Composting...?

Question

I have been flirting with the idea of composting. We move a LOT, and I don't know if it would be something for us.

I have found SOME information on the subject, but am still wondering what the steps are, how does it work, does it take a long time to turn into compost? If you keep adding stuff to it how do you know when it's ready for use? How does it work? I REALLY want to do this, but need more info.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm guessing by composting you mean making compost.  There are a few ways to do it.  Some are faster then others.  If  you keep animals such as chickens, or dogs in a pen you aleady have compost on the ground where they p**p.    

Other methods of making compost are:

digging a compost pit,

making a compost pile,

Or making a compost berrel.

    There are pro's and con's to each so you have to decide wich is best for your situation.  

A compost pit, is very slow, essentially you dig a hole in the back yard and leave it open, then you throw all your natural degradable stuff in there such as bananna peals, and eggshells (which are GREAT) in there.  Once in a while go to the lumber yard and ask them if you can have some of their saw dust, they will give it to you for free, and its much cheaper then buying wood chips at wal mart.  Throw it in your pit, and in a few months you have a pit of compost.

you have to have a sturdy shovel, or rake to mix the compost around every week or so.  you can use rain water, or the water hose to wet the compost to help hasten the process.  It is a bit slow, and it smells kinda funky, so you may want to get a big tarp, and do it in the far end of the yard, but it makes TONS of compost  You can sell it to friends and neighbors for a little extra cash!!!

A compost pile is essentaly the same thing as a compost pit except there is no pit.  since there is no pit, no worms will get in the bottem.  The landlord wont complain about the big hole in the backyard, though.  but it is slower, and you don't make as much compost.  Also since there is no hole to contain the compost there will be more open air so less moss, and fungus will grow, which is why the compost will be produced slower.    It is good for a home guarden though!!!

A compost berrel is essentally a plastic berral that has been turned on its side, and had a hole cut into it, and a door put there.  then the berrel is mounted on a frame so you can turn it in circles.  You stuff as much leaves and bio-degradable stuff (eggshells) and other good stuff (saw dust and wood chips) into your berrel, and then spray some water in there.  Then you let it sit for a week or so.  after a week you give it a few turns...  every few days you will notice the compost in the berrel is getting smaller so you add more compost. and then turn the berrel.  once this is full, you empty the berrel..

    It creats very PURE compost VERY FAST.  it is somewhat mobile but a big berral with a frame is kind of tough to move.  once you get in the swing of things you can also start selling compost to your friends!!!

Hope that helps!!!

Answer 2

There are several ways you can make mobile composting units.  Some of them have been mentioned already but I can give you a couple more.

Get a couple of 5 gallon buckets with tight fitting lids.  Drill a small hole in the bottom to allow excess moisture to drain.  You can sit this inside something to collect the liquid that drains out and is it like liquid fertilizer (black gold tea or compost tea).  Shred newspaper or sawdust and fill about 1/3 of the bucket.  Then just start putting your kitchen waste (veggie and fruit peels, coffee grounds, egg shells, stale bread,etc. just no fats or meats)  into the bucket and set it outside.  Go to your local bait shop and buy a box of earthworms and drop them in the compost bucket.  When one bucket gets full, start on the other one. Turn the full bucket over upside down about once a week.  By the time the second bucket gets full, your first one should be completely composted.  The worms make some of the best compost by eating the food waste and giving off the castings.  It is some of the absolute best natural compost in the world and the worms will be getting fat and happy on your leftovers.  

When you get ready to empty your bucket, you can either screen out your worms and use them for the next bucket, or just dump it all straight into your garden or planting pots.  The worms will continue to work where ever they happen to be and will make babies like crazy.  

This is great for people who live in small homes or apartments.  It takes up a very small space and is easy to do.

Answer 3

Composting has to be one of the easiest things to do. We built a small box out of left over lumber we had when doing a project. It was probably 24"x24" or so. We just threw in everything that was compostable. Coffee grounds, egg shells, the remainder of fruits and veggies (like seeds), leaves, etc. Then of course you have to turn it - stir it up sort of. The following year after we started our pile we had volunteer plants coming up! Cantaloupe, tomatoes and a couple of pepper plants. Not only that after we transplanted those plants we sprinkled what was left in our flower beds and in our vegetable garden. How does it get any better than free plants you don't have to go to the farmers market to get? As for how long it takes - I suppose that would depend on how much you put into it.....come to think of it maybe I don't know!

Answer 4

If you're moving a lot, you probably want something that travels with you. I've included a few sites that have smaller portable units, one unit is usable indoors! Small units can yield compost in 14 days, depending on what materials you put inside, but compost piles take longer.

You can produce small composting units outside, too. I'm not sure how quickly you move. You can make a composter out of pallet jacks formed into a box, and even out of a big cardboard box. In either case, you'd want to have slots so you can rotate the composting stock. I've seen trash cans layed horizontally, set on moving casters (turned upside down), that can compost also. If you're innovative, you can make a composter out of many differt things.

On pages 22-33 of Rodale's Low-Maintenance Gardening Techniques Rodale Press 1995, is a great section on composting you should take a look at. Your local library may have it or could get it for you.

Happy composting!