rec.gardens.ecosystems homepage -> archive: MOD$991215.1710@rec.gardens.ecosystems



Subject: Re: waste chipper?
From: "John D. Wheeler" <jdw27_42@xoommail.com>
Organization:
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 99 11:35:40
Message-ID: <MOD$991215.1710@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$991209.7628@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



"Kermit Roger (KR) Lund" wrote:

>
>Is there a "chipper" that is intended to be used on compost source
>material such as household garbage, grasses, weeds, etc.? I envision
>something tougher than a blender but less than required for wood. What
>are techniques for preparing such material for composting?
>thanks
>krl

Since no one has answered your first question directly, what you
describe is called a shredder. They usually come with a chipper that
is designed for wood, but you can find some stand-alone units. They
are primarily designed for dry leaves, but most any dry organic matter
is shredded well by them. Wet organic matter, OTOH, is VERY tricky.
If you're very careful to feed it in slowly, it can work. Or you
might spend an hour taking apart the machine, cleaning it out, and
putting it back together.

Now, as to the ecological aspects, I'd say it really depends on how
much you're dealing with. My parents have some sugar maples for
making syrup, and it takes much less time to shred the leaves and
carry them to the garden than to rake them all there. Plus, the ~10
to 1 reduction in volume makes it manageable to bring them to my
brother and me in the back of my parent's pickup truck.

A good compromise is a bagging lawnmower, assuming you have enough
lawn to need one.

John D. Wheeler
--
ROT-13 the following if you want me to read your email:
wqj27_42@vanzr.pbz