Is this o.k.? (composting)

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O.K. , so today I was DESPERATE to get the rotting garbage out of my pantry. I called my local Home Depot and asked if they carried any type of composting bin. Of course, just as I expected, they said,"NO." I looked through the phone book to see if I coud find someone to purchase one from but no luck. I had to improvise. (and I am NOT very creative here). I had an extra bin that we use for our recycling pick ups. It is fairly deep and has holes in the bottom of it. Here id what I did:

1.) I lined the bottom of bin with a pad of newspaper. 2.) Added some organic compost (purchased from the store) and some of the soil from my garden. 3.) I dumped in all the "garbage" and mixed it up real good 4.) I added another layer of compost and soil from my garden 5.) I then added a thick layer of shredded newspapers (they were run through my paper shredder and not mixed with any other type of paper 6.) The I "watered" it 7.) Lastly I covered it with another pad of newspaper (just folded - not shredded) to act as a lid/cover to help keep it at a warm temperature and to (hopefully) keep bugs out. 8.) It is stored on my back porch (which in screened in) and it is in a shaded area. (I live in South Florida and it is quite hot here so I didn't want to leave it in any direct sunlight)

Please tell me if you think this procedure will work or if there is something else I should do in addition to what I've already don or if there is something I should have done (or should do) differently. And what do I do with my new kitchen scraps? If I keep adding to this bin, the stuff will NEVER be all "finished" (composted). Thanks for your help.

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), April 28, 2001

Answers

It should work o.k., but all you have to do is put a few air holes and drain holes and add a few cups of bait worms and they will turn it to compost without any stink or bugs. We keep one of our worm bins just off the kitchen in our dining room. No smell, no added bug problem and we compost all veg and meat preperation and table scraps. Our worms turn the bins to topsoil castings about every 4 to 6 weeks. I do try to keep meat scraps in the bins in my computer office as they do putrify occasionaly, but still add a few to all bins to raise nitrogen levels. Whenever an odor problem arises, I chloraphyl treat the guilty bin with peatmoss, leaves and grass clippings or clover and the offensive odors subside within 3 or 4 hours.

-- Jay Blair in N. Al (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 28, 2001.

Jay -- Thanks for your response. Do you think I should take the folded newspaper pad off the top so that it can "breathe"? Also how often should I "stir" it? How often should I wet it down? We have an awful problem with ants here. I'm hoping they won't get into the bin. Thanks again for your response.

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), April 28, 2001.

If you plan to let it anarobic compost it should go through a core heat before you turn it. If you choose to use vermiculture for arobic composting it will need to be turned more frequently to prevent the anarobic decomposition. If you decide to add worms to it, check out www.wormwoman.com . This is Mary Apelhoffs site, she is author of "Worms Eat My Garbage". It has very good information on setting up bins indoors and outside both to produce compost quickly.

-- Jay Blair in N. Al (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 28, 2001.

P.S. The newspaper should breath okay if its a thin layer. If its thick punch a few holes through it.

-- Jay Blair in N. Al (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 28, 2001.

Hello Greenthumbilina, Sounds great! Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), April 29, 2001.


Making compost is alot of work. Did that for many years before I got smart (which usually happens just before you die). Chickens are the most efficient composters imaginable. A pair of hens will handle all of the household scraps that a normal family will generate. Put them in a 2' x 4' wire-bottomed cage with a tray beneath to cath the "compost" and let them do their thing. "Ahh...", you say, "But I live in a subdivision and such things are not allowed." If you have an enclosed garage, put the cage on the end away from the door (chances are that the washer and dryer are close by) and install a range hood on top of the cage. Use the fan in the range hood to collect any odors and plumb a vent line into the drain vent on your washer's drain pipe. Unless you advertise the fact that you have them, no one will know and you will get both eggs and compost in exchange for kitchen scraps.

-- john james (jjames@n-jcenter.com), April 29, 2001.

I think it will work out great. I would put it under a bush or tree way back in the yard, though... Fruit flies and fleas will be attracted as well, and screens can't keep the little buggers out.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 30, 2001.

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