compost 101 questions
Alberto de la Portilla
5 years ago
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoAlberto de la Portilla
5 years agoRelated Discussions
To Compost or To not compost...that is the question
Comments (6)definitely COMPOST :) Sounds like you have a lot of work cleaning things up - personally, I would save the branches in a pile and wait for the monthly pickup - I assume that the city uses them for energy or mulch, and they have big chippers that make easy work of it. Renting a chipper will get you most likely a crappy chipper and is a lot of work. Chips are awesome for mulching path or around trees/shrubs, but not so easy for composting in a newbie pile. You should focus on browns like paper from junk mail, cardboard, newspaper, and FALL LEAVES. Add kitchen wastes and green softer garden waste and water and you will have good fixings for a compost heap. Lots of info in this forum of ratios and such, but I just wanted to vote that you can start your compost now, do not have to wait until fall, but maybe not try to use the limbs from your trees as a newbie. Hey you are on the right track thinking about all of this. Work on small areas, and careful with that chainsaw!! Rachel ps - are you allowed to pick up wood chips from the city for direct mulching around woody plants and paths? This is great if you have access!...See Morecompost tea (compost bag question)
Comments (5)Old socks, old kitchen tea towels, old t-shirts, old sheets/pillowcases, coffee filters make good small bags, old cotton shirts, etc. Cheese cloth is great and sold in the paint department. ;) Thin fabrics work better than thicker ones - anything that you can form into a bag shape. Dave...See Morevermi-composting and worms: questions, questions, questions
Comments (1)Hi, welcome to worm farming. I've been doing it for about a year now. Questions are good, and lead to learning more. Hope we can help out. 1. They like it best at 70, but thats not to say you can't keep them in a place that is hotter or colder. I have a bin outside, were it is 100+ during the summer and as low as 0 during the winter, and it is very active. 2. Thats a big bin. How many worms do you have? I would worry about how much air they get if you have the doors on. You would want it covered, but the fridge is made to hold air in, so if you keep the lid on, give it plenty of holes for fresh air flow. 3. Grass clippings are fine, but they can heat up. I would use in moderation. I will bag mine up every now and then, and use in my regular compost pile. Leaves, newspaper, veggie scraps make up most of my worms food and bedding. 4. As stated with the grass clippings, they heat up, so your worms could be escaping the heat. when things cool off they may find their way back. Don't let any mistakes now make you think twice about what you are trying to do. This is a great thing to do, you'll make mistakes and learn from them. Once you get it down, it is easy. You just have to learn what works best for you....See MoreTulips101 worms in totes questions
Comments (6)Tulips, Nice innovative idea on keeping them warm, I had not seen that temperture information on any of the research I have done. You may want to experiment, I think you said you had a couple bins? If so just heat one and compare the number of babies later in the season. Maybe next year you could save a little electricity. Also remember that as you add bedding it will become an insulation layer and your heater may need to be adjusted down to compensate. I've only been vermicomposting for a few months so hopefully a n experienced member can comment on the 70 degree temp. Bill...See MoreNevermore44 - 6a
5 years agoAlberto de la Portilla
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoAlberto de la Portilla
5 years agoklem1
5 years ago
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