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Subject: Re: compost question
From: "Bill Robinson" <roseguy@gte.net>
Organization:
Date: Sat, 06 Feb 99 00:00:07
Message-ID: <MOD$990205.8229@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



O.M. Clements said that he was having a problem getting his
compost pile to start cooking.

There was a post suggesting a bit of urine.

A practical answer. Urine is high in nitrogen and the main
reasons piles are slow in getting started is because they
are either too dry or too low in the nitrogen fraction of the
carbon/nitrogen ratio.

The FAQ at http://metalab.unc.edu/rge has an Organic
Gardening Class series and Session #3 of that series
touches on Composting. I think that Stu Campbell's, "Let
it Rot!" is one of the better references that might be
helpful as well.

Sometimes compost piles are slow in getting started
because they are short of oxygen. Turning the pile, adding
something like a sack of steer manure, and watering the whole
thing down will often kick start the pile into action.

best all around referencesSession

Bill