composting question

[ProudGrandma]

I have always been interested in wanting to compost. But I have a couple questions...

 

We live in a small town where there are cats that run free...as well as the occassional racoon and other wild critter.

 

If we had a compost site, would we have to have one that is completely enclosed? To keep the smells at bay and to keep the critters out? Or won't that matter?

 

What is the best, easiest, least exxpensive way to create a composting pile.

 

We live in Nebraska if that matters at all.

[Trilliums]

If you can find free pallets (on the side of the road, especially around industrial areas of town) here are some low cost ideas:

 

http://www.instructables.com/id/Pallet-Compost-Bin/

http://madforsprouts.blogspot.com/2007/03/three-beds-good.html

 

You can have a single bin compost. I tend to do it this way but hope to build a new compost structure this spring. If you have room and the inclination, I think a multi bin design is better.

 

Racoons do sometimes rummage through our compost. We do not add meat or dairy to our bin and do not have any problem with cats. I try to keep a pile of leaves near our bin so that all kitchen scraps get covered with leaves. As we are covered in snow now though, I am just adding kitchen scraps onto the top. Once it thaws out I wil add in some leaves and other browns from general garden clean up, and mix it all together.

 

With a single bin the problem you have is that you still need a place to put new compost-able stuff and so your current compost bin never gets to fully break down/decompose the contents. I tend to, at some point, start piling up the kitchen scraps in a new area or I start digging them directly into the ground to let the compost pile decompose a bit more.

[Carrie12345]

I've had issues with bears tearing apart my regular garbage cans, but I almost never have any problems with animals bothering my wide open compost pile. A deer was poking around once in the fall, but that was because I ran inside to make lunch before covering the newly added scraps with leaves.

[Erica in OR]

Instead of having a pile out in the open, we purchased a black outdoor plastic trash can that had handles that locked over the top. DH drilled small holes all over the can and lid. When it needs to be mixed, the kids or I roll it around the yard for a little while with the lid on. Supposedly the black color helps to absorb heat when it's sunny too; not sure how much it actually speeds it up in reality.

 

Erica in OR

[ProudGrandma]

how do you keep the top from popping off when the kids are rolling the trash can???

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

We just have an open compost bin, it looks like chicken wire on the sides but it was a "kit" that cost about $20. One side unhooks so we can scoop out the usable compost from the bottom. We do not put meat or dairy in ours, only plant based food scraps.

[Laura Corin]

If compost is working right it doesn't smell. I can't smell a thing even if I stand over it. I've not had a problem with animals - you don't put anything protein-based in there, so there's nothing to attract cats.

 

Laura

[Erica in OR]

Instead of having a pile out in the open, we purchased a black outdoor plastic trash can that had handles that locked over the top. DH drilled small holes all over the can and lid. When it needs to be mixed, the kids or I roll it around the yard for a little while with the lid on. Supposedly the black color helps to absorb heat when it's sunny too; not sure how much it actually speeds it up in reality.

 

Erica in OR

how do you keep the top from popping off when the kids are rolling the trash can???

 

The handles keep the lid from popping off.

[ProudGrandma]

cool...thanks for this information...that is giving me the courage to build one.

[regentrude]

We live in MO. Our compost heap in the yard is not enclosed, it's just a pile. It does not smell, and critters do not go into it - even though we have plenty of free roaming little animals. We do not put meat scraps onto it, just plant matter.

[ProudGrandma]

OK....I am convinced this might actually work...so, now the BIG question is HOW do I go about doing this. Pile? Enclosed? Several compartments? Just one? Barrel or trash can?

 

How does one make a decison like that? and where do I need to start???

 

How quickly will all of the scraps turn to compost? How much work is it? I dont' want to have to do too much work...yes, I am lazy, espeically when the temps get 95 + during the middle of summer and if you go outsdie you nearly die.

 

My veggie garden is small...I do have a large flower garden...but the compost isn't for that anyway...unless I have too much for the veggies...

[Eagle]

Our compost is open and we have had no animal problems. Make sure you research what you should and should not put in it to maintain the right balance and prevent odours.

[Laura Corin]

OK....I am convinced this might actually work...so, now the BIG question is HOW do I go about doing this. Pile? Enclosed? Several compartments? Just one? Barrel or trash can?

 

How does one make a decison like that? and where do I need to start???

