How many people have compost piles?

United States
March 26, 2008 9:20pm CST
I have been putting my compostable materials right on the garden to be turned over in the spring and broken down by bacteria and earthworms. I do not have the room for a compost pile so I compost right in the garden. Several years I would pile the soil high where I was going to plant and in the walk ways I would put the compostable material. I am no longer at that place so I do not know how that worked out. What I want to know is how many different ways thee are to compost materials beside s the compost pile? Please let everyone know how you have done composting.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
31 Mar 08
I compost in many different ways. I'll avoid the usual methods already mentioned. I have seen people who put organic scraps in the plastic boxes that kitty litter comes in from the store. They seal air tight so there isn't any stink. The organic material will turn to liquid. This can be mixed with water or applied directly to the soil. Worms are a great way to compost. You can buy them by the pound. They will eat the organic scraps and give you what is known as black gold in return. Yard waste like leaves can be turned into the soil to amend growing areas as well.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I started a good compost setup when I lived in MN several years ago but like you, I'm not living there anymore so don't know how it turned out. I'm renting here now and hope not to be here long, so I can't do a real compost pile here. I started saving my vegetable scraps and such in a large coffee can and I've been adding a bit of water to it. I've got a milk jug that I water my plants from and I put some of that 'water' in it too. My houseplants are definitely perking up from that. Coffee is great too. I dump the used coffee with filters in another large can and I'm going to work that into the dirt that I'll be planting some vegetables in. Worms love the coffee too. Oh, I add my eggshells to the coffee too, since they'll break up and work easily into the soil too.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
28 Mar 08
I do both. My garden is very small, so I compost around the edges when I can, and turn the soil whenever the crop is harvested. I also have a small area near the back door that I continually dig in food scraps as well as a few leaves, grass clippings and so on. It has very good soil finally and I use that to start seeds with.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Mar 08
my dad composts right in the garden spots. It is funny sometimes to see plants spring from the compost before he has turned it over to plant again.
1 person likes this
@jimbelle (485)
• Philippines
27 Mar 08
I usually practice segregation. We do compositng right in the garden for leaves and cuttings from plants. I also have a container for smaller volume of composting like those from peelings of fruits and vegetables where I cut them into small pieces for faster compositing. I usually use clay pot. In few weeks it will turn in soil which I use for planting.
1 person likes this