BillinDetroit

Talkback: How to make compost

@ nanatigtig
Yes, 2ft sq IS too small for this type of composting ... it will not have sufficient mass to hold its own heat which, if done properly, should exceed 160 deg. F. (~70-76 C) for a prolonged period.

If all you have is a small amount of extra scrap, dig a hole a foot or more deep in the garden, fill it with scraps. and then backfill it with dirt. The naturally occurring worms and beetles and so on will take things from there.

Talkback: How to make a soil sieve

You can also make the frame of 2x4's and staple the screening directly to one face. This becomes the -bottom- face when seiving ... allowing you to seive larger quantities, roughly a bushel, at a time.

Talkback: How to make compost

@jazcaz: make your piles 1 cubic meter (1x1x1) or slightly larger. At this size they are self-insulating. Adding water is a part of above ground composting and should be done every time the pile is turned or dry material is added. The faster method is the better one, as it is doing a better job of sterilizing the lot.

Talkback: How to improve your soil

It's February in Detroit, MI USA and both my compost pile (three, actually) and my soil are still frozen. Nonetheless, it has been my habit to mulch heavily in the fall, dig this in as the weather warms and apply fresh compost (or other mulch, if I am short on compost) as soon as all the seeds have shown themselves. During the growing season, I try to keep a 2-4" layer of mulch at all times. To conserve water, I use a weep irrigation system (Tyvek tubing) and bury it beneath the mulch.

Talkback: How to make compost

@sheilac: The two do not contradict, but complement each other. Once layered, some of the material is on the inside where it will get quite hot ... 170 F / 75 C for a long time. This will kill off both weed seeds and pathogens.

But the outside edges will barely get warm. Turning the mix evens out this process.

Oh, don't bother adding soil to the mix ... it only makes it heavy while adding no benefit at all. There is no need for any form of inoculation.

Talkback: How to make a soil sieve

 

Talkback: How to improve your soil