Extreme Composting

Studhauler · #**1381** 01/06/12, 01:48 PM

Forerunner, if I remember right, you used to use a wood-chipper for your compost piles. Why did you stop using it? We have lots of dead-fall trees on our property and I am considering getting a wood-chipper to clean-up the property and make compost.

Studhauler · #**1382** 01/06/12, 03:23 PM

With my current job I have lots of time for planning and little time for projects at home. I am looking into the idea of building a 3 bay concrete compost bin. Below is a picture of The one at the University of Minnesota.
Link to their website http://www1.extension.umn.edu/dairy/...omposting-101/

Extreme Composting - Homesteading Questions

Wikipedia states not to use concrete as a compost bin? Why do you suppose that is? I think Forerunner should add his insight to Wikipedia post on compost.

My plan is to make three bins, each one will be 9 feet wide so I can get a tractor bucket in (I might get a big tractor someday). The pad will be sloped to the open side, there will be an apron about 1 to 2 feet past the side-walls. This will be sloped up, so any water runoff from the pile will drain off the concert pad. This runoff water will be collected in an underground storage tank and then pumped to the garden. I will not put a roof on like the U of M did, so rain water can keep the pile moist. I can tarp it if I need to durning periods of drouth in the hot summer. What Am I missing? Each bin will be 9 by 9 with 3 or 4 foot high concrete side walls. Or should the concrete sidewalls be lower and make the uppers out of wood with voids so the pile can breath better?

Forerunner · #**1383** 01/06/12, 04:08 PM

I don't know why anyone would recommend against concrete for compost bins, lest it be an Agenda 21 conspiracy against anything permanent, durable and with purpose.
My concrete walls are 5 feet high and I might wish they were 7..... but your idea of using wood to gain some height isn't bad. Just figure on replacing that wood every few. If you can incorporate stainless steel mounting hardware between concrete and wood, you'll eliminate another future inconvenience.
I quit using the chipper for several reasons....
Fuel cost was one, maintenance another......Canton municipal yard waste dump was the big one; I can get all the carbon I'll even need, there.
I guess the most imposing reason is that I loaned my big chipper to a friend in Missouri some years ago....and he still has it.

I did enjoy my wood chipping, but there are cheaper alternatives available to me now.

I am thoroughly enjoying your energy, Studhauler. Keep up the good work.

Studhauler · #**1384** 01/09/12, 11:01 AM

Edit of my last post; The link to the Wikipedia site: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compost What I didn't realize is that is was on the "Simple English" side of Wikipedia, the full version has a lot more info.

Thanks for the complement Forerunner. I have a lot of plans, I just hope I live long enough to get them done. How thick are your walls on your concrete bins? I was originally thinking slotted wood walls so the pile can breathe better; it also has the benefit of being more aesthetically pleasing to me and the neighbors.

I recently bought a lot on the Tennessee River, I hand dug a hole 4 feet deep to place a utility pole. It was rich black dirt all the way to the bottom. I wish we had that at home, but then again, this lot floods every couple of years.

4crumleys · #**1385** 01/09/12, 02:20 PM

I completed my new compost pile, and having combined moist fresh horse manure and shavings, along with some chipped trees, and added ammonium nitrate. Had a long soaking rain yesterday, went to the pile today and have a very strong ammonia smell. Is that good or bad?
Pile is getting warm in the middle, do I need to add something else to it?

Forerunner · #**1386** 01/09/12, 07:07 PM

My compost bin walls are roughly 8 inches thick where there is no support strength needed, and 12 inches thick where I wanted some extra strength to hold a water tower some day........

Crumleys..... if you got heat, yer doing good.
Let the pile air a bit, and if that urea odor persists, add another 6 inches or so of wood chips. From the sound of it, you may not have needed to add the extra nitrogen.

4crumleys · #**1387** 01/09/12, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forerunner

My compost bin walls are roughly 8 inches thick where there is no support strength needed, and 12 inches thick where I wanted some extra strength to hold a water tower some day........

Crumleys..... if you got heat, yer doing good.
Let the pile air a bit, and if that urea odor persists, add another 6 inches or so of wood chips. From the sound of it, you may not have needed to add the extra nitrogen.

Ok, thanks, I will check it again tomorrow, raining again here, so I may need to cover it up if this rain continues.
On a side note, when to check out your wifes blog and could not find it. Has it been discontinued?

Forerunner · #**1388** 01/09/12, 08:26 PM

Discontinued for now, anyway.
She has a 17 month old that keeps her hopping.

