Composting

[Bullfrog44]

Can anybody steer me in the right direction of a how to compost thread? I get the basics but want to see what canna farmers are doing. You know, brown to green ratio. What composts fastest? That sort of thing. Thanks people.

Edit: I have a compost tumbler.

 

[heady blunts]

read this: common-sense compost making by maye e bruce

 

[heady blunts]

hmm i didn't mean to derail your thread with that link.

as for my compost i make following the well described methods in that book. i use weeds and garden waste for the most part. never any manure. i probably do about 80/20 green/brown, although i'm thinking of starting a mostly brown "cool compost" pile to sit for a year or whatever.

i also vermicompost my kitchen scraps, but i suppose that covered in the worming thread.

 

[CC_2U]

Can anybody steer me in the right direction of a how to compost thread? I get the basics but want to see what canna farmers are doing. You know, brown to green ratio. What composts fastest? That sort of thing. Thanks people.

Bullfrog44

You want a C:N ratio of about 30 parts Carbon to 1 part Nitrogen. Most of the action in the pile will be the Carbon breaking down. The Nitrogen (green material, kitchen scraps, etc.) are there to kick-in the microbial activity and are soon consumed.

The challenge is finding good brown material. I wanted organic oat or barley straw - Fuggedaboutit. Ain't gonna happen. I was able to find 'unsprayed' straw of both types from farms in Eastern Oregon.

I was given a CompostSak to play with and I'm on my 2nd batch. The first one didn't turn finish due to operator error so I used it for food in a worm bin.

These cost $39.99 and are made from a material similar to the type used in their SmartPots product line.

Something like this or a tumbler may be your best choice for just starting out. It's not rocket science but following certain protocols are necessary to give you the results you're looking for.

Tumblers - definitely something to consider!

Did I mention compost tumblers?

CC

 

[soil margin]

If you feel like having a read:

http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/compostingtoreduce.pdf

 

[GoneRooty]

Hey CC, you should tell him about compost tumblers! They're great things, and you can find a pretty decent one relatively cheap.

 

[heady blunts]

they had a nice one at costco last month for pretty cheap...

 

[Bullfrog44]

Really Heady? Maybe I will get another so I can compost in one and pull out of the other.

I was mostly wondering about green to brown ratio's and what browns to use. I have a veggie garden that will supply all the green, not to mention grass cuts also. The brown I have nothing however. Would redwood mulch work for brown? Or do I need to go and buy something?

Thanks for all the comments so far, keep them coming.

 

[soil margin]

Dried grass can be used as a source of brown as it's much more carbon rich than nitrogen. Wood chips are also a good carbon source.

 

[Bullfrog44]

Thanks Soil Margin. So if I cut my grass and let it sit till it dries brown, that will work for brown compost material? And if I put it in the compost pile green it will work as green compost material? Sounds too easy.....

Is some brown material better than others? Say redwood chips vs. Dried grass?

 

[Don Dump]

could use shredded cardboard/newspaper for your brown if you want, don't go buy anything

I started a pretty big pile last fall. gathered a bunch of leaves, and let them sit for the winter. added a bunch of fresh grass clippings a few weeks ago. turned it a few times. hoping its ready to add to the garden in the fall

http://www.compost-info-guide.com/browns.htm
http://www.compost-info-guide.com/greens.htm

 

[gasman420]

im in on this one, ive always wondered myself about good compost

 

[Scrappy4]

could use shredded cardboard/newspaper for your brown if you want, don't go buy anything

I started a pretty big pile last fall. gathered a bunch of leaves, and let them sit for the winter. added a bunch of fresh grass clippings a few weeks ago. turned it a few times. hoping its ready to add to the garden in the fall

http://www.compost-info-guide.com/browns.htm
http://www.compost-info-guide.com/greens.htm

I've done the same as you have DD, until this winter. I bought a couple of the compost sak thingies. I mixed in these partially composted leafs, grass clippings, old grow medium, and veggie waste in a sak, that I layered with alfalfa meal, then half way up I buried some bakashi. I turned it every days and had thermo (hot) compost in a couple of weeks. So far I mostly have used it in teas, too soon to tell with the soil mixes, but it appears to be the real deal texture wise, and from the plant response from the teas. Now when the worm farm gets producing more than i steal, I'm in biddess........scrappy

 

[mad librettist]

AFAIK dried grass is still a green, not a brown.

dried grass will heat up your pile and can cook a wormbin.


if "dried grass" means grass that went brown and was then mowed, then it's a brown.


but if you mow the lawn, then dry the clippings it is still a "green"

 

[h.h.]

Be careful where you get your grass and be mindful of the chemicals you use on your lawn. I don't have grass but am surrounded by golf courses and country clubs. It's tempting but they use a lot of weed and feed. A lot of chemical fertilizers to make it pretty and green. Other than that if you're looking for chemical ferts, grass supplies a lot.

 

[mad librettist]

"organic lawn care manual" by Paul Tukey...


grass clippings can be a good source of protozoa

 

[Bullfrog44]

I have a very small lawn and I use an organic granular feed with a liquid feed every now and again. I never have dead lawn however, so I guess I would have to use cardboard or redwood chips to achieve my browns.

I bought a couple of the compost sak thingies.

Is this something to replace the brown?

 

[h.h.]

Find a local waste recycling yard such as
http://www.agriserviceinc.com/coachella_product.html.
Closer to you of course.
Check local gardeners. Rake a neighbor's lawn.
The power company also sends out trucks to clear the lines. Usually private contractors, more than happy to get rid of a truckload of chipped material. Find out what they have been trimming first. Generally tall trees, so it's pretty safe.