Extreme Composting

Studhauler · #**1361** 12/28/11, 09:54 PM

Heavyrebel, I am new to this myself but, try stacking your pile higher, shovel the ends up on top of the middle. I learned they take ALOT of water. Good luck.

How do I delete a post?

am1too · #**1362** 12/28/11, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloneldad5

Ok, so now after a few days of heavy reading I have finally completed the assigned study material.

I've spoken with the wife about this and she is telling me that I am only learning something she's been trying to

get me to recognize for a while. I don't know about that

as I have been a believer in composting all along, but I guess it's the methods that she was trying to beat into me. Now I'm trying to figure out how and where I am going to get the necessary components to get started. As I am 8000 miles away at the moment and probably won't be home until spring time all I get to do for now is to dream of what I want to do.

As I don't think I'll be able to get much on to things this year, I am looking to set up the piles that will be used next year. My soil is already somewhat black decent, however I believe that it could use a good shot of compost to really spike it along. I am hoping that by this fall I can establish one or two piles (I'm looking at them being 60-70 yards long) and get them to start cooking for next spring. I hope to do this right where I plan on using it and then the plan would be to just spread it out and then work it in. Now that I've done the hard work

I guess it's time to figure out the 'easy' part. That being I am slightly less equiped than frontrunner was starting out. I do have a Ford truck (3/4 ton) and shovels, but not much more. I'm hoping to find me a decent tractor with a frontloader which will make things a lot easier.

Well, I guess I have some big shoes (er piles) to fill as I try to jumpstart my homestead

.

I think the best and cheapest tool you could aquire would be a manure fork. It simply beats a shovel to pieces. They're bout $35 and worth twice that. I can load 6-7n yards of material in about half the time it takes someone to load a pick up with a shovel. It takes me about the same time as someone loading 3-4 30 gallon trash cans. Love it when I can get loaded with a 3 to 7 yrd front end loader.

MullersLaneFarm · #**1363** 12/28/11, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloneldad5

I've spoken with the wife about this and she is telling me that I am only learning something she's been trying to

get me to recognize for a while.

I am totally in tune with this. I've been composting for many decades. Trying to get my DH into the compost frame of mind is another discussion. I'm lucky if I get a sheet compost on the gardens in the fall that I can work into the gardens come spring time.

DH will fill the manure spreader and go out to spread on our alfalfa field or our neighboring seed corn field instead of piling it up and letting it compost.

DH said he 'got it' after Carla Emery's husband explained it to him when Don & Carla were here in '03, but it didn't change DH's ways.

After Forerunner being here a few times, DH finally let a pile of manure & straw sit and stew. It's about half of what it was when DH piled it up... just need to get FR up here to tell him to spread it on the garden (instead of in the west pasture). Yes, I could tell him (and have) but it would mean more from FR ... besides, I need my carder back!!!

Coloneldad5 · #**1364** 12/29/11, 02:18 AM

I think I do have a manure fork somewhere, but will probalby have to get a few more so each of the kids can join in (as well as perhaps some of their friends

) I'll also have to look at Mudburns method of clearing for the truck and trailers. As soon as I can get home I'll be scouring the neighborhood for potential sources of C and N.

How much C and N does it take to make a windrow 200' long, and 10' high?

I'm thinking a good trailer is in order as well.

Forerunner · #**1365** 12/31/11, 10:59 AM

How endearing to see the conversations and progress that ensue in my absence.

I've been in Texas these last two weeks, drawing upon my extreme nature to box in a 16 by 32 cabin for Ernie and his family. Record time if I do say so, and the best job of squaring a steel roof that I've ever done.

The Texas drought didn't impress me much. It rained eight inches around the Brownwood area just before we arrived, and a couple inches while we were there.

There is a watershed ditch, of sorts, that runs through Ernie's land, and the flow from the heavy rains deposited quite a bit of vegetable matter and dried cow manure from the pasture ground upstream....so....presto, instant desert composting operation.
I insisted that we procure some five gallon buckets and pitchfork, ASAP, and we began to haul the moist and rich organic material from the "banks" of the occasional watershed. The pile grew quickly to a little over a pickup truck load. After that, we got busy building the cabin. I hope Ernie and the boys keep their pile going and build several more. There is certainly plenty of potential in the drought-stricken Texas for coming up with materials. There is also no better way to conserve water than to build enough compost mass to handle all the greywater and blackwater that the homestead can generate.....

