Comments on: Composting Chart

By: steve

steve — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:21:58 +0000

@william, Yes, that sounds like a great mix, let us know how the first batch turns out.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:17:31 +0000

@janet, Awesome, great to know and thanks for sharing, I’ll have to give that a try and add it to my worm bin the next time I have leftover rice or garbanzo beans

By: janet

janet — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:34:55 +0000

I have a worm compost bin and add cooked leftover rice about once a week. they seem to like it. they also like cooked garbanzo beans.

By: william

william — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:36:06 +0000

does a 1,4 mix of black burt saw dust called black char along with grass cliping horse manure turning black a little straw and hardwood saw dust turning dark and ground up leaves be good combo for compost mix ,,for flowers and gardens.

By: steve

steve — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:26:48 +0000

@Chip, Yes, there is a chance the pressure treated wood could leach into the compost; I think cedar is your best bet. It may cost a little more initially but your compost bin will last longer.

By: Chip

Chip — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:06:15 +0000

Thanks for the valuable insights. I’m about to make a ~2.5′x2.5′x3′ composting box (4 levels; beehive style) out of wood, with a lid. Will using treated lumber hurt the composted material coming out of it? Will the wood last longer, than pine? Or should I use something like cedar?
Living in the Mid-Atlantic, is this something I can keep working over the winter?

By: steve

steve — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:08:40 +0000

@Roy x, I am not aware of any harmful fumes that are released from compost bins, but if you think it’s the culprit then I suggest moving the compost bin.

By: Roy x

Roy x — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:13:29 +0000

I’m new to composting and found this site very interesting and helpful, I have a compost bin with a top lid and started composting three weeks ago, I’ve been adding the basic greens and browns almost every day to create some volume, I have been mixing the materials every two days without removing the contents and apparently the not finished compost seems to be warm to hot status, so my question is are the fumes released from the materials breaking down dangerous if inhaled? I have a small avocado tree next to the compost bin and I believe the fumes released are affecting the leaves by turning them brown, thanks in advance.

By: Prafulla Patil

Prafulla Patil — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:16:18 +0000

Can anybody tell me how to do composting for society wet garbage disposal having 100 flats.
1) What should be pitsize?
2) which chemicals or organisms to be used?
3) How much period required for composting?
4) what is regular practice adopted in societies?

By: steve

steve — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:12:16 +0000

@Rene, Yes a cover for your compost bin will be helpful, you can use a plastic bag or tarp if you don’t have the actual lid. This will help trap the heat and keep it from getting over watered if it rains. Make sure you drill or cut plenty of ventilation holes on the sides and drill holes in the bottom to drain the water.