Compost pile need greens

[ThaHarryChery]

I'm starting my first compost pile and i have built a 3x3x3 compost bin , 4 wooden steaks , & chicken wire around the posts .

I have plenty of nitrogen materials available , but im havig trouble knowing which green materials to use as far as green leaves and such . i want to be sure im gathering disease free material as well . Any basic things that i may be overlooking i can use ?

 

[Baked Alaskan]

There is lots of different opinions with compost. I get a bunch of forest duff and old crumbling logs, then add kitchen scrap. Try to have easy access to your pile, like one side of your bin that will open as a gate. Composting is awesome, have fun!

 

[ThaHarryChery]

yeah thats exactly how i have it set-up , im pretty pumped myself ! thanks for the encouragement ! Do you prefer growing cannabis in your organic soil as a pose to other methods ?

im a newby and im hungry for some knowledge

THC

 

[PermaBuzz]

If you have plenty of nitrogen materials then you wont need the green ingredients as much. Just use whatever you have around, inoculate, and maintain at least yard or two min. size to reach that critical temperature

 

[ThaHarryChery]

sweet , preciate that


THC

 

[xmobotx]

have you considered c:n ratio ?

 

[ThaHarryChery]

Yeah i have , what do you recomend as a healthy ratio ? ive heard about 25 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen . do you disagree ?

 

[unregistered190]

I get a bunch of forest duff and old crumbling logs, then add kitchen scrap

Always do the kitchen scraps...but I dunno why I hadn't though of the duff and logs....should be loaded with good organisms in there and right out back in the woods

 

[ThaHarryChery]

word !

THC

 

[RoadRash]

I'm starting my first compost pile and i have built a 3x3x3 compost bin , 4 wooden steaks , & chicken wire around the posts .

I have plenty of nitrogen materials available , but im havig trouble knowing which green materials to use as far as green leaves and such . i want to be sure im gathering disease free material as well . Any basic things that i may be overlooking i can use ?

Is the bottom of the pile open to the ground so that redworms and the occasional big earthworm can enjoy the meal that you have prepared ?

If you get the mix right (carbon, nitrogen, particle size, moisture) it might heat up. If it heats up too much, the worms have to wait until it cools off before moving in - and giving you a big pile of worm castings.

I have one pile outdoors in temps that vary between the 20's and 40's (degrees F). I covered the pile with a tarp and some leaves. It should get a little heating. My goal is to make a nice home/ meal for the redworms.


One of my best compost piles, I was experimenting with using carbohydrates and sugars to see if they helped increase temps. I got the local juice place to give me their garbage (fruit rinds etc.), I used those plants that have the red berries (berries normally have some carbs to feed the baby seeds), I even threw on some cheap bags of potatoes. I didn't know exactly what I was doing ... but the worms loved it - and made some beautiful grow dirt.

I suggest measuring the temp of your pile. This doesn't have to be fancy, you could just stick your hand in.

Also, introducing some redworms. If the pile is "on the ground", the worms will just crawl into it naturally. Otherwise, you might have to buy some.

 

[ThaHarryChery]

Yeah my pile is on the ground i dug about 2 inches in the earth(3x3) , i also have some left over organic soil from home depot that i am going to put a thin layer on first . im in the south so when i started digging i hit a bunch of red clay thats why i want to lay a layer of soil so the worms should come around once i start layering materials .

im waiting a couple days to gather a few more materials and letting it warm up a bit outside

i need to find my local juice place doe an get up on my fruit rinds !

Preciate the input RoadRash

 

[xmobotx]

yeah 25 is good. some talk like an exact ratio is optimum. but, who has the equip to test ratios and every chart says something a little different {or provides a range}

 

[ThaHarryChery]

yeah for sure ! totally agree , im collectting some coffee grains from my local starbucks 2morrow then im gonna get the ball rollin on it !

how long does the process tend take ?



THC