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Old 10-02-08, 06:14 AM   #1
Daox
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Default Composting!

Share with us your composting setups and any tips or tricks you have!

I'll be putting mine together next year I think in spring and ideas are welcome. I was thinking a hot composter probably in a barrel style would be better to get usable compost faster.

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Old 10-02-08, 02:40 PM   #2
truckncycle
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I have a plastic compost bin that I bought. It's full but not doing much. I almost never turn it and I need to add moisture too it. I looked into a compost tumbler but they were too expensive. Our city now gives away compost bins for free. They take old plastic garbage cans cut off the bottoms and add holes.
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Old 12-04-08, 05:33 PM   #3
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My set-up is a 4-pallet bin with a hinged mesh top. The front slides out and then I fork out the compost to turn it or use it. I would go with something cheap, simple and at least 1 cubic yard of volume. Here is my setup - Composting in the High Desert | EcoDaddyo.com.

The secret to fast composting is to turn it often and keep a good balance of greens and browns (nitrogen and carbon-heavy stuff). There's not much to it than that unless you're a microbiologist or greatly interested in soil critters.

Tim
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Old 12-04-08, 07:41 PM   #4
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That looks like a nice setup Tim. How long does it take to churn out good compost?
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Old 12-05-08, 11:01 AM   #5
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I pull out 2-3 wheelbarrow loads of compost about twice a year. I'm pretty lazy about turning my compost and that usually happens about 4 times a year. So, I could have more compost if I put a little more effort into it.

Unfortunately, we had wasps build a nest in the compost this summer and I haven't turned it in a while! I'm waiting for the wasps to go dormant this winter and then I will forcibly evict them. After I get rid of the wasps I'll have to write up the whole saga.

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Old 12-05-08, 12:01 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimJFowler View Post
I pull out 2-3 wheelbarrow loads of compost about twice a year. I'm pretty lazy about turning my compost and that usually happens about 4 times a year. So, I could have more compost if I put a little more effort into it.

Unfortunately, we had wasps build a nest in the compost this summer and I haven't turned it in a while! I'm waiting for the wasps to go dormant this winter and then I will forcibly evict them. After I get rid of the wasps I'll have to write up the whole saga.

Tim
Can't trust those wasps!
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Old 12-05-08, 11:38 AM   #7
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Nice! I like it.
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Old 03-13-09, 03:19 PM   #8
TimJFowler
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We have foreclosed on the wasps (insects, not white anglo-saxon protestants)! It was a pain in the rear for months, but the wasp nest is gone.

Here's the saga - Foreclosing on the Wasps | EcoDaddyo.com

"Social" insects? My @$$!

Tim
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Old 03-15-09, 09:43 AM   #9
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I would like to do a 4 pallet system as well, our current pile is a piece of wire fence made in to a ring to keep the pile more pile like and it's over flowing already after only 5 months, I would like something that will keep it hotter and be easier to work with but a cube, or maybe even two cubes seem like a good plan for now.
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Old 05-10-12, 06:59 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimJFowler View Post
We have foreclosed on the wasps (insects, not white anglo-saxon protestants)! It was a pain in the rear for months, but the wasp nest is gone.

Here's the saga - Foreclosing on the Wasps | EcoDaddyo.com

"Social" insects? My @$$!

Tim
This post is old but it can be a real problem any time.

Funny battle. I had the same problem. I just took 3/4" pex tube and drilled some 1/4" holes near the bottom. I connected this tube to HWT using garden hose. I pushed this tube inside the pile. So wasps were invited to local sauna. The next day I carefully opened the nest. All invited guests were cooked .

I won 1:0. No bites no mess no chemicals.....
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