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Re: Compost questions...

BssnRX@AOL.COM wrote:
>
> In a message dated 97-11-09 19:27:18 EST, you write:
>
> <<      If you put the pile together right the first time, you won't need to
>  turn it, if you avoid over and under watering, you won't have
>  uncomposted volumes to sort out. >>
>
>    There will always be uncomposted parts of a pile without turning it,
> I'd be surprised if turning it 3-4 times in two weeks takes me more than 45 minutes

        Sure, I wrote something I didn't really mean. I meant in contrast to a
pile that has to be turned once a week for six months. I actually turn
mine once.
        I have three bins or areas. The first one is where I collect the
various materials, usually by dumping them there out of my mower bag.
Each part of the pile is broken up as finely as I can. The second bin is
where most of the composting happens.
        I make layers of the materials less than an inch or two thick, raking
it level, scattering a shovel full of dirt on each layer for bacteria. I
make a 3'x3'x3' pile, neat and square with nine lengths of 3" PVC poking
through it. I water each layer as it goes on and alternate, leaves and
grass, manure, food scraps (from really smelly buckets I save up by
chopping all scraps small and covering with water in 5 gal. buckets).
        Then when everything is all settled down I pull out the PVC which
loosens the pile and aerates it.. When I have a pile of new material
saved up (one or two weeks later) I move the working pile over to the
third bin and make a new pile. By that time it is almost completely
decomposed and half it's size. It does work in the third pile some, but
if I need it I use it. This takes 1/2 an hour every week or so.
        I use the compost to make new beds. I got two new ones over this
summer, and I may get one more. I've waited three weeks to mow the lawn
and there ain't much to mow... it seems to be getting cold early this
year in Florida.
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