composting

[porcupine kate]

Now that I have to haul my trash to the dump I'm looking for ways to minimize it.

I know there is way more wildlife than I'm used to so I don't want to start a ramdom pile on my landlords yard.  Can anyone tell me about the closed bins that I've seen some people use.  How much are they?
Also what should and shouldn't go into the compost heap.  Also what do I need to to maintain the bin and compost.

[Dreepa]

We can talk about this at the MVP...

[Kat Kanning]

we got some bins free from craigslist

also we burn paper garbage and don't eat much processed food, so make very little garbage.

[dalebert]

I'd do a search about composting but the basic idea is to use something that breathes but contains, usually chicken wire fence. You'll want to use a pitchfork or something and turn it. The stuff underneath breaks down faster than what's on top so this helps it break down faster. Don't put any meat in it but otherwise anything organic, I think. You can put bread, veges, egg shells. You can also pee on it. I think that might actually help it break down faster or something. When we were staying out in a friend's cabin in Sweden and lots of people were crashing there, partying, etc., they had one of those self-contained enviro-toilets. It could handle just about any amount of poo but more than 2 people peeing in it would overwhelm it with ammonia or something faster than it could handle it chemically, so we were encouraged to use the compost heap whenever possible.

[MTPorcupine3]

One more reason not to have socialised garbage pickup. It inspires personal responsability!

[porcupine kate]

The county I lived in didn't have trash pick up.  The apartment complex chose not to recycle when they contracted with a trash company.  In Warner they have mandatory recycling.  I have to recycle at the transfer station.  I called around to try and find someone I could pay to pick up my trash.  My neighbor wanted to go in with me but I haven't found a company that works in Warner.  I don't generate enough trash to get a dumpster.  That is my other option.  I don't mind recycling I just hate putting it in my car and bringing it it the transfer station that has lousy hours.  I also thought since I know so many people with gardens that I would be able to get ride of the compost. 

[Rochelle]

When my parents started a compost, they just built their own container out of wood. It's held up pretty well, but mind you, it's in Kansas not in NH

[dawn]

I love composting! I have 2 plastic store bought composters that I think cost somewhere around $100 each. Kinda pricey, but worth it to me. You can also use pallets which are often given away free to build one. You can use chicken wire around it or in it's own little circle.

Anything that comes from the earth can go into your pile. If you do it right, it will not smell or attract wildlife.

It doesn't take a huge space and is really simple to do. I keep a bucket under my kitchen sink to throw compost into and empty it once a day to keep the fruit flies at bay. If you let it fester, those little buggers will find your goodies!

So, you add your kitchen scraps like wilted lettuce, apple cores and miscellaneous veggies you find lurking in the back corners of your fridge. Also add leaves (brown stuff is needed and keeps the smell away) and
other yard materials.

Do not put weed seeds in there! Unless your pile gets really hot, it will not kill the seeds and they may sprout where and when you use the compost. I get lots of mystery items in my garden from my compost - miscellaneous tomatoes and squashes for example. It's kind of fun sometimes to wait and see what in the world it is...

It is an aerobic process, so it needs air and water. I've read that it should be like a well wrung out sponge - damp not soaking. Stir it around or turn it every now and then to give the microorganisms the air they need.

If you do nothing to it but keep adding organic materials, you will end up with compost. The more you stir it up and keep it watered, the quicker it will break down and give you wonderful compost to add to your gardens and yards.

No meat or fats can be added.

Pile size does matter to, for quicker composting. Too small and it won't heat up fast enough.

Have fun!

We compost and recycle and give a lot of things away so we generate very little trash.

[Fragilityh14]

if you get it wet and then put clear plastic over it seeds will sprout and then die...

composting is great, and very simple, there are some cool things you can do like at three bin system with compost at different points to get better results.

[NHRes2004]

Befriend some worms....not the human type.

Yes, look up info on worm composting.

[Kat Kanning]

Sometimes Russell just buries our kitchen scraps.  Varrin's little garden has been happy with that arrangement.

[Lloyd Danforth]

I have a Tome devoted to composting.  I've never read it as I can't believe the subject requires a tome.  It might not be packed away too deep.

[Dreepa]

Let it Rot is a good book.

[David]

Sometimes Russell just buries our kitchen scraps.  Varrin's little garden has been happy with that arrangement.

Umm, has Varrin been happy with that arrangement?   

[Kat Kanning]

He seems happy with the garden.  I donno