Backyard Farming Forum
Bringing food production home

Many thanks, Mitch, for going to the trouble of describing your composting. I'm looking forward to the next instalment already.

You don't mention moisture. Do you add water or does the green matter provide enough moisture to keep it going? And how much is too much?

BTW, although I have a pallet system like you do, each of my pallets simply slide over a couple of star pickets. I have three bays like that. I first saw it done that way on Gardening Australia, I think. Or was it Better Homes and Gardens. Can't remember.

We find pallets very useful for other things too. For instance, we have used pallets to make partitions for the stalls in our barn which is the maternity ward for our llamas.

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Granny Smith

Yeah, thanks Mitch - good detailed post.

Is there anything that shouldn't be added to a compost heap ?

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My Websites: http://www.chillies-down-under.com
http://www.bbq-down-under.com

Is that a stainless steel fork you have there??

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www.backyardfarming.com.au
Bringing Food Production Home

I got the top of the line stainless steel fork and after using it for a hr noticed one tine missing. Put it down to a defect in the metal untill I snaped the next one off. They replaced it and I swaped it for a 30yr old fork that mum had, that my brother kept wanting to throw away cos it was old.

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To think before you act is a wise option. But not as funny.

Moisture for this type of heap isn't hard. I simply wet it down once a day, usually in the morning, and any excess water drains through. The trick is to keep the compost always moist but never soggy. Because thats when the heap will turn anaerobic and start to smell, and will take longer to break down.

Anything organic can be added to a compost heap, but most things that are processed such as, pasta, bread or last nights tea, should be fed to the chooks or worms. As these ingredients can attract vermin and cause the pile to smell. Meat and dairy can be added to the pile, but if they are, they should always be buried in the centre of the heap. This is where they will decay the quickest (hottest part of the compost). But I tend to bury these under my trees, because bacteria and organisms thrive on their high protein and fat content, ultimately creating a healthier soil, full of humus and organisms.

And yes that is a stainless steel fork. It was a gift from my Nan, whose eagerly encouraging my gardening interests. Unfortunately its showing signs of spot rust already, (only had it for about six months).

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This is heaven, right here. This is it. Give it all you've got!

To every problem there is a solution. Much of the solution depends on how we view the problem.

Faye - I like the idea of a compost tumbler and for a couple of years (many years back) I tried to pick one up out of the trading post (too bloody expensive new), but never got in on time.

A few years back I visited Northey Street farm here in Brisi. Was not overly impressed I have to admit, but I was interested to see their homemade compost roller, which was a probably 2+ metre long by maybe 1.5 meter diameter cylinder made out of bent metal and with reo and shadecloth stopping the stuff from falling out. The roller is rolled along the ground to mix the ingredients. Have been meaning to make myself one for years, but have never got around to it. I have some renewed motivation to do it because I recently bit the bullet and forked out for a decent chipper mulcher which I now use to chip/mulch the considerable prunings that I have around my place instead of them going to waste at the dump. Because what I chip/mulch generally has a fairly good mix of greeh stuff (leaves) and wood (stems), I reckon the carbon nitrogen mix is probably pretty good. Problem is I can't be fracked keeping turning the pile and so after it has its first big heat up, it tends to stop composting. If I make me a big roller, this stuff and my grass clippings (also ample) should make me some great compost in reasonably quick time (at least that is the theory) LOL.

I used a 200ltr plastic drum(black). Drilled a hole in the top and bottom and found a bit of steel pipe that fitted inside a bit of PVC. Had a table with no top that fitted the drum. Cost was $10.

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To think before you act is a wise option. But not as funny.

Is it better to have your compost pile in a shaded area or in full sun, or does it matter where?

I reckon hotter the better C man

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Gazza's IBC system

Gaz and Danae's Garden

I am going to trial my small on-site compost worm farms in each garden bed.
A bucket with the bottom cut out and lid made from a terracotta plant pot saucer.
Bury into the bed about 90% ,lift lid add compost material.
Let the worms move it around.

We have a natural occurring bush composting area in most of the part of our very back block. So much tree and plant litter piling up down there over many many years has come in handy for around the yard. Its extremely rich and smells wonderful.






But it is all a distance from the house so for general yard, garden, chook and veg wastes I decided on a more user friendly home made compost pile that we can sharpen our composting knowledge on. Pretty simple design using some spare star pickets and some scrap sheet metal. So totally free compost structure. So far we have loaded in a bunch of lawn clipping and autumn leaves and materials and any junk from the chook cage.

Looks good Charlie.

I've been clearing out a hay shed, which was already starting to break down, underneath the raised floor of the shearing shed which has a huge amount of aged sheep manure as well as adding lawn clippings and anything else I can find which is suitable to add.

Hopefully it comes off.

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ArBe

My Country Backyard
My Home AP System

Sounds spot on Arbe. Its great when you can use and reuse things from around the place.