Compost Plans and Procedures 2015-2016

Discussion in 'Growing Organic Marijuana' started by Kesey, Jul 5, 2015.

  1. #1 Kesey, Jul 5, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 5, 2015
    Howdy grasscity! Hope everyones doing well so far this year [​IMG]. Just wanted to take sometime to outline my plans for next years compost and get some feedback (Doesn't even have to be positive!).


    Stage 1 (Thermophilic Compost):
    I began preparing this in April using dry, chopped leaf litter along with vegetable scraps / bushels of early nettles and pre seed dandelions. Supplemented this pile with seaweed from a local lake, alfalfa meal, kelp meal (not a lot, mostly leftovers from teas), and gypsum (Sulfur to bind the nitrogen). I also tried to keep a high-er carbon ratio and I did a little peat moss to help with some heavy rains that soakedddd the piles. I turned it everyday for the first 2 weeks, then a couple times a week, then once a week and now I'm here. I scraped together probably 60+ gallons of finished humus today, unscreened. Left another 60+ gallons to start a new pile, which I did. I've been storing nasty, rotten food scraps for a while lol, glad to get it moving along lol. This pile I build on pallets in order to give it some drainage and make it easier to turn (I felt like I was digging into the native soil below and adding some to the pile, inevitable, but its dilution that I don't want.)


    Stage 2 (Vermicomposting):
    It's now my plan to move the thermo compost into worm bins ammended with neem, alfalfa, kelp (<-- 1/2 cup per cu. ft.) and Glacial Rock, Gypsum (2 Cups per cu ft.). You may ask why the ammendments and how its not 'overkill'. It's my understanding that some beneficial aspects of my composting materials are lost in the thermo process (My primary interests in kelp, alfalfa, and comfrey) so I want to also add them to the worm bins to retain those benefits. MMike recommended a smart pot and I'll take his advice on that one, my plan is to mix all this goodness together with a couple bags of chicken compost and allow it to sit for a week or two to really burn off then add my wrigglers. Should I add some aeration, just a little lava rock or something of the sort? Also per mikes recommendation, an occasional top dressing of comfrey leaves and a layer of straw for mulch. I plan to let this sit all the way until next year. I also plan to stop my current thermo pile at the end of august so it can finish before the cold and I can start a 2nd vermicompost cycle over the winter as well.


    I have a non-climate controlled barn, do you guys think if I put the bins on the 2nd story they would do ok during the winter? I'd say between 40-55 degrees? Possible extremes? I understand if they slow down or whatever, but if it'll literally kill them then I can bring it in..


     
  2. Do you have a worm bin going on now?


    If not, I would suggest going the 18 gal Rubbermaid tote route to get started. Get it established and THEN transition to the larger smartie. Will greatly improve your chances of success.


    The whole plans/theory vs reality thing.


    The worms will be fine in the barn.


    Wet
     

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