Comments on: COMPOST HAPPENS http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/ One family's journey towards a sustainable, more self sufficient life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:32:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chrishttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47727 Chris Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:37:47 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47727 Here's a kitchen composting tip from a speaker at NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) as an alternative to a worm bin in your home. You will need (3) 5 gallon buckets. Fill the first bucket with 50% sawdust and 50% soil/compost. Put a little bit of straw in the bottom of the second bucket, then just start adding your kitchen scraps (chop up if too big). Every time you add kitchen scraps, add a handful or so of the sawdust/dirt mixture on top and cover loosely. Once the bucket is full, set it aside to add to your outdoor compost pile. It's already pretty much broken down so it's pretty balanced in carbon/nitrogen ratio. This tip is from Dr. Lee Reich. This is a good method for us New Englanders who have a shorter "cooking" season for making compost. Here's a kitchen composting tip from a speaker at NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) as an alternative to a worm bin in your home. You will need (3) 5 gallon buckets. Fill the first bucket with 50% sawdust and 50% soil/compost. Put a little bit of straw in the bottom of the second bucket, then just start adding your kitchen scraps (chop up if too big). Every time you add kitchen scraps, add a handful or so of the sawdust/dirt mixture on top and cover loosely. Once the bucket is full, set it aside to add to your outdoor compost pile. It's already pretty much broken down so it's pretty balanced in carbon/nitrogen ratio. This tip is from Dr. Lee Reich. This is a good method for us New Englanders who have a shorter "cooking" season for making compost.

]]> By: Sheryl at Providence Acres Farmhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47695 Sheryl at Providence Acres Farm Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:17:02 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47695 You are absolutely right! Nourish the soil first! Compost is the gardener's best friend.I like your blog! You are absolutely right! Nourish the soil first! Compost is the gardener's best friend.

I like your blog!

]]> By: Michellehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47650 Michelle Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:19:54 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47650 This post title is VERY funny...! This post title is VERY funny...!

]]> By: Sarahhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47642 Sarah Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:27:34 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47642 You have inspired me (once again) to take up composting. Before, the hubby wasn't "into it", and now he is learning so much about chemicals and GMO's & such... I think he is on board this time!!!I LOVE to see the compost steaming! It really is beautiful! Now onto the work for me, getting started!!! :)Thanks again! :) You have inspired me (once again) to take up composting. Before, the hubby wasn't "into it", and now he is learning so much about chemicals and GMO's & such... I think he is on board this time!!!

I LOVE to see the compost steaming! It really is beautiful! Now onto the work for me, getting started!!! :)

Thanks again! :)

]]> By: Henrihttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47626 Henri Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:42:46 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47626 Whoa that's some steam.. facial for Justin? heheI've started with a recycled pallet compost bin 2 years ago and it's served it's purpose but with our short gardening and composting season, and now that I've learned much more ;o) I'll be building a new 3 bin pallet composting station. This should help speed things up so I can get more compost ready for the fall & spring.. not much going on from Nov-Apr when things are frozen ;o( I might try vermicomposting next winter so I at least have something going. Whoa that's some steam.. facial for Justin? hehe

I've started with a recycled pallet compost bin 2 years ago and it's served it's purpose but with our short gardening and composting season, and now that I've learned much more ;o) I'll be building a new 3 bin pallet composting station. This should help speed things up so I can get more compost ready for the fall & spring.. not much going on from Nov-Apr when things are frozen ;o( I might try vermicomposting next winter so I at least have something going.

]]> By: Lindahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47617 Linda Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:17:34 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47617 It must be the day to turn the compost! That was my same chore this morning, sifting out the completed compost and repiling the rest with new greens and weeds. I've been contemplating a new finished compost aging storage system, and was also going to go the cinderblock route - my goal is to create enough compost to use on the entire garden, once I get the soil to a good healthy level. Upon first breaking ground, I add sand and copious manure, and dig it in a deeply as I can go. Then seasonally, I've been adding compost and digging that in. The oldest beds are really in pretty good shape and the newest ones are coming along nicely.I am surprised at how much compost I've created this year - I might actually make enough to cover the garden twice a year as I'd like! I haven't had to import a lot of compostable materials, but I've thought that I might try/have to to reach my finished compost goals.Compost is gardeners gold! Love that stuff. It must be the day to turn the compost! That was my same chore this morning, sifting out the completed compost and repiling the rest with new greens and weeds. I've been contemplating a new finished compost aging storage system, and was also going to go the cinderblock route - my goal is to create enough compost to use on the entire garden, once I get the soil to a good healthy level. Upon first breaking ground, I add sand and copious manure, and dig it in a deeply as I can go. Then seasonally, I've been adding compost and digging that in. The oldest beds are really in pretty good shape and the newest ones are coming along nicely.

I am surprised at how much compost I've created this year - I might actually make enough to cover the garden twice a year as I'd like! I haven't had to import a lot of compostable materials, but I've thought that I might try/have to to reach my finished compost goals.

Compost is gardeners gold! Love that stuff.

]]> By: Laurahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47611 Laura Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:28:19 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47611 I'll bet your chickens did have a feast. Ours love worms! We use a homemade tumbler style composter. For some reason the same style you are using didn't work for us. Maybe we didn't use it long enough? I'll bet your chickens did have a feast. Ours love worms! We use a homemade tumbler style composter. For some reason the same style you are using didn't work for us. Maybe we didn't use it long enough?

]]> By: ariellahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/03/11/compost-happens-3/comment-page-1/#comment-47610 ariella Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:24:06 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=18852#comment-47610 that's some impressive compost steam!! that's some impressive compost steam!!

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