This is a list of things I include in my compost. - A bin that will hold the compost all together that is also bottomless so worms can get into the compost. - Grass shavings from lawn - Food wastes from house (excluding meats, bones, etc) - other yard scraps - occasional additions of horse manure - sometimes I put in a little clean cardboard What are your recipes for a big steaming pile of plant food?
this is my first attempt at compost. I am in an apt. I eat and drink a ton of coffee, eggs, and tea. I have some house plants and old mj leaves and stems with no trichs. I took a home dept 5 gallon buckett. I put in fichus leaves, brown paper bags cut up, cardboard and egg carton cut up, coffee filters, coffee grounds, egg shells, mj stems, mj leaves, lame soil (with urea), a liquid mix of BMO Super plant Tonic, hydrouguard, batguano, and covered with more dirt. I also through in some old RR plugs shredded up. Some tomatoes. I have all this with no lid on the balcony. I am turning it and it is staying wet. I hope not too wet. Lots of biological activity I bet unless, the soil I though in theri was the worst from home depot with extneded release granules and urea which I heard kille micro activty. I hope not. I hope with all the extra microbes and worm castigns and molasses it will turn to compost. Anyway, it should be some pretty rich trash. It is cool putting all my scraps in the buckett. I hope it hurrys up. I wonder if I can just plant in it next. Or use it as tea. anyway what is in yours, , , next.
fish is really good for your compost and you can even burry a fish like 6 months before you plant. i havent tried that but ive heard from alot of my buddies who also grow out door and they say it works.
lawn clippins, weeds, tiny twigs, and as much extra fruits/veggies i have to spare i put in my compost. good compost makes a great grow
I think Jamrock is talking about making garden compost from a compost heap. Those are totally vegetable, and should contain no meat products or animal faeces. Putting fish into your pots or prepared holes is a different thing, I shall be doing that myself this year.
I am about to dump a bag of worms I bought online into a rubbermaid I have putting my compost suitable kitchen waist into along with leaves and traces of guano and castings to get it going. I will pile it all on one side. When they eat it all I will put another pile on the other. With drain holes on the bottom and a screen to keep out flies I will be set. Worms are at garden centers or available for 20-30 dollars online.
well corto it depends what is the weather where one lives and what type of material is put in it. this is my second year im doing compost and my first one took like 5 months to get ready. if you put green material like grass clipping, vegetables and fruit they will break down much faster but if you add brown material like clipping from trees they will take close to a year to break down. Sometimes if you add potato skins they tend to sprout if the compost is wet or moist.try not to keep it too wet or when you will try to turn the compost it will be much heavier. When the added material reaches the height of about 15 cm begin to turn it at least once every week or it will begin to smell bad especially if it is hot where you live Flies will be living in your compost and they will reproduce at a high rate especially if you live in a hot weather and after a while they will be really annoying. I put metal containers(i dont know whats the exact name for it. the one processed beans are stored in) and fill them with orange juice or water with some chemical insecticde.they are attracted to them and die in it.this should control at least 35% of them
Never had that problem, I have been making compost for a few years now. I think you must be putting meat products or animal faeces in yours, which is a no-no.
Great thread!! Thx for the idea as I have never thought of doing compost for some reason. duh.... Anyway, have any suggested readings on this for a first timer?
oh no i dont put animal feaces or meat products. only vegetables, fruits, cuttings from plants and trees and bad weeds.
Good advise. I've done this before and it sucks. You try anything you can to help your babies thrive and end up killing them from Hot soil! Sorry. Just realized this is an old post! Oh well..... B61
I've been a composter well over 20 years, not for weed. Ground alfalfa was much cheaper then & a cup or 2 in the compost really helped it cook IMO. Old flat soda pop/beer/wine help too. IF unsure about adding something directly to your plants, compost it first. Don't forget to compost ashes from fires (not tobacco cigarettes).
You compost outdoors right? There are flies outdoors, don't put your compost right next to the house??? Flies are a non issue here (Fl) Once the compost really cooks fly larvae shouldn't survive in there.
I never see flies composting yard waste. If you find the flies attracted to something you put in a compost pile, just put that in the middle of the pile. If you add food scraps to a pile, bury it in the pile. Same rule and reason as burying food in a warm bin. Cheers Os