2 -3 days and keep it tarpped.
P.S. Congradulations on the addition to the family

Panhandler · #**588** 08/12/10, 11:53 AM

The tarp is making a big differnce. Pile staying moist and is warm to the touch.

Trisha in WA · #**589** 08/12/10, 01:53 PM

Panhandler,
Thanks for updating us on your pile. Mine is very dry right now too. I need to sort of box it in as the chickens are scattering it all over creation! Once we get the "box" built, I think putting a tarp at least over the box will make a huge difference. I don't mind the chickens in there...they are adding their deposits too :-) so I think I'll not cover ours tight to the pile but more of a suspended deal to shade it.
hmmm or even a piece of plywood sitting on top of the box...just thinking here. As you can tell our pile isn't very big right now...we have only been here since May, so it hasn't had much time to grow...yet...

mickm · #**590** 08/12/10, 02:45 PM

How is Mr and Mrs Forerunner doing?

I has anyone heard?

jlrbhjmnc · #**591** 08/12/10, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickm

How is Mr and Mrs Forerunner doing?

I has anyone heard?

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/sho...d.php?t=361065

mickm · #**592** 08/12/10, 06:33 PM

Thank you Jennifer!

In case anyone else wonders, here is a link to Lori's blog.

http://frmerswife.blogspot.com/

Panhandler · #**593** 08/13/10, 09:49 AM

Check pile this morning and saw STEAM

,. Looks like im making compost:banana02:

Trisha in WA · #**594** 08/13/10, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panhandler

Check pile this morning and saw STEAM

,. Looks like im making compost:banana02:

WOO HOO Congratulations! Your garden will love you in the spring!!!

taylorlambert · #**595** 08/13/10, 03:18 PM

I turned my year old pile of wood chips over today at work with th dozer. It was green chips and leaves when they were dumped. I turned them every 4 days. They are now broken down except for the bigger chips. I dont know if I could put this in the garden yet with the big chips, or if I need to screen them.

fishhead · #**596** 08/13/10, 03:59 PM

If you want a bunch of those Asian carp talk to your natural resource dept about getting a license or permit. Gill nets are relatively cheap and if you can find the fish you can fill up the boat pretty quick.

featherboa · #**597** 08/16/10, 02:00 AM

Great thread. I think I read the whole thing.

Mr Forerunner, are you familiar at all with Keyline Design? I'm up late reading the books even though I live in an apartment in the city.

If I'm understanding you right, you're obsessed with compost because you want to leave to your progeny good, productive soil, which is what this system, or design, or technique, whatever, is all about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyline_design

Thanks for the inspiration. I need to get started.

rugerman1 · #**598** 08/16/10, 06:29 AM

I have a pee-bucket in the garage that I dump on the compost piles,and was wondering what the shelf-life of pee is.Sometimes it doesn't get dumped for a couple days(a week?).Is it best not to add aged pee to a compost pile,just fresh from the spigot stuff?

Forerunner · #**599** 08/16/10, 07:13 AM

Letting urine age is one of the best things you can do, bacterially speaking.
I occasionally inoculate my piles with manure tea for that very purpose.
Like fine wine, good urine shouldn't be consumed fresh.

Kudos to Panhandler.... getting a pile to steam in Florida gets you an A+.

Featherboa....I'd not heard of the term "keyline" referred to in that context, but have found myself making use of portions of the concept.
I like the way they talk about using it to set up areas for populations....
The day will come when small communities will again be built with sustainability and long-term agricultural productivity as the main priorities and not as afterthoughts.

Taylor..... if your material is black, I'd use it, even with a few larger chips, especially if you won't be looking to get a crop from it until next year.
I mulch with chips-- sometimes fresh, sometimes older stuff--and incorporate them every fall. Now that my soil is so rich, I never see a nitrogen issue for doing so.

Panhandler · #**600** 08/16/10, 07:44 AM

Forerunner Welcome back !!!! Hope the family is good and adjusting to the new baby. Pile is still steaming,just checked it at 6:30 am. Getting 2 rabbits today to add to my compostting .Going to start 2nd pile today hopefully.Also gonna get some sawdust from mill soon.