Waste not/want not. I rest my case.

Oswego · #**1366** 12/31/11, 04:35 PM

My first compost pile has HEAT. Its only two weeks old and I cheated. All I had was leaves, old wet pinestraw and some small woodchips. No nitrogen other than what small amounts that came out of the kitchen . I bought a bag of ammonia nitrate and sprinkled it in as I built my pile.
It was either cheat or not start until spring and after reading this whole thread there was no way I was going to wait.

Forerunner · #**1367** 12/31/11, 06:14 PM

We allow the occasional commercially manufactured catalyst.

Just don't be caught making a habit of it.

Have you looked into sawdust toilets ?
There's just nothing quite like home made......

Oswego · #**1368** 12/31/11, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

We allow the occasional commercially manufactured catalyst.

Just don't be caught making a habit of it.

Have you looked into sawdust toilets ?
There's just nothing quite like home made......

Thanks for the Pass on my first compost pile, I'll try not to let you down in the future.

It was a tough decision to cheat with the ammonia nitrate but could not handle having all the brown carbon and not wanting to wait to start the compost process.
Looking for some sawdust now for outdoor P-bucket for a continuing source of nitrogen.

How Do I · #**1369** 12/31/11, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

...
There's just nothing quite like home made......

I don't know if it has been mentioned yet in the thread, but y'all can download the PDF ebook by googling 'humanure handbook'.

Oswego · #**1370** 01/01/12, 06:05 PM

Sorry, I'll stick to the Free advice

4crumleys · #**1371** 01/05/12, 05:06 PM

Have decided to give up the barrel composting and go bigger. Have some pics but I have no idea how to post them here. Any help?

Forerunner · #**1372** 01/05/12, 05:18 PM

Go to Photobucket or another such pic hosting site and follow the yellow brick road.

Looking forward to the illustrations.

4crumleys · #**1373** 01/05/12, 07:09 PM

Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

I hope this works, here are some. The first is of the old barell, after getting some advice and finally listening, I will be giving this up and moving on to a larger pile.
Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

The new bin is 6 ft wide, 5 ft high, and 5 ft wide. I have to keep everything neat and tidy as I live in a subdivision with restrictions.

Here are some of my new ingredients, 4 large truck loads of tree chips delivered for free.
Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

And last is the garden spot. Three raised beds for now, and one more to put in for cucumbers.
Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

4crumleys · #**1374** 01/05/12, 07:10 PM

http://s1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee473/4crumleys/

cant get the pics to work, here is a link

am1too · #**1375** 01/05/12, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oswego

Thanks for the Pass on my first compost pile, I'll try not to let you down in the future.

It was a tough decision to cheat with the ammonia nitrate but could not handle having all the brown carbon and not wanting to wait to start the compost process.
Looking for some sawdust now for outdoor P-bucket for a continuing source of nitrogen.

Just do a trucker job. It was a real bummer to get dressed to walk 500 ft to the toilet. All truckers have at least one p bottle available. My pile gets a shot weekly of more than just an occasional I'm close to it dose.

Forerunner · #**1376** 01/05/12, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4crumleys

http://s1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee473/4crumleys/

cant get the pics to work, here is a link

Let's see if I can help....

Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

Glad you finally listened. Where did you get all the good advice ?

Excellent pictorial representations, by the way..........

4crumleys · #**1377** 01/05/12, 10:24 PM

Will be going to get some horse manure and shaving mix tomorrow to add with my wood chips. Got any recommendations on a ratio of mix?

Forerunner · #**1378** 01/05/12, 10:29 PM

Good question. A lot of the horse bedding I get is already pretty carbon rich.
If it smells like urea, and has adequate moisture, you might get away with a half and half mix with your wood chips. If there is only a light odor, you might try composting it in a separate pile for an object study of your own.

4crumleys · #**1379** 01/06/12, 11:13 AM

The horse manure was fresh, wet, and mixed with shavings and straw. I mixed it at a 4:1 ration of manure to wood-chips, and supplemented it with 10 lbs of ammonium nitrate. Wet the whole pile down and will wait to see how it works.

Studhauler · #**1380** 01/06/12, 01:43 PM

4crumleys, Great pictures, thanks.