After my first foray into gardening last year, the Summer came to an end and after growing and eating my own food again I knew it was something I was going to continue on doing, and expand. Naturally wanting to do everything organically and be resourceful I wanted to try composting. Though I've grown food before I hadn't composted, until last year! In October there was a post on freecycle that someone was giving away some pallets, so we drove over and scored 3 pallets. That month I tied them together and just dumped my pile of leaves from that weekend in the middle and so a habit was born!
Since that day I've kept all my veggie peels, tea bags, paper scraps, old plants, leaves etc and put them on the pile, turning it, keeping it moist and sometimes neglecting it terribly. Have to say composting is the easiest hobby ever!
The downside is like most hobbies it's something that takes over after a while, and you want more! After composting for 6 months I can see that given the right environment I can create GREAT compost but I only have one bin which means I am constantly adding to it, never letting it "cook" uniformly. The other thing is the size, at 4' wide the pallets are big and the area they are in isn't great for turning the pile.
So it's time for a change! I'm considering plans for a new composting system, 2 bins at least, maybe vermicomposting too. As much as the location isn't that good anywhere else is out the question as in summer it would get way too dry without some shade so I'm kinda stuck with the location. Ideally I'd love to get a couple more pallets and do the 2 bin system for a bit, guess I'll keep a look out on freecycle and craigslist for pallets :)
What about cutting the pallets in half? The sides would not be that tall, but they could still contain a good sized pile.
Nice structure you have there. .... I do mine open and on the ground ...cheers! ~ bangchik
Composting is the best. Just knowing you can make beautiful dirt out of useless waste makes me happy. I have spent the entire day adding compost to all of my raised garden beds and that makes it all worth it. I have a big tumbler but am thinking of building a 3 bay system for the waiting line of things to go into the tumbler. My husband has been chipping and shredding every leaf, twig, old straw, alfalfa stems the goats didn't clean up, and pygmy goat poop. Should be a heck of a mixture. I can't wait to see how it comes out. We even scored big bags full of chicken poop to dole into the pile for aging and using next year. I hope it is all as high powered compost as I think it will be.
Good Luck-
Heather
We have been composting with just an open pile(s) and I have been trying to talk my husband into us trying out a system with pallets like you have going. About a year ago a lady on Freecycle was offering up buckets of rabbit poop- a great addition to the compost pile! You can certainly find interesting things there! lol!
It seems that the more compost bins you have the more you need. I started with one and now have 3 and still have a pile waiting to go in. I was at a talk recently and they said the way to do it was to collect your compostable waste into black bin bags and then when you have enough add it all to a new heap in one go. The stuff will have already started to rot down and warm up. I havent tried it yet but may do this summer.
Compost is what all gardeners need. But is there anything that shouldn't go into the compost? Like animal poops, is there any kind that is unacceptable? Thanks.
In the winter, because everything freezes solid here for months on end, I put all the kitchen waste in a large black garbage can to be dealt with at a later date. Great idea - until spring when it's been anaerobically rotting and I put it in a proper wire bin; as I found out yesterday, it stinks! Nothing like that sour compost smell to clean out your nasal passages...
Great looking bins. Much neater than mine, but they serve the same purpose. Great work!
Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will come back again - taking you feeds also, Thanks.