 

How quickly will all of the scraps turn to compost? How much work is it? I dont' want to have to do too much work...yes, I am lazy, espeically when the temps get 95 + during the middle of summer and if you go outsdie you nearly die.

 

My veggie garden is small...I do have a large flower garden...but the compost isn't for that anyway...unless I have too much for the veggies...

 

 

Your 'how fast' and 'how much work' questions are related. This is a temperate climate. If I just throw stuff in a bin, it will take about a year to be useable. If I turn it every month or two, it will be six months, because I will be offering oxygen to the microbes. In a hotter climate, you might get a quicker turnover, but I don't know.

 

I like having two heaps/ bins. We actually have three now, because we have a big lawn with lots of lawn clippings. With two, you can have one being added to and the other breaking down/being used. Mostly, I just dump kitchen scraps/lawn clippings in, in layers (50/50) with scrunched newspaper/cardboard. Every couple of months (whenever I remember) I turn all the heaps. It's good exercise.

 

My bins look like this, but you could make something similar with pallets. Heaps work too - they don't heat up so well, but in your climate that might not be a problem.

 

Here's one guide to composting.

 

Have fun!

 

Laura

[ProudGrandma]

that looks cool. Is it easy to turn the compost in one of these??

 

are the fancy ones in the catalogs worth the money...I mean the ones that spin?

 

 

[regentrude]

How quickly will all of the scraps turn to compost? How much work is it? I dont' want to have to do too much work...yes, I am lazy, espeically when the temps get 95 + during the middle of summer and if you go outsdie you nearly die.

 

 

If you're lazy, simply make a pile in a corner of the yard.

Put all plant matter on there- kitchen scraps, grass cuttings, leaves. Make sure to have a good mix of green a brown matter.

 

I am not in a hurry, so I do not do anything to my compost until it is done. We have so much stuff to compost, I have three large heaps, and one gets "harvested" every year.

If you are in a hurry, turn it and mix it and water it.

 

Leaves take a long time, particularly oak. Grass clippings and vegetable peel and stuff like this is much faster.

Keeping it moist speeds up the process.

[cajunrose]

I've been trying to come up with a design for at compost pile that would work for me since we bought this new place. I never once thought of not having it IN a structure. I have 10 acres...I don't really need it contained do I? What a freeing thought that is!

[KrissiK]

If compost is working right it doesn't smell. I can't smell a thing even if I stand over it. I've not had a problem with animals - you don't put anything protein-based in there, so there's nothing to attract cats.

 

Laura

 

I agree. We have a black, enclosed composter, but when I open it to put new stuff in, there is no smell other than a fresh, earthy smell. Nothing disagreeable. And make sure you water it regularly. But definitely put nothing in except plant matter, although I do put in coffee grounds and egg shells. But those don't seem to hurt anything.

[Laura Corin]

that looks cool. Is it easy to turn the compost in one of these??

 

are the fancy ones in the catalogs worth the money...I mean the ones that spin?

 

I turn my compost by forking it out onto a tarpaulin and then forking it back in. The front slats of the bin come out one by one for access. Or by forking it from one bin to another.

 

Laura

[sparrow]

If you're lazy, simply make a pile in a corner of the yard.

Put all plant matter on there- kitchen scraps, grass cuttings, leaves. Make sure to have a good mix of green a brown matter.

 

I am not in a hurry, so I do not do anything to my compost until it is done. We have so much stuff to compost, I have three large heaps, and one gets "harvested" every year.

If you are in a hurry, turn it and mix it and water it.

 

Leaves take a long time, particularly oak. Grass clippings and vegetable peel and stuff like this is much faster.

Keeping it moist speeds up the process.

 

 

 

We do it the same way. We just have a pile, well, really it morphed into 2 piles because I use chicken manure which is considered "hot". It safely breaks down, in about 6+ months, to a usable state that won't burn plants, so I have a "cold" pile that is ready to use compost. By the time my dad and I get our gardens going, the usable pile is getting pretty low. Rabbit and guinea pig manure can go in either my usable pile or my hot pile. Rabbit and gpig manure is cold and can be used immediately in gardens.

 

Really, composting is not that complex. I have one of those nice Tidy Cat plastic bins with the lid under the kitchen sink where all veggie scraps (no protein!) and coffee grounds go. I take out and dump it on the pile a few times a week, along with the pet manure. We use shredded paper for bedding, so that adds some dry/"brown" matter to the pile.

 

Composting will decrease your household waste significantly. I love making something useful from what used to go in the garbage.