Re: Composting

Related issue - I have decided to mulch my vegetable garden with  
straw next spring?. Do I put the straw into the compost pile at  
season's end, or simply dig it into the garden soil?

Cathy, west central IL, z5b

On Nov 25, 2006, at 7:02 PM, Zemuly Sanders wrote:

> How great to hear from you, Marge.  On the subject of comoposting,  
> I know I have mentioned our MG compost project in the past, but for  
> anybody who wasn't here then or has forgotten... We found an  
> excellent way to compost by creating our enclosure out hay bales  
> and simply incorporating them into the mix as they break down.  We  
> make all the compost for the UT WTREC (Univ. of TN West TN Research  
> & Education Center), formerly known as the UT Experiment Station.
> zem
> zone 7
> West TN
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@clubhouse- 
> designs.com>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 6:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Composting
>
>
>>> From: Johnson Cyndi D Civ 95 CG/SCSRT
>> <cyndi.johnson@edwards.af.mil>
>>> So how many of you have real compost piles? Are you diligent about
>>> turning them or is it just a place to dump organic matter?
>> ----------
>> I've been making compost for something like 36 years or so.  Have a
>> main compost area that is 2 piles...one old I use and the other being
>> added to plus several smaller piles around behind things to save
>> hauling it back to the main one and a couple major mounds in the
>> woods - gotta go mine those soon as I'm using my 'good' pile up fast
>> with potting soil and will soon run out.  Everything gets either
>> composted or eaten by the critters who also go through the kitchen
>> waste just to make sure I haven't put anything really tasty on the
>> heap.
>>
>> I used to turn it but have not for many years.  Find it decomposes
>> fine in a year so the old pile works for putting on beds or making
>> potting soil.  Weeds sprout from it but mostly in the potting soil
>> mix and they're easy to pull out of the pots - my beds are so full
>> they don't get much chance to grow and I mulch as well.
>>
>> Also have a couple three leaf piles - the resulting leaf mold is
>> black gold.
>>
>> O'course, I also have regular rain.  You're right, Cyndi - water is
>> the key to compost rotting.  I've had dry years and no time to water
>> leaf piles and dug into them a year or so later to find wads of dry
>> leaves same as went into them.  Think you might give that black
>> plastic idea a try...good thought.
>>
>> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
>> who is waaaaay behind with email yet again....
>>
>> mtalt@hort.net
>> Shadyside Garden Designs
>>
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