It's Nearly Ready?
By webeishere
@webeishere (36313)
United States
May 20, 2008 5:44pm CST
I started my own compost pile a few weeks or so ago. I've been adding to it a few times a day. Grass clicpping, weeds, small branches broken into tiny pieces and all sorts of table scraps including, orange rinds, water melon rinds, egg shells, coffee grounds, and a few leftovers. No meat, dairy products, fish, feces from my yard, or bones though as I've been told those are a no no. I've made sure it was moist. Friday it looked like things weren't working when I added things and turned it. Well today I added more and when I opened the lid I was shocked as it is turning black and finally decomposing. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to make compost. It is hard work but will be well worth it. Anyone else that does their own compost could you tell me and others here how to tell when it is ready to turn into some garden beds? When I opened the lid it looked like ashes then as I turned it I ran into the blackness of it all.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
5 people like this
10 responses
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
21 May 08
I don't know anything about compost! But just wanted to make a comment that I have noticed since you have gottend DSL that not only has your internet speed increased, so has your discussions that you start have been rolling out a lot quicker as well. Sorry but I haven't been able to keep up with them all!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
"Smokin! Somebody stop me." 
I can't seem to stop or want it I guess huh? 
I didn't realize I have been doing so much as I am still here the same amount of time. But it goes so fast with the discussions, responses, comments and all I can't believe how much I actually do now. I think in the past 36 hours my points have gone up aboput 150 or so. So yeah it deos seem I've been a lot more active. 
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
I can't seem to stop or want it I guess huh? I didn't realize I have been doing so much as I am still here the same amount of time. But it goes so fast with the discussions, responses, comments and all I can't believe how much I actually do now. I think in the past 36 hours my points have gone up aboput 150 or so. So yeah it deos seem I've been a lot more active.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~1 person likes this
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
21 May 08
Yep, I have noticed a difference. Currently right at the moment, I am picking up a wireless connection from my neighbor, so it is much quicker than the dial up that I have. There are times that I can't get a connection through the wireless and have to use dial up and it is way sooooo sloowwww!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
I would go nuts if I had to go back to dialup. It's so much easier to make more cash here now I think. I may have to slow down so my friends can catch up with my discussions and responses and cooments huh?
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
21 May 08
Yeah so my dirt is almost ready than right hehehe? So you on your way to $10 today?
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
It's not dirt. You mix it into the dirt or around plants as a mulch. I have no idea what I've done today as far as points and or responses etc. I've been in and out of the house. Plus I keep getting booted with some IE errors. I keep rebooting. But it is sporadic as far as that. I doubt today will be my $10 day as I am wore out and about to take a break.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM DADDY !!~
1 person likes this
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
21 May 08
Either way its ready for me right lol. I had that same problem when i first installed IE7 there was some patch I had to download and it fixed the problem.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
That's what I thought as well that there's a
patch for fixing it. But after this weekends
ordeal with the crash I am sooo leery.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM DADDY !!~
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
21 May 08
I have been wanting to start a compost pile for awhile now just not sure how to get started. I live in a subdivision so the vessel I keep it in cannot stink out the neighbors or they will tell the dreaded association and I don't want trouble. I do want my own fertilizer for my plants.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
22 May 08
If it's made correctly there is not really a bad odor.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
21 May 08
wow! that sounds like it took relatively quick. I have not made compost as all our scraps tend to go to the chickens.
Did you use some sort of enzyme to get it going?
Do you have a special barrel or other device that you are containing it in?
I've seen some nice ones made out of free pallets.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
I have a black circular bin. I just added some dried leaves, grass, table scraps and water to start it. Been adding each day as well. It is looking good. I think this is about 2 weks or so that I've had it out back.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@mummymo (23706)
•
21 May 08
Glad that your composting seems to be working AGB! I have often thought about trying it but we have never quite gotten there! Not sure when it is ready myself but I found out some info from this link so thought I would add it for you to see if it helped! Good luck!
http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/composting.html
the bit that tells you when it is ready is about 3/4 of the way down the page! xxx
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
Thanks for this link. Very helpfull as well. It is nearly done according to these 2 links I've recieved here.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM AGB!!~
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
21 May 08
It is ready when you pick it up and it feels like dirt when you break it in your hand..
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
Thanks. It ios nearly at that stage. It is in smaller hard clumps sort of right now. I mixed it again this morning and it is smaller clumps now. Not yet breaking easily though.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
21 May 08
I really need to start doing that! As I toss out so many peels, coffee grounds.. etc, etc..
@blackbriar (9075)
• United States
21 May 08
That's the only problem I've run into with composting. I never knew when it was really ready but since it just goes into the garden and/or flower beds, I just dump it in and dig it under. If I'm using it for potting soil, I'll dump it into an empty garbage can till I need it. By then, it's usually done. Basically, when it the pile feels cool after sinking a hand into it, it's done.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
21 May 08
Back on the farm we always had a goodly sized compost
pile going and when it turned a nice black color
we could then use it. when my hubby was alive and we
had our own house we also made a compost pile. he claimed
when the compost looked like good planter mix it was ready
to use in planting.
@Rosekitty (19368)
• San Marcos, Texas
21 May 08
Grandpa Bob..since your weather is probably cooler than here in Hot Humud texas already 98 today..then i would give it another week..keep checking it,and turning it and you should have a nice compost for use...I like to add worms to mine to help it along.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 May 08
The bin and items sit on the bare ground. So I've
got lots of worms making their home there as it is.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
