Thinking about starting a backyard garden, and interested in any tips people have on composting (best composters, techniques, etc).
i use leaves , cut grass ,yard waste, food scraps(vegetable only) cardboard ,newspaper,paper towels,etc. i chop it all up with a mulching lawn mower.you can add a small amount of fertilizer it will speed things along,but not necessary,turn it 1 time a week ,keep it damp (not wet) after a week or so you will notice steam if you turn it in the cool of the morning it will start to smell like fresh earth,and take on a burned ashy look,and heat up .after a couple of weeks no more heat and it’s finished if it’s kept damp worms will move in.you can now use it on the garden but mix it well with soil it will dry out on top of the ground.
i use leaves , cut grass ,yard waste, food scraps(vegetable only) cardboard ,newspaper,paper towels,etc. i chop it all up with a mulching lawn mower.you can add a small amount of fertilizer it will speed things along,but not necessary,turn it 1 time a week ,keep it damp (not wet) after a week or so you will notice steam if you turn it in the cool of the morning it will start to smell like fresh earth,and take on a burned ashy look,and heat up .after a couple of weeks no more heat and it’s finished if it’s kept damp worms will move in.you can now use it on the garden but mix it well with soil it will dry out on top of the ground.
References :
Composting is easy and fun. Here is a link to an article that should help you:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2101471_construct-easiest-compost-bin.html
Good Luck!
References :
Hi,
I bought a great compost tumbler from eartheasy.com
Check them out here:
http://eartheasy.com/shop/composting.htm
They have indoor and outdoor composters – many varieties.
Also, there’s a great article on everything composting here:
http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.htm
"Start you compost pile on bare earth. This allows worms and other beneficial organisms to aerate the compost and be transported to your garden beds.
Lay twigs or straw first, a few inches deep. This aids drainage and helps aerate the pile.
Add compost materials in layers, alternating moist and dry. Moist ingredients are food scraps, tea bags, seaweed, etc. Dry materials are straw, leaves and wood ashes. If you have wood ashes, sprinkle in thin layers, or they will clump together and be slow to break down.
Add manure, green manure ( clover, buckwheat, wheatgrass ) or any nitrogen source. This activates the compost pile and speeds the process along.
Keep compost moist. Water occasionally, or let rain do the job.
Cover with anything you have – wood, plastic sheeting, carpet scraps. Covering helps retain moisture and heat, two essentials for compost. Covering also prevents the compost from being over-watered rain. The compost should be moist, but not soaked and sodden.
Turn. Every few weeks give the pile a quick turn with a pitchfork or shovel. This aerates the pile. Oxygen is required for the process to work, and turning "adds" oxygen. You can skip this step if you have a ready supply of coarse material, like straw.
References :
http://www.eartheasy.com
http://gardening-tips-idea.com/GardeningComposting.html
quite help full
References :