Comments on: Composting Tips http://compostguide.com Tips for home composting Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:46:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: steve http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-1129 steve Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:22:51 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-1129 @Jean Johnson, Composting in the Deep South should not be a problem, even with the climate. Your best bet is to use a compost bin instead of just making a compost pile. A composter made of plastic or wood will keep the material confined to a limited area and allow you to compost more quickly, and keep critters out. If you don't want the added expense of buying one, you can always make one out of cinder blocks, pallets or chicken wire. Keep in mind buying the material to make one can be more costly at times then buying one already made. @Jean Johnson, Composting in the Deep South should not be a problem, even with the climate. Your best bet is to use a compost bin instead of just making a compost pile. A composter made of plastic or wood will keep the material confined to a limited area and allow you to compost more quickly, and keep critters out. If you don’t want the added expense of buying one, you can always make one out of cinder blocks, pallets or chicken wire. Keep in mind buying the material to make one can be more costly at times then buying one already made.

]]> By: Jean Johnson http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-1094 Jean Johnson Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:33:22 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-1094 I live in the deep south & was wanting to make a compost pile but the climate is so damp I'm not sure it would work. Please reply if you have a good solution....Ms. Jean I live in the deep south & was wanting to make a compost pile but the climate is so damp I’m not sure it would work. Please reply if you have a good solution….Ms. Jean

]]> By: steve http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-692 steve Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:29:57 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-692 @Yas, Yes, that will work but it will need air holes in the bottom to drain the water out and air holes all round the top and sides to allow oxygen in. Without air and water the compost material will not break down. Make sure to keep it moist as a well rung out sponge and aerate (mix) it weekly. The fastest way to mix your unfinished compost is to dump it out and shovel it back in. Make sure a majority of your content is browns (carbons). @Yas, Yes, that will work but it will need air holes in the bottom to drain the water out and air holes all round the top and sides to allow oxygen in. Without air and water the compost material will not break down. Make sure to keep it moist as a well rung out sponge and aerate (mix) it weekly. The fastest way to mix your unfinished compost is to dump it out and shovel it back in. Make sure a majority of your content is browns (carbons).

]]> By: Yas http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-683 Yas Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:04:28 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-683 Hey I'm new at this gardening stuff but I want to get in the habit of growing produce for myself. I've never made compost before and I was wondering if I could just pile kitchen scraps, dead leaves, paper etc in a bucket? If i cover the bucket with a lid so as to not attract pests...will the material still degrade? Hey I’m new at this gardening stuff but I want to get in the habit of growing produce for myself. I’ve never made compost before and I was wondering if I could just pile kitchen scraps, dead leaves, paper etc in a bucket? If i cover the bucket with a lid so as to not attract pests…will the material still degrade?

]]> By: steve http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-651 steve Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:57:37 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-651 Marilyn, Yes, it can be saved! I suggest you give it a good mix, using a shovel, pitch fork, etc and make sure it’s moist. If you want to add some browns this is a good time. Then let it go for a few weeks not adding any more browns or greens. After a few weeks check it and give it another good mix, adding water if it’s dry. It should be as moist as a well rung our sponge. In the mean time make another compost pile next to this one for your new browns and greens. Check it again after another few weeks and when everything has broken down, spread it on your lawn, garden, flower beds, or house plants. Marilyn,
Yes, it can be saved! I suggest you give it a good mix, using a shovel, pitch fork, etc and make sure it’s moist. If you want to add some browns this is a good time. Then let it go for a few weeks not adding any more browns or greens. After a few weeks check it and give it another good mix, adding water if it’s dry. It should be as moist as a well rung our sponge. In the mean time make another compost pile next to this one for your new browns and greens. Check it again after another few weeks and when everything has broken down, spread it on your lawn, garden, flower beds, or house plants.

]]> By: Marilyn http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-649 Marilyn Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:08:04 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-649 I've been throwing my scraps into a com poster now for over a year, but have never aerated it! The compost at the bottom door looks good, but I'm afraid the rest might just be a gross mess (I know I put way more kitchen scraps than yard waste). if I add brown, mix, more brown, mix...can it be saved? I’ve been throwing my scraps into a com poster now for over a year, but have never aerated it! The compost at the bottom door looks good, but I’m afraid the rest might just be a gross mess (I know I put way more kitchen scraps than yard waste). if I add brown, mix, more brown, mix…can it be saved?

]]> By: lars http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-512 lars Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:53:39 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-512 @Rae I suspect that even nuclear weapons wouldn't completely eradicate cockroaches, so I don't really know if there's a solution other than keeping the bin further away from your house. If they already have a nice warm and damp spot where there's plenty of food, then why would they bother to go inside the house anyway? Spraying the compost pile with any type of poison will be ineffective and not so great for the compost anyway. @Rae

I suspect that even nuclear weapons wouldn’t completely eradicate cockroaches, so I don’t really know if there’s a solution other than keeping the bin further away from your house. If they already have a nice warm and damp spot where there’s plenty of food, then why would they bother to go inside the house anyway? Spraying the compost pile with any type of poison will be ineffective and not so great for the compost anyway.

]]> By: Rae http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-509 Rae Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:59:48 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-509 My compost pile has cockroaches living in it! I do NOT want to attract these pests because I don't want them to come inside during the winter! It is a mixture of grass, leaves and kitchen products and the outside temp has been in the 100's every day for over a month now. How do I get rid of the roaches? My compost pile has cockroaches living in it! I do NOT want to attract these pests because I don’t want them to come inside during the winter! It is a mixture of grass, leaves and kitchen products and the outside temp has been in the 100′s every day for over a month now. How do I get rid of the roaches?

]]> By: steve http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-377 steve Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:49:13 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-377 Pong, Yes, digging a hole and adding your compost material will work, and no you don’t necessarily have to mix it. However it will break down quicker if you add some carbon (browns), aerate it (mix it) occasionally and make sure it’s moist. Keep in mind; you may attract rodents if it’s not enclosed in something. Here is a composter that works as you have described. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/lazmanfoodsc.html Pong, Yes, digging a hole and adding your compost material will work, and no you don’t necessarily have to mix it. However it will break down quicker if you add some carbon (browns), aerate it (mix it) occasionally and make sure it’s moist. Keep in mind; you may attract rodents if it’s not enclosed in something. Here is a composter that works as you have described. http://www.cleanairgardening.com/lazmanfoodsc.html

]]> By: pong http://compostguide.com/composting-tips/comment-page-1/#comment-361 pong Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:42:19 +0000 http://compostguide.com/?page_id=62#comment-361 I want to make a compost and I want to dig in the ground, should I still stir the content of that? Is it okay if I just throw all the biodegradable since I live surrounded with trees? Thank you and God bless! I want to make a compost and I want to dig in the ground, should I still stir the content of that? Is it okay if I just throw all the biodegradable since I live surrounded with trees? Thank you and God bless!

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