Teach Soap

I have noticed through reading there are several gardeners on here. I am fairly new to gardening and have recently moved to 2.5 acres so naturally I want to start a garden. I also would like to start a compost heap. We are on septic and food scraps can't go down the disposal the same way they could in the city and if I can gain some sort of benefit from our waste then great! Anyway, my question is this, what kind of bin do you have and what all do you add to it? I have been reading and have brain hurt from all of the different information out there on what is best and how to do it and everyone's opinions are different etc, etc..... I just want something simple. I have chickens that I can add their waste to the pile and I read that it is really good fertilizer. Any suggestions would be great. I don't want something too big as I will more than likely be taking care of it myself so it needs to be manageable but I want something that will be a benefit to my garden. Assuming I get to plant one this year with all the expenses accumulating with this darn house......
TIA

_________________
Haven

Simple and easy? Make sure the bin is black. Black bins absorb more heat from the sun, which promotes more bacterial growth, which in turn means compost a whole lot faster! Other than a black bin the keys are; water: you want your bin to remain pretty high humidity, and a pitchfork: you want to dig in and rotate the compost weekly, this makes sure that you get a thorough mix and don't have un-composted material around the sides and on top. It also mixes in air which promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria, without air you will still get compost via anaerobic bacteria, but this is when you get a VERY smelly compost pile!

I generally recommend against adding in bones and meat scraps! Bones will just sit in there and "fester" causing rancid odour and attracting all sorts of critters. Meat scraps can grow bacteria that is unwanted in compost and in gardens in general, and can also attract lots of critters.

Veggie scraps, egg shells, yard waste (grass clippings and weeds), chicken poop, these are all good things for compost!

Happy composting!!!!!

And a *high five* for being awesome!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Thanks, Hestey! I try to be awesome but it doesn't always work out for me. So, can it be made of wood and painted black? Good tip on the meat scraps but we generally don't have any of those anyway. My family loves their meat. Me, not so much, but my husband and kids love it! It's mostly veggie scraps. We will most definitely have yard scraps and chicken poop and the hay out of the nesting boxes. Right now I have just been spreading that out in the run to compost out there. I am unsure though if I should buy a barrel or have hubby build one for me. I do appreciate the tips. I am really enjoying being in the country again and having chickens. My girls are laying great. We have 6 hens of laying age and 5 lay almost daily but since the weather has been ridiculous, they are a little unpredictable at the moment. I have 5 more chicks and one pullet that should start in a couple of months. But 5 fresh eggs a day is more than enough to keep me baking and my family happily eating eggs almost everyday. I'm gonna have to start giving them away soon. Here is a picture of the eggs. They are blue to green.

_________________
Haven

A plastic bin made specifically for compost, or an old plastic barrel are the best. Something with a lid, and small air holes on the sides (near the top). The moisture and bacteria would actually compost your bin as well if it were wood!

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

_________________
Haven

Hesty already gave you great advice. I would add that we have two outdoor bins and one worm composting bin indoors. Worms can eat about half their weight a day in compost, and the results are even better for your plants than the regular stuff.

_________________
***************
Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

Where do you keep it inside? I have been saving my empty plastic coffee cans and thought about using one for scraps on the counter and then when it gets full taking it out to the big pile (once I have a big pile). I read that there are some fancier ones out there that help with odor etc... What kind of worms? Where do you get them? So much information!! I love it!

_________________
Haven

_________________
***************
Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

My compost bin was purchased from the city when they had a fund raiser one year. It is black plastic, like Heather said, and it snaps together... is allows me to move it when I need to get in there and stir things up. There is a blend you want to achieve between the types of waste. The first year I did it I had used too much yard clippings and the smell was not nice... but I just rebalanced with my kitchen stuff and all became well again. It really is not all that hard to do. If you do not want a bin, get very thick black plastic... make some holes in it and find some stones to weight down the ends then add, turn and keep covered. I am not sure about the chicken waste... I had been told that pet waste was not good?? I do not know if this is for chickens or not. I have 3 more months before I can get in the gardens.... seems so far away!

_________________
Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

You wouldn't want to add dog or cat waste, or small critter waste. But waste that is normally used in gardening anyhow is fine in compost. Pretty much the only "meat eating" critter waste you would add to compost would be piggy poop. Farm animal waste is good for compost

_________________
~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I no longer have a compost bin, but I did use chicken manure and rabbit manure in my compost. I never could make enough to feed my whole garden. Now I have my husband take his trailer to the composting operation about 15 miles away and bring me a whole trailer load. It's very reasonable and really makes the vegies and berries grow. Can't wait for spring.

MaryLou

We compost everything! Between our recycle bin and compost, we have very little trash each week.
The neighborhood raccoons & opossums think the compost bin is their personal buffet.

_________________
Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!