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old hand Reged: 11/21/04 Posts: 9056 Loc: Somewhere Else |
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Easy compost ingredients, means, & method. Meant for folks with limited space. Who cannot do normal outdoor compost piles. (best done in warm weather spring to fall) Requires: A small outdoor space & area that compost drainage will not harm. Items needed. 55 gallon plastic drum, with lid (often found at surplus supply stores for cheap) Small drill & ? inch bit 3 or 4 bricks. (to set the drum of so it has drainage) Drill ? inch holes every 2 inches, in rings 3 or 4 inches apart, all around the drum. Drill 20 or 30 ? inch holes in the bottom of the drum, for drainage. Drill 20 or 30 holes in the lid. (drainage, when you tip drum upside down) ~~~~~~~~ Compost ingredients. 2/3rds bale of wheat straw (preferably shredded) (bale from feed & seed store, around $6 each) 3 or 4 five gallon buckets of horse or cow manure (preferably shredded) (gathered from wherever, free) 2 or 3 five gallon buckets of fruit/produce refuse (preferably shredded) (check with local grocery produce man, or produce market, free) (side note, you can add coffee grounds, potato peelings, spent brewery grains (think local micro-brewery), minor amounts of kelp meal, bone meal, cotton seed meal, soy bean meal (think organic garden supply)Hot air popped pop corn - makes a GREAT additive . (Stay away from adding bagged store bought steer manure). 3 or 4 cups of garden type gypsum powder . (think garden supply, cheap) Quart of vegetable oil. (any type - cheap) Prepare space for drum to sit on bricks. Have enough space - you can tip drum on it?s side & roll it. (back & forth) On a tarp, in a tote, or in a wheel-barrow, mix all ingredients. Fill drum FULL, but not TIGHTLY COMPRESSED or COMPACTED. (content needs to breath) Use hose or bucket to add about 5 gallons of water to drum content. Seal drum, upright - sitting on the bricks. In a few days, tip drum on its side, roll it back & forth. Set drum upright on bricks again. Add another 5 gallons of water. Wait a week. Add 2 or 3 gallons of water. Tip drum over, roll it back & forth. Then, stand drum upright, on bricks UPSIDE DOWN. Wait another week, tip & roll drum again. Stand upright, RIGHT SIDE UP. Add 2 or 3 gallons of water. Seal drum. Wait another week & repeat process. In around 1 month, the compost should be ready. (variables are outside temperatures, Rh, sun/shade conditions) Inspect now & then. When it is about finished, or finished. It will have a high fiber consistency, a garden soil odor & all content should be a caramel like brown color. If you can manage. Staggering 2 or 3 drums will give you a constant supply. For a winter supply. Sun dry however much & store in burlap bags. In a cool - clean - DRY place. If you want to speed up the composting process. Most garden supply places, have bottled compost starter solutions. Buy a bottle & add some to the the first & second waterings. No need for it - after that. -------------------- Edited by agar (02/26/06 03:17 PM)
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