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Soil, Compost & Mulch

My new Compost Bins are Finally Done ;-)

14 years ago

I am soooo Happy

Finally a Compost Wacko ;-)

Mom would be so proud !

See Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNv3XL3i-po

Here is a link that might be useful: New Compost Bins Woo Hoo ;-)

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Comments (9)

rott
14 years ago
..

Yeah. You're out there.

kewel

..
blameitontherain
14 years ago
The bins look great, jonhughes, very sturdy -- even studly if I may be so bold, but I'm wondering why you chose cement blocks. To aid in heat retention, thereby quicker compost?

Rain
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Cindy, I like your home made grates for the end of your return pipes. I will have to remember that those in case I ever need something like that. I would do away with those but they do add friction to the flow of the system. Since these are DYI there are no exact measurements on these but I would guess that they are the same as 6 ft of pipe. So let's calculate the friction on your return lines. First we have water going from the drum into the 4" pipe. So we have 4 ft of the diameter of the drum and 2 ft of the 4" pipe for water to move from a larger pipe to a smaller pipe. The drum is large enough that four ft of it won't amount to any friction to worry about. But the 2 ft of 4" we will look at. Then we have a 45 elbow which is the same as 5 ft of 4" pipe. Then we also have 90 elbow which is the same as 12 ft of 4" pipe. Then we have the Ferco fitting. I am going to assume that the pipes inside the Ferco fitting are tight against each other and are in a straight line and this is the same as 4 ft of 4" pipe. Then we have the pipe expanding in the pond and this is 4 ft. of the 4" pipe and 2 ft of the diameter of the pond which will be about nothing. Then we have a 4 ft of pipe and a 3 ft of pipe. So each of the return lines are as follows: 6+2+5+12+4+4+4+3=40 ft of 4" pipe. So that short length of 7 ft of pipe is actually with fittings and changes in pipe sizes equals the same as 40 ft pipe. So the question is how much flow do we get by gravity through 40 ft of a 4" pipe with 1" of head? We actually get 3146 gph per return and we have 2 returns so the actual flow back to the pond would be 6292 gph. But I would guess that the head pressure is less than 1" so if I look at .5" head pressure we have flow for each return of 2156 or a total flow 4312 gph. So I would guess that when you actually take a good measurement of the head pressure you are going to find that it is a little more then .75 inch. .75 inch would have a flow of 5302 gph. Mike
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I know it takes a little while for it to start really cooking and that once it does, if I add anything to it, I'm starting all over again, right? Because you won't be able to turn the pile, just fill the bin as you get materials ... keep topping it off with grass clippings, dead leaves and such, keeping a reasonable balance of "wet green" versus "dry un-green" stuff. End with a layer of dried leaves and pack them down in the fall. Let it sit until when you look about 6-8 inches down it's looking like dark crumbly stuff. If you aren't turning it and watering it, it takes longer to compost but it still gets there. By next spring you should have the center core of that bin as a nice finished compost. Here is a link that might be useful: Cheap Wire Compost Bin: Cold composting method
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To answer some questions.... Q: How much did this compost furniture cost? A: More than I'd like to admit (mostly due to the product I used to stain it with). Though I'd hardly consider it furniture just because I stained it. Q: What is the concrete block at the bottom of the front boards all about? A: That was still a feature I was working on when I ran out of those blocks (they are regular brick-size cinder blocks). Its to keep mice and other critters out because of the gap between the front boards and the concrete block base. I ended up finishing that feature over the weekend by lining the bricks across the bottom eliminating all gaps in the process. Q: My only concern is the gravel inside the bins. This will get picked up as you turn the bins and remove the finished product. A: The gravel is underneath the mesh. It will not get picked up through the 1/4 inch holes in the mesh. Q: The outside walls of the outside bins have no lateral support when the bin is full. A block on the lid frame should solve this problem. A: Not sure this is going to be a problem because the frame is very heavy. I will address this if and when it becomes a problem but thanks for the heads up. Q: When the truly finished compost falls through the bottom netting, you will have to pick up gravel. I think you should put down some plastic sheet. A: Forgot to mention a few minor details before posting. In each of the three bins I added a few inches of healthy soil from my raised vegetable beds (some worms came along for the ride). I added just enough to cover the mesh screen and compacted it down very well so that when I eventually have to turn my pile and I get down to the very bottom, I'll just use a small plastic shovel (i.e. a child's snow shovel) to scoop up the remaining compost from the bottom of the bin (gently scraping it off the mesh) . Q: It's beautiful! I hate to see you dirty it up. A: Agree, but I'd rather it look more like a compost bin than a piece of furniture. I will post newer pics today or tomorrow to show the final finished bin system.
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Lloyd
14 years ago
Wow, those look like they will withstand a 5.5 magnitude quake and they're big!! Any plans to force aerate or fill in the fronts?

Love the jazz in the background, music to compost by.

:-)

Lloyd
borderbarb
14 years ago
I note that your raised beds are also cement block [love idea of planting onions in the top block holes] I'm guessing that once you've built these structures they will last forever .... and when you are old and grey, you won't be faced with the expense and effort of replacing the wood or wire structures that are easier to build. I'm in my 70s and reaping the benefit of a LOT of HARD work in my younger years ... BEAUTIFUL rock terraces and wonderful loam have replaced steep, sterile slopes of clay and DG. So, I'm looking at your STURDY compost bins and raised beds through my older/wiser[?] eyes and saying 'RIGHT ON' !!
heirloomjunkie
14 years ago
oh. my. gosh. AWESOME!!!!!

So jealous!

Kim
jonhughes
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Rott ;-)
blameitontherain : Pretty much because I will never have to rebuild them ...ever (but your reasons are great too ;-)
Lloyd: I could never be as cool as you...but I do have ALL the necessary tools to do such things....I was contemplating using my skidsteer w/fork attachment and aerating the pile with hydraulic ease...I'll post a video when I get some more compost going ;-)
Borderbarb: You remind me of my mom (I Love Her ;-)
she lives in San Diego (Ramona) and Loves Compost...
Yes ,I want to do very little bending over for long periods,I just transplanted 100 heads of lettuce and never came close to putting a crink in my back...Love those 2' High raised beds ;-)
Kim:That's what I was going for...Thanks ;-)
engineeredgarden
14 years ago
Jon, are you gonna be doing square foot gardening in those nice raised beds? I really like the depth, and your watering needs should really be minimal.

EG
jonhughes
Original Author
14 years ago
engineeredgarden,
Yeah,I want to get the most out of my awesome soil,I just planted an Asparagus bed (Biodynamic/French Intensive) Square foot style...1 in every square foot...I am hoping for the best ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Square Foot Asparagus Plantings
pnbrown
14 years ago
Nice.

I plan to do a concrete block composting thing like that at my north florida place, eventually. It'll be 50-75 feet long, with tender plants like papaya, pineapple, etc on the south side and the compost bins on the north to insulate and hold in the heat on those frosty nights.

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