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whatupdun

Please help me improve my compost pile

14 years ago

Hi GW,

My compost pile isn't doing so hot (too hot?); can anyone give me advice?

http://youtu.be/ty3Tt9_R5ic

Thanks!

Comments (7)

  • 14 years ago

    It looks far too dry - it shouldn't be rustling like that. And it could do with being deeper. Also why are the grass clippings in a separate pile? Just chuck in everything you have and make sure it's moist. That's more important than the green brown issue.

  • 14 years ago

    If they dump a whole basket of clippings and I don't let them dry out, they get all matted, moldy and gross. Maybe this would be better overall?

    I've was wetting the pile with some regularity but gave up because it didn't seem to be helping.

  • 14 years ago

    Mix the clippings straight in with the other stuff. Don't leave them hanging around in a heap on their own. There's no need to dry them out. You are making a compost heap not a haystack. All the lawn mowings in your video could go straight in with the other stuff. In fact you could put 3 or 4 times that many clippings into the dry stuff you have there. I think you are making this harder than it needs to be. Just put everything that you have that is compostable into your bin. Fluff it about a bit with a fork or something and make sure it is damp (not wet).

  • 14 years ago

    Pile is too little in height and dry. Water lightly what you got. Pile it into ONE large pile and water again. At first, put a compost thermometer in each day for about 2 minutes to see it get it up over 110 degrees F.

    They say you should have at least 27 cubic feet (3' by 3' by 3') to do a compost pile. Add all compostables to the top except bury fresh kitchen scraps about 10 inches..

  • 14 years ago

    Perhaps this link might be of some help.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Composting Tutorial

  • 14 years ago

    ..
    Dude. Not right against the house. Molds, fungus and bug city. A little bit away from the house and not too far from a water supply. Other pluses would be out of the sun and the wind.

    Next, like the others indicated, lump it all together. It's kind of like a fire. If you spread it all out it's not going to burn so hot. Mix those grass clippings up with other stuff like leaves or shredded paper. Mix the stuff so the grass clippings doesn't clump up so much nor does the shredded paper. Once things start to clump up, it will slow down.

    Get your volume up. 3' x 3' x 3' would be nice but you can get away with smaller than that. Bigger than a trash can though. It's harder when you get down to trash can size.

    Keep moist. I'm in dry country and I like to water daily. If I let it go it slows down and does nothing but once I start watering it will get going again. Too much moisture is smelly mess and again basically do little.

    The link Kimmsr provided is pretty good. I go there myself from time to time for reference. Take a look at the bin ideas. Web search on 'Compost Bins' and you'll probably find a collection of images. Between the link and the web search you should be able to find some kind of bin arrangement that suits your situation.

    The last thing is to make sure it does fit your situation. Don't try to make your situation fit one prescription on how to compost. If you want to add stuff only once a month, figure out a method that works that way. If you want to add daily, figure out that approach. You will probably need to try a few things out and adjust as you see how it goes. It can be pretty or down and dirty. You can make things simple or an elaborate science project. What works best is what works for you.

    to sense
    ..

  • 14 years ago

    To add to rott's post, you'll want to be sure to add some nitrogen, if it's not already in what you're adding, which is the fuel needed by bacteria and fungi to break down cellulose into humus.

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