Oswego · #**1389** 01/14/12, 07:43 PM

Since my pile was hot I mixed in all my remaining browns(old wood chips) and added the rest of my nitrogen(store bought) last weekend. Today the temp was over 120 degrees. Pile is about 6' L x 5' W x 4' T and seems to be shrinking.
Tractors with frontend buckets sure come in handy

Forerunner · #**1390** 01/14/12, 10:55 PM

I'd be pretty concerned about that pile shrinking......laying awake nights, even.

Then, if I were in your shoes, I'd get up the next morning and scrounge up the material to triple it's size.

Front end loaders...... well, they are a gift from God.

Coloneldad5 · #**1391** 01/16/12, 03:16 AM

My front end loaders? I use the old fashion term: "Boys" and "Shovels"

Oswego · #**1392** 01/16/12, 08:01 AM

One child, Daughter, and she is in Grad school so I adopted a tractor.

Forerunner · #**1393** 01/16/12, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coloneldad5

My front end loaders? I use the old fashion term: "Boys" and "Shovels"

........and pitchforks.

People uninitiated are usually surprised how fast and how much really can be accomplished via good, old-fashioned sweat and callouses.

I never take a diesel engine--nor hydraulic system-- for granted.....

Freya · #**1394** 01/21/12, 08:55 PM

I think you need a new pic of you and a pitchfork for your avatar. Maybe Lori could add in some embellishment to make it festive?

gimpyrancher · #**1395** 01/23/12, 11:34 PM

Just want to say hello. Far to tired to post much. BUT, I am so darn happy to have found this group of crazies. I'll fit right in. I'll return to get advice on my 160 acres (Klamath Falls, OR) of second growth pine trees. Soil sucks and it appears this is my answer. After a night's sleep.

Forerunner · #**1396** 01/24/12, 07:13 AM

I just love this thread.

Gimpy....looking forward to chatting with your mug in the a.m.....have a cup of coffee, already.

Freya..... I've considered the avatar thing, and, the space allotted here for such frivolity is so darn small that I just gave up.

gimpyrancher · #**1397** 01/24/12, 06:21 PM

forerunner,

Since I might as well be honest, you are crazy! If for no other reason than starting something that took 47 pages to get me here.

But you are definitely my kind of crazy. I wasn't sure I was going to get past one of my fellow Oregonians but that passed, so to speak. Then, much later, another nice Oregonian chimed in.

I have fairly worthless soil. Not much growing (except lodgepole pine) and nothing has ever been done to it. It's part of a much larger former cattle operation. But few hooves deposited anything where I am.

I thought the only way I would be able to improve the soil was through a MIG cattle grazing operation. Which would have meant a lot of new fencing. Now all I have to do is finish my one foundry fence and start collecting.

I must be impressed with what you're doing, otherwise why would I have continued to read, huh? I think the service you provide to everyone around and also be willing to take the heat in order to help others in other locations is something your parents would be proud of.

I look forward to getting the ball rolling. I'm 6 hours away from my property but plan on moving there full time next year. Got some surgeries to get first.

We are going to build our real log home with trees from the property. I'll likely be using much of my tree/wood debris in my compost. What a great way to benefit my new, underfunded community.

Forerunner · #**1398** 01/24/12, 06:43 PM

Ah, yes...... Oregon. I have known some of the best, and some of the worst of folk that Earth has to offer, from that state.

I envy you your plans for a fresh beginning, building from scratch with materials gleaned on-site.

I wholeheartedly admit..... from an Earthling perspective, I am textbook nuts.
From where I originally come from, and will someday again call home....all of what I do is normal.

What composting resources have you close by ?

gimpyrancher · #**1399** 01/25/12, 04:29 PM

forerunner,

> What composting resources have you close by?

I don't know yet. Since I just finished my reading assignment, I haven't had a chance to look at things from this perspective. But I will. I have campgrounds nearby. I have museums (logging mostly). The nearest restaurant is only 16 miles. <smile> But the city I live in is extremely unfunded. No real city services. Closed logging company in town, closed bank. Closed courthouse. Pretty much closed everything. Perhaps they need someone to step up and make cleaning-up debris go away for them. I live directly off a major north/south highway so I'll probably be able to volunteer to collect bumper challenged wildlife from the highway for them. I'm sure I can find many sources of carbon in the surrounding hundreds of thousands of acres of forest woodlands. Where I have my property is an outdoors person's dream.

As you may get the idea, I am capable of seeing the forest through the trees. Especially thanks to you opening my eyes to a wonderful opportunity.

Forerunner · #**1400** 01/25/12, 06:45 PM

I would imagine whatever leadership that may be left in said local village might be pretty cooperative in setting up a central location for folks to dump yard waste....
Just so long as the opportunity was not abused by the locals.