RE: [compost_tea] Lawn Cutting Compost

From: Stephen Steyn <ssteyn_at_wcaccess.co.za>
Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2011 09:55:40 +0200

Well, I must say I like this 98 # lady.

She has hit the nail on the head. If your mind is right, and you understand
the principles of composting, then you can make a compost pile that will
suit your conditions. If you think potting around in the garden can be fun,
then making your compost pile will give you much joy.

SS

 

From: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of gail raby
Sent: 02 December 2011 19:51
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: 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 Sat Dec 03 2011 - 08:30:54 EST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Tue Feb 07 2012 - 13:58:13 EST