Question about starting a compost pile

Discussion in 'Growing Organic Marijuana' started by bizzybombchron, Jul 1, 2015.

  1. Hello fellow blades....I got a quick question about composting. Ok, so this is where I am.....I started composting all my "green" leftovers and all my vegetable and fruit leftovers as well. I have done some reading on this subject and I was careful to layer everything and also used "browns" too. Mostly old leaves and smalls sticks. Ive been careful not to put any animal waste or anythig like that. I wanted it to be a veganic so nothing from animals. But this is where things are sketchy for me. Its been out there for about 4 or 5 months, but it kinda doesnt look like things are doing what they're supposed to be doing. I still see "greens" when im flipping the pile. Oh!!! I also put some worms I found when I was digging out some brush. My question is....what the hell do I do now?? How can I kickstart this compost? ? Do I need to add manure??? What else should be in there?? any help is appreciated. I want to be able to switch to complete organics in the very near future as ive read the pro's and con's and I deff want to have the benefits of being completely organic. Thanks in advance

     
  2. #2 Father Ted, Jul 1, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 1, 2015
    Personally I would just build a wormery using a few plastic storage containers stacked upon each other.


    Start with 1kg of dendrobaena worms. So long as you keep conditions right and feed often they will make nice compost and you will get a supply of worm castings. The larger the surface area of the wormery the more worms you can have and in turn the more food you can give them to make lovely compost.


    I would avoid putting lobworms (nightcrawlers) in a sealed wormery - they will die, rot and kill the other worms. Buy them online or if you know any anglers ask them for a good handful to get you going (in the right conditions their numbers will explode within 6-8 weeks.


    p.s. blending some of your leftovers before they go in the composting bin can expedite things.
     
  3. Bizzy,

    How is your compost pile set up? Where is it? Is it "in" something, or just piled on the ground? Is it covered? Is there air circulation? What are your ambient temps?

    Lu
     
  4. This womery sounds exciting and maybe worth investigating. To the other questions....I have my compost ina plastic bin, layered, covered until I added the worms I found when digging up some weed trees. Temps arent monitored but its not very hot yet and my balcony only recieves afternoon sun. Maybe I should move it? Or cover? I do have many holes drilled into the sides and ends and bottom of container for air. I also stir and flip it every couple weeks. And as for helping things break down, I sometimes make "teas" with my leaf and stems and let them sit for couple days then usually do it again after drainin all liquid out...then spread onto the pile.
     
  5. Thanks for the replies as well. Much appreciated. Hey, brokenbrit....can u maybe post a link to a place I can buy some worms? This sounds more my style. And quicker sounding. Lol can I buy them online? Or would prefer if I ciuod go somewhete to get them.
     
  6. #6 jerry111165, Jul 4, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 4, 2015
    In reference to your original question, we have a thread dedicated to this subject. Read and you will figure out how to go about this.


    http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/1241556...



    J


    Edit - do you have a reason for the (ahem) "Veganic" thing?


    You also asked about adding manure, which is fine of course but derived from animals...


    Then there's the worms - which were supposedly a no-no in regards to (LOL!) "Veganic"... Until the guy that started the whole Veganic scam, Kyle Kushman, realized what a morin he was for saying so.


    J
     
  7. #7 Father Ted, Jul 5, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 5, 2015
    Sorry for some reason your posts didn't show up in my notifications. Give me 24 hours and I will post a how to and explain about ventilation in it etc.


    Worms to buy - what country are you in? *Just seen you are in Canada. Look online. Boring fact but most lobworms sold in the UK, in fishing tackle shops, are imported from Canada!


    I bought mine on ebay 2 years ago. I bought 1kg (cant remember how much but less than £20). I now have tens of thousands of them. Too many.
     
  8. You misspelled moron J xD Hope you're doing well man :D
     
  9. thanks for the link. And no, im not trying to keep it totally "veganic" lol jus dont like the smell of compost heaps with meat and shit in there. My pike smells almost nice lol I knew adding manure is a no no if doing complete veganics....I jus wanna do what works and doesnt stink us off our balcony lol I was searching around last night for worms.There are a few places that sell worms in my area. The one site says they send a "starter mix" of the worms, plus their bedding. Tryying to keep them confortable and also helps start my own "colony". Another quick question....if I jus buy a kg of worms, what do I put them in? Like how should I prepare bin for them? The only reason I would buy the starter mix is that it comes with their bedding, but they say that its not ideal for people who want alot of larger worms..cuz I guess it probably comes with babies and eggs. Is it easy to get them happy and healthy if I jus buy the kg and start like that? Sorry for the hundred questions but im really interested. Hahha now im goin to read that thread
     
  10. If it's a balcony you're working with then worms are the way to go, in my opinion.


    We have a thread dedicated to just that and you will find all the info you need in it. Here is a link.


    http://forum.grasscity.com/organic-growing/334921-...

    J
     
  11. thanks Jerry I appreciate the advicrme and the links. I look forward to getting started in the organics siee of gardening
     
  12. Not only what Jerry linked to, but in the stickys, "GiMiK's Library of Organic Gardening PDF files" has a ton of worm stuff for download.


    In fact, the very first PDF in the first post is probably the best book on worms there is. The rest are in post #6, IIRC.


    Wet
     
  13. Not going to have chance to write a how to today, in the interim these links will answer your questions.


    Single layer, basic wormery:

    Multi layer - remember multi layers won't mean the worms will breed any faster, it just makes it easier to remove the compost without having to sift through it removing worms. Surface area if the most important factor in terms of the maximum compost output of your wormery.


    http://www.instructables.com/id/Wormery-Worm-Composter/



    Yes just start with a KG. The worms will try and leave the wormery at first, it needs time to establish. Expect to lose a few in the early days but they will soon settle in. It's worth putting some vegetable matter aside now, and let it start breaking down while you have time to build a wormery (or buy one).
     
  14. Ok I have just harvested one of my wormerys.


    About 3 months and quite a few carrier bags full of salad cuttings, banana skins and any other vegetable matter (except onion peels, garlic peels or anything too acidic - not good for the wormery).


    The vermicompost as harvested is quite damp but I would estimate I got about 2 gallons of the stuff from the 1 wormery in a few months (production slows to almost nil in winter - unless you keep them indoors).


    To harvest I empty the contents of the bottom bin onto some cardboard. The worms will migrate to the bottom. Keep turning it every now and then and removing and worms you see or worms eggs. Any slugs should also be removed imho. All they do is eat the vedge - competing with the worms.


    The worms in there are extremely small but there are millions of them. Healthy and munching their way through lots and lots of vedge.


    Now is the perfect time for me to split the colony and start another wormery.


    The bottom few pictures are what I have left in the wormery. Note that I use plenty of crushed eggs shells. Good for the worms digestion!


    The stuff in the bucket (3 gallon) is the left over after removing as many worms and eggs as possible. It's nice and fine, never used to grow smoke before but I can tell you when used in my garden for other plants it's awesome - particularly in vedging for quick growing plants.


    I will now add a big fat layer of fresh vedge cuttings and on top fill the box to the top with shredded paper.






     

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