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Garden Gate:  Compost help needed  |
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Mama Jewel
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Jewel
Sweet Peas Farmette,
Bend, OR
USA
435 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 10:41:57 AM
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I've been doing a compost heap for many years, but am having a problem with my pile now that I've started to use one of those big barrel things that spins. I've added lots of straw intermingled with veggie scraps & egg shells (no meats, breads, etc) along with a few scoops of dirt. I have been turning it several times a day. It looks all wet & slimy and smells *really* bad. I don't know if it's getting enough air. Can't really leave the lid off since we've been having so much rain, so don't know what to do. The only air vent it has is a small cone-shaped thing on the bottom.
Any suggestions on what to do? I can't harvest it yet cause it's so slimy/wet. We live on a suburban "farm"  so limited space on trying to dump it out & spread it out to dry.
Love...always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Cor 13:7
Living Simply & Naturally
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 11:48:45 AM
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| Hey, Julie Anne! Since you've been making compost heaps for years, you know what you're doing. Maybe with this new barrel type, the wet/dry ratio needs to be adjusted. I think turning it several times a day is good, as that mixes the ingredients and creates new air pockets.....maybe hold off on adding anything for a week or so, other than dry materials. Also, after the rain lets up, the sun shining on the barrel should help things along also. Best of luck, and you know what they say....."compost happens"!! Hugs Nance |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 12:46:55 PM
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Hi Julie I have a compost tumbler and it take a little getting used to. A tumbler is suppost to give you compost faster so you need a few tricks to help it along.I do not think you have enough carbons that are helping you. If using straw you need to chop it fine or it doesn't break down fast enough for your greens (the veg scraps) and you get slime. You can throw in some shredded black and white newsprint, dead dry leaves, a little wood ash, or cut dried grass. I like the dried grass best because it breaks down fast and absorbs moisture. Try to take the temperature often and you will see when you add certain things, what is making the most heat. I do not think you should need to add dirt either. That may be holding to much moisture. Your tumbler should have come with instructions for your specific type of composter that should also have a troubleshooting page. Good luck,
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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Mama Jewel
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Jewel
Sweet Peas Farmette,
Bend, OR
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 1:04:18 PM
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Thanks, gals! BTW, Jane, I love your user name!! I'm a vegetarian, too! Hmm, I'll have to figure out a way to get lawn clippings. When I mow w/our electric mower, there isn't a bag to catch the grass & I just leave the clippings on. Most of my neighbors use chemicals on theirs, except one that I know of... off to pay her a kind neighborly visit :-) I will shred more newspaper, tho (& no dry leaves here, mostly pine & juniper). Would weeds work? I have a bunch that I pulled that are dry.
Love...always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Cor 13:7
Living Simply & Naturally
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Jun 10 2010 : 2:19:54 PM
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Go veg power, Julie! Yes dried weeds will work but you still will want to get the heat in the tumbler high or cure the finished compost to make sure no seeds make it. The key to good fast compost in a tumbler is shredding everything as small as you can. I don't do this (I am kinda lazy) and looked into buying a leaf shredder but they are not made for wet things and the kitchen scraps gum them up. I have seen where people make them with old electric lawnmowers but not tried that yet. I also love to put lots of coffee grinds from the coffee shop in there. They seem to help balance things out and give you more of a soil like texture. The compost that comes out never looks like the kind on the brochure, but it does the same job.
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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mrsamy
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
Amy
Milwaukee
WI
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Jun 11 2010 : 06:51:05 AM
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If you have an extra garbage can around and a weed whacker you can toss dry leaves and thin stems (like hay) in there (maybe halfway) and use a string trimmer (weed whacker) to chop 'em up too. Wear safety glasses though, you never know when something might fly up and out. I've only done this once, but it was easy. Now we just mow with a bag when I have stuff to chop up.
Prayer costs nothing, but is worth the most. |
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laura5sons
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
laura
leetonia
ohio
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2010 : 5:08:05 PM
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Sawdust! We use the cedar stall bedding or sawdust to take out the moisture. If you dont have it on hand it's inexpensive to get a bale at your local farm supply.....Dont forget your coffee grounds, those are FANTASTIC for your compost as well. GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY COMPOSTING!
"Cinch It Tightly" |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2010 : 5:26:42 PM
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Thanks for all the information farm girls. I have a barrel compost and the same thing happens inside of mine! Now I know how to correct the problem. Thanks.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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Garden Gate: Compost help needed |
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Compost help needed
