Composting Update :: We Have Steam!
Posted by Chad Norman April 16th, 2008 .Two weeks ago, I went out with the boys to turn the compost pile we started last fall. As soon as I flipped the first forkful, a haze wafted into the air. At first I thought it was bugs, but then I realized what was going on: we had steam!
This is good news, and means that our pile is maturing. All the kitchen scraps and yard waste are finally starting to “cook” at temperatures near 140°, and are turning into nutrient-rich compost that we can use in our gardens. Check out the before and after turning photos - right under the surface lies the dark good stuff. You gotta love cradle to cradle recycling!
Here are some other compost notes:
- The pile has almost no odor, another sign that all is working properly.
- The Starbucks used coffee grounds are really helping - that’s good organic material.
- The chicken wire I used to make the enclosure (as opposed to buying a manufactured barrel or tumbler) has an unforeseen benefit: camouflage. The dry leaves around the outside edge help it blend into the surroundings.
- People keep asking what my strategy is, and it’s simple: try a little of everything. Add greens and browns in the right ratio, water it, turn it, keep meat/dairy/fatty stuff out of it, don’t put in sticks, add a cupful of top soil from time to time, throw in a cup of 10/10/10 fertilizer, add coffee grounds, etc. Just do it all!
That’s all for now…happy composting!
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Chad - thanks for the updates. It’s been fun to follow along.
DwellSmart is hosting a free seminar on organic gardening and composting at 10am on Saturday the 26th. Please join us to learn how to get started or to share notes if you’ve already got some experience.
i have a six year old compost pile in my yard (mcclellanville).. i have never thrown out anything compost-able in six years… it’s about ten foot around and five foot high now.. and random fruits and vegis sprout from it (onions, potato, watermelon, cantelope, peppers). here are some secret ingredients… WORMS.. WORMS.. order them if you have to by the thousand for cheap.. plus you get good fishing bait year round.. MANURE.. horse, pig, goat or chicken will work…FISH HEADS/guts.. make for great fertalizer.. and keep a layers of leaf on top during the summer months so that it does not dry out. no dairy.. no meat.. and no smell at all.
I live in a condo and just wanted to know if anyone had a link or any info. on really small self contained compost bins. I was thinking that there must be some small plastic compost bins out there somewhere.
Adam - Naturemill makes compact, indoor composters. Here’s a link:
http://www.dwellsmart.com/Products/Composting/NatureMill-Plus-Composter
hi Chad & Jennifer -
just finished a big compost bin in the backyard here. Now we’ll have a place to store browns when they’re ample (had kept some big leaf piles in the side yard and i’ve been grabbing them as i need them). Found the plan in a simple book called “Basic Composting.” It’s totally constructed out of wooden shipping pallets - which is a great way to repurpose. Add zipties or rope and bam - great bins that will last years and cost nothing. Also love the book “Let it Rot.” (both can be found at amazon…
Check it out the project at: http:/empressofcreativity.blogspot.com
This is my first time composting at this scale - looking forward to the benefits next spring and further reducing the trash that goes to the curb.
would love to join in a compost discussion group…
cheers! a