Topic: My New Composter

[Dianna]

Just thought I would share a picture of my new composter that Jim bought for me last weekend while out shopping...



We have it set up in one corner of the watermelon garden. It is pretty handy in that area. I am looking forward to having my own compost to work with.

[Wrennie]

Nice Dianna! And thata a good spot for it too!

[barleychown]

That's a great spot. So, have you started filling it yet?

I remember thinking I'd never have enough scraps to make composting worthwhile, but you will be suprised at how fast it all adds up! For me, coffee grounds and tea bags are a big part of it, as most my food scraps the chickens get.

[patches]

That's looks great, Dianna!     You're going to love having some good compost to work into your garden beds.   

[Dianna]

Wrennie, the melon patch is right beside the gazebo, so I am hoping it is a good spot. Sure wanna keep the greens and browns "balanced" so I don't have to smell anything while out there...

Yes, Sarah, I have started putting things in there. I am wondering if it will ever get filled enough so it can start cooking at the rate I am going, though. I am thinking about throwing grass clippings and shredded paper in to fill it to get some use out of it this year. When Jim builds my pallette bins in the back field, that will be what will be in those from the start. I'd really like to keep this one here for kitchen waste and such...

Patti, I have been wanting a composter for a while. I tried a five gallon bucket one time and it worked, but really wanted something larger...

One day I hope to be able to mulch with compost, instead of shredded cedar, even though that cedar smells soooo good!

[duh]

Compost isn't a mulching product.  It won't retain moisture or prevent weeds so I wouldn't plan on using it for that purpose.  Sorry to rain on your parade there.  What it will do is if you scratch away some of the top soil from around your plants each year and then fill it back with the compost you won't have to fertilize at all.  Also if you will mix about 50% compost with your soil before planting your tomatoes the quantity of tomatoes will about double. 

Also remember that the amount of compost you get is about 1/4 the volume of the raw materials you put in. 

I don't suggest paper scrapes because I've had some out in my garden for years and it still hasn't decomposed.  Why I don't know, it is newsprint and I cut it into 1 inch pieces before adding it to the compost pile.  I'll tell you one thing I won't do that again.  My newspapers will be used to make paper pots for starting seedlings.  Or to help me start fires in my fireplace.  I love being able to say that lol.

Enjoy your composting.  Once you see the results of using compost I don't think you'll ever stop.

[Triss]

That is a great lil composter.  I could use one of those even with the limited space I have.  How wide is it and where did Jim get it?

[Dianna]

Duh, I am planning on mulching with the compost, but I will probably still use the cedar chips to make the flower gardens look neat and tidy. Will be mulching with just plain compost in the veggie gardens.

I have used newspaper for a long time to be the browns in my compost. I haven't had a problem with it yet, but I do shred it. We don't get many leaves from our trees right now, since they are still little. Our tallest is probably only eight feet tall...

I, also, like to use newspaper as landscaping fabric in my garden beds. Since I have been weeding the gardens this year, I have noticed a big difference in how much umph I have to use to pull weeds out of the places that I used the newspaper. It has, also, been decomposing around the gazebo, so I am refreshing it.

Triss, here is the composter that Jim bought me. He bought it at Sam's Club. It shows the specifications in the link.  I would like to have two more like it, but will be satisfied with the one I have and some palette bins.

[Jim]

That is a great lil composter.  I could use one of those even with the limited space I have.  How wide is it and where did Jim get it?

It came from Sam's Club and didn't cost anywhere near as much as the link that Dianna posted.  It was $39.

[Triss]

That is even cooler than I thought.  So the good stuff goes down through the stuff that is cooking?  Is there a shelf or something in the middle of it to keep them separate?  I am going to be looking for one of those.

[Dianna]

I am not sure I understand your question, Triss? It is just one compartment.

[Triss]

That answers it Dianna, I was wondering if it was 2 compartments.  Still only having one but access to the finished compost is great. 

[Tonya]

That is so cool!! Maybe I can get Doug to get me one for my birthday....... For that price, maybe he'll get me two!

[patches]

  I don't suggest paper scrapes because I've had some out in my garden for years and it still hasn't decomposed.  Why I don't know, it is newsprint and I cut it into 1 inch pieces before adding it to the compost pile.   

Duh, I've never had any trouble with my newspapers breaking down in my compost bin!     Geesh, they just seem to disapper, but the office paper is a different story!   

[duh]

I don't have a clue why I have such problems with it.  Maybe I'm not keeping the pile moist enough. 

But with all the trees on the property I don't think it will be an issue for me anymore.

[Dianna]

Duh, Jim told me last night that I was using the wrong word for what I will be doing with the compost. Top-dressing might be a better word, but to me it is still the same...

[Penny]

Good luck with it Dianna.

[patches]

I was using the wrong word for what I will be doing with the compost. 
Top-dressing might be a better word, but to me it is still the same... 

Geesh, I've always thought of them as one and the same too, Dianna, but that's what I was taught!   

Actually, this comes straight from my Horticulture textbook..."Composting is a microbial process that converts plant materials such as grass clippings and leaves to a more usable organic soil amendment or mulch.  Gardeners have used compost for centuries to increase soil organic matter, improve soil physical properties, and supply some of the essential nutrients for plant growth.  Mulching refers to the practice of applying a layer of materials such as compost, leaves, or grass clippings to the soil surface in order to modify soil temperature and moisture as well as control weeds and soil erosion."

[duh]

interesting.  That seems to indicate that they are talking about the compost before it has decomposed.  Otherwise it wouldn't fulfill the stated functions.  I was thinking about the compost once it is finished.  At that time it is just very rich nice soil and wouldn't provide those things to the flower bed.

Since my compost is now made up of just grass clippings and leaves I would say yes I have used both components to mulch my garden beds at one time or another.