Poop Compost advice. Worth it or not? - Page 4

booger · 03-06-2011, 10:23 PM

Thinking of doing my own composting this spring. Plenty of yard waste to round up and i might end up putting in a raised garden bed for just a few things like tomatoes, aspargus and wanted to know those that do their own compost is it worth it or not.

Saw a few different ideas on building a tumbler and there are plenty for sale. Any ideas/experiences on that would great too. Building one to ventilate properly seems like it could be tricky.

MOhillbilly · 03-07-2011, 11:22 AM

we dug a square hole,put garden net at the bottom, lined it with cinder blocks, & put a lid on it. maybe 4x4x4. We used red wigglers and african night crawlers. Lots of leaves, semi green manure, fruit,vegi, & coffee ground.

You can still see it at the house in town....20 years later.

I understand how they aerate the (compost) to livin up the good microbes(kinda). Im hearing tenmillion diffirent approaches on how to 'boil' the tea. You have to have a special bags, special stuff for the microbes to eat, high powered aeraters ect.

Ive seen guys use garden hoses with holes cut in em & 55 plastic drums with harbor freight air pumps. They say it works, others say you have to generate super fine air bubble to get the microbes to eat right and take off.

Everyone i know looks at me like im reeruned when i bring it up. Ive seen some very fascinating studies that relate to plant growth and root depth.

MOhillbilly · 03-07-2011, 11:32 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shIBFdGBGfo

compost tea how to vid.

Guy has some great tricks & puts out a sick patch of greens. Knows his shit.

booger · 03-07-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seclark

this.

we don't put dog shit in it though. my dog goes across the road and pinches.

i'm sure mo can set you up w/the info to get it started though. good luck
sec

i'm tempted to look into on of them redworm boxes for composting. A few sites i have looked up say some people have good luck with them composting the dog shit too. Plus i fish so i could get the worms fat and use em for bait. As long as the fish like worms that eat dog shit it could be a good thing.

booger · 03-07-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I was about to ask if you have dogs...

Here's the problem - that stuff stinks and your dogs will do what they can to root in/near your trough. Everytime I go to the in-laws, I have to watch my idiot mongrels because I know they'll bury their heads in that mulch pile. Then they come in absolutely smelling like ass.

If you do it, make sure you're able to stay on top of it because it piles up in a hurry. It takes up a bunch of space and doesn't rot away as quickly as you'd think. Everyone I know that has tried it gave up on it after a year or so (save my in-laws), but good luck to you.

Thanks man. I'm thinking now with the info from everyone i will do a barrel type rotating tumbler of some size, i don't know which yet for the garden compost.

then this video seemed like a good idea for a part of my yard that slopes away from my garage/shop. Plus i would have all materials on hand to make it which is a major plus and would just have to pick up some river rock or swipe a bucket of gravel off a gravel road.

Either this one or the one Sac mentioned earlier in the thread. Nothing fancy as the harsh winters and ground freezes if it cracks the material after a couple years i'm only out a bucket.

booger · 03-07-2011, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmax63

If you want to do it as a hobby/feel good thing then go for it. I built an 8x12 greenhouse last fall and bought a full 8' pickup bed full (2 cubic yards) of compost for around $25-30 at a landscaping type place and there is no way to make it for that kind of price.

I figured as much. I'll either get a smaller size tumbler just for myself or a bigger one in case i get some interest locally if anyone uses it. Kind of a scratch my back i'll scratch yours neighborly type of thing. Central Iowa and Iowa in general has really good soil already so i'm not sure there would be a ton of interest.

thanks

booger · 03-07-2011, 11:18 PM

this guy has an interesting method for the dog crap turning it into liquid compost over a weeks time. Not for the veggie gardens but could help out someone who is into more ornamental type stuff and supposedly improving soil quality which he shows at the end of video 4.
part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

booger · 03-07-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOhillbilly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shIBFdGBGfo

compost tea how to vid.

Guy has some great tricks & puts out a sick patch of greens. Knows his shit.

that sure looks like it's worth a try. I got an air pump, air tubing, and air stones from a minnow/chub bait tank that isn't set up right now.

03-06-2011, 10:23 PM
booger Don't Tug on Superman's Cape Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: clear out in the sticks Casino cash: $958550	Compost advice. Worth it or not? Thinking of doing my own composting this spring. Plenty of yard waste to round up and i might end up putting in a raised garden bed for just a few things like tomatoes, aspargus and wanted to know those that do their own compost is it worth it or not. Saw a few different ideas on building a tumbler and there are plenty for sale. Any ideas/experiences on that would great too. Building one to ventilate properly seems like it could be tricky.
Posts: 12,512

03-07-2011, 11:22 AM	#46
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	we dug a square hole,put garden net at the bottom, lined it with cinder blocks, & put a lid on it. maybe 4x4x4. We used red wigglers and african night crawlers. Lots of leaves, semi green manure, fruit,vegi, & coffee ground. You can still see it at the house in town....20 years later. I understand how they aerate the (compost) to livin up the good microbes(kinda). Im hearing tenmillion diffirent approaches on how to 'boil' the tea. You have to have a special bags, special stuff for the microbes to eat, high powered aeraters ect. Ive seen guys use garden hoses with holes cut in em & 55 plastic drums with harbor freight air pumps. They say it works, others say you have to generate super fine air bubble to get the microbes to eat right and take off. Everyone i know looks at me like im reeruned when i bring it up. Ive seen some very fascinating studies that relate to plant growth and root depth. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

03-07-2011, 11:32 AM	#47
MOhillbilly Mama Tried Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Missouri Casino cash: $9949903	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shIBFdGBGfo compost tea how to vid. Guy has some great tricks & puts out a sick patch of greens. Knows his shit. __________________ True Son of Liberty
Posts: 23,371

03-07-2011, 11:18 PM	#51
booger Don't Tug on Superman's Cape Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: clear out in the sticks Casino cash: $958550	this guy has an interesting method for the dog crap turning it into liquid compost over a weeks time. Not for the veggie gardens but could help out someone who is into more ornamental type stuff and supposedly improving soil quality which he shows at the end of video 4. part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 __________________ 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Posts: 12,512