Re: a composting experiment

Dan:  	The chicken/rice mix is probably high in Nitrogen which you don't
need right now.  Your pumpkin goo already contains as much N as you need
for this pile.  As for the leaf mold, I'd hold it near by in case your pile
starts to get to hot at which point it may begin to lose N.  You can tell
when N is being lost or the pile gets excessively hot by the smell. 
Sophisticated composters cover hot piles with a couple of inches of dry
clay.  This helps to hold the temp down by slightly smothering, but most
importantly the clay absorbs the N which is being lost as amonia.  As I've
little clay in my yard, I use any kind of dirt I can quickly get my hands
on, to cover the pile, if I notice it starting to smell.  I'd use the leaf
mold as a cover, if it was available in this case.  I normally use leaf
mold as a mulch.
	Now if you really feel like getting some excersize, turn that leaf mold
into the pile. Right now with my winter pumpkin pushing out my belt line, I
could use a few hours at the compost pile, but eeeeee, you know, it's wet
and chilly out and my pile wouldn't benefit from anything less than the
exhaust from a drier vent (great idea, great idea.)
	As for C/N ratios, I could only guess pumpkin goo is equal to regular
vegitable waste which is about as high in N as you can obtain, outside of
animal wastes.  I believe ratios are only practical in a lab.  Out in the
back yard one must use a thermometer and or your nose to figure out, after
the fact, if you've got a good mix of C/N materials.
	Three Cheers To Dan: the guy with the driest clothes on the pumpkin list. 

Michael in Akron
mcohill@neo.lrun.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PUMPKINS
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index