It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 1:23 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:46 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:43 am
Posts: 15
I have a heap of leaves, etc in the back yard in a sunny spot. If I move the pile to a shady spot, will it still cook? I want to use the sunny spot for something else. Thanks!!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:59 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 9:01 am
Posts: 961
Location: Dallas, TX
You can compost in the basement. Sunlight is unnecessary. The composting process goes on inside the pile, not on the outside edge. The microbes provide the heat.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:35 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:15 am
Posts: 964
Location: Odenville,Alabama
Most of my compost that I make and sell is under partial shade. These piles still get up to temperatures near 160 degrees F ! It is all in your ingredients, the mixture blend, moisture levels, and aeration levels. The hot aerobic microbes do all the work digesting the proteins and carbs in the pile, converting the energy locked inside the organic matter sugars, etc. into heat energy.

I normally can make a ton of mature compost in 1-2 months with hot active aerobic compost windrows.

Happy Gardening!

_________________
The entire Kingdom of God can be totally explained as an Organic Garden (Mark 4:26)
William Cureton


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:23 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:29 pm
Posts: 14
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
I just tended to my three compost piles today. Opened them up a bit, let some air in. Sprinkled in some dry molasses. Sprayed some water down into those gaps. Said hello to some Eisenia fetida friends down inside the one pile, and also noticed the first robin bird in the rear garden after several months. I wonder if he was observing me.....talking to those worms !

We are having unseaonably warm days lately....and it is certain that yet more winter snows will happen here at 6,840 ft. It has to, we desparately need the water. Up to now a winter drought would be a fitting description....so I hand-watered all trees and perennials again and dragged the hose-end sprinkler around to also keep the lawn thatch damp. Don't want those spider mites making-camp in my lawn !

As for our original poster here.....can you chop those leaves up somehow ?, maybe run the lawn mower over smaller piles and then rake up the chunks. Surely you have more than just leaves to offer. Any horse or cattle barns nearby ?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:55 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:43 am
Posts: 15
Thx for all the great advice. I'm in the suburbs with 14 mature trees on 0.25 acres (LOTS of leaves), so based on all the advice I'm sure my mixture and aeration are the problem. The ivy climbs through my pile in the summer, and some potato and onion scraps i threw in actually sprouted and grew, so I'm sure this means the pile is not hot enough. I can buy manure in bags pretty cheap. If I used only dead leaves and bagged manure, what would be the right ratio? My kitchen scraps are too little to speak of . . . thank you!!!!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:42 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:58 pm
Posts: 144
Location: Arlington, Texas
Under the composting topic, in the Library on this site, it says the ratio is "80% vegetative matter and 20% animal waste", but goes on to say that any mix will compost.

I'm looking forward to good things from the pile I just started. I buy manure, as you are thinking to do, and added a 40# bag to 3 bags of leaves and some grass clippings (a gift from the next door neighbors :D ). I treated the soil with Agrispon before I built the pile, and then added diluted liquid molasses after the whole thing was finished.

It's not cooking yet, but hopefully soon.

God speed! :wink:

_________________
God speed!
Cara
**
Take time to stop and smell the flowers!
(or... as my ladybug refrigerator magnet says
"take time to stop and eat the flowers!" :D)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 9:06 am 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:45 pm
Posts: 2884
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
Before you buy any more manure, look for a horse stable in your area. They are usually more than willing to let people come take away their manure.

I harvest manure as follows:
Materials needed
1 5-gallon bucket
1 shovel
1 box of 9- or 13-gallon trash bags
1 wheelbarrow (optional)

Process
  1. Open one or two bags and line the bucket as you would a trash basket.
  2. Shovel manure into the bag/bucket until it is 1/3 full (they get heavy), remove from the bucket, and tie off
  3. Reline the bucket and repeat.
This works well and allows you to carry fresh manure in any car without odor. If you use really cheap bags, you might want to use two at a time.

_________________
David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:04 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 1:58 pm
Posts: 144
Location: Arlington, Texas
Excellent tip. Thank you!

_________________
God speed!
Cara
**
Take time to stop and smell the flowers!
(or... as my ladybug refrigerator magnet says
"take time to stop and eat the flowers!" :D)


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by eWeblife