Re: [compost_tea] Lawn Cutting Compost
As I understand compost, in the most simple of language, you need the
greens and the browns.
(Thats the carbon-nitrogen ratio which should be
about 30 to 1, C to N.)
So I save some bags or piles of leaves from fall or early spring
cleanup to mix in with grass clippings
and other green waste, and veggie kitchen waste and eggshells. Also
in the pile goes any partially composed mulch or straw from pathways
and small
easily snapped twigs.
And I throw in a sprinkling of bought vermi-compost from a local
organic vermi-compost
operation and some garden soil to innoculate the heap-barrel-pile
with microbes. And periodically a dusting of home-made fertilizer
(not just PNK but all sorts of organic materials with a full range of
trace minerals as well)
This is a small cold compost set up on my carport and is layered in
from the top. When I water the
decorative hanging baskets on the carport, the
compost bin gets watered too. To facilitate aeration and watering, I
have a bit of perforated plastic going the center.
When my grass gets too long to leave clippings
on the lawn when cut, I have the clippings blown off and bagged by guy
who cuts my grass. With my bag of leaves and bag of grass cuttings, I
spinkle one layer after another into the compost
bin. Kitchen waste is added and topped with leaves from the bag, or
simply poked
into the heap. Any small easily snapped twigs are
broken and added as well.
Mine is just a simple suburban solution. I have done the traditional
hot composting, out in the
yard, with delivered manure, and using veggie
waste from veggie markets and stores, turning of the pile and all of
that -- but I no longer have the time and energy (a little 98#, older
lady age thing) or paid help to do that.
But to not compost the compostable waste which
I generate would be like giving up a part of my
life -- its just what I do as much as planting seeds and weeding or
cooking dinner or washing clothes. Its a way of life. And when
possible, I
get clients to set up compost bins as well.
We all have our own situations and we either change our situation or
adapt to them. For some, composting means huge windrows and large
farm equipment, for others is large bins and grab rakes or shovels,
and for me its a carport operation.
But the principles are basically the same -- a C:N
ratio, a method of aeration so you don't have
anaerobic spots, the right degree of moisture, and
making sure you have good microbial and
mineral content. And if hot composting, making
sure its hot enough to work but no so hot you
burn off elements you want retained in the pile.
No matter what size compost you create, no matter if its hot
composting or cold, you need to
have a workable C to N ratio and saving leaves from winter means you
can achieve that. If you don't have enough of your own trees, you can
always go curb-side shopping and the leaves are pre-bagged for easy
storage in some corner of your property. With clear bags, you can easily
see the contents.
g
Received on Fri Dec 02 2011 - 13:57:35 EST
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: Tue Feb 07 2012 - 13:58:13 EST