I have been doing some studying about composting. We have a box behind the greenhouse that is a composting box. Evidently (I don't know because I didn't put it together) it has a screen on the bottom. There is no bottom because the compost material is supposed to attract worms to come help compost. I had no idea. So the composting is complete when the material in the box is dark, "moist yet crumbly to touch" and has an "earthy smell". It took me a while, but after doing a lot of reading, I think I understand that the finished product is worm poop. I read that I can buy worms to add to the compost pile. They help aerate it, and they eat the garbage...the end result is what they poop out. I guess that is cheaper than the zoo doo, but it takes a lot of freaking worms to produce a pile the size of elephant poo. So maybe zoo doo is a better, quicker deal. I am contemplating all this.
I think that with zoo doo...I miss the opportunity to recycle my unused garbage and put everything back to earth, rather than in a land fill. Philosophically this makes a lot of sense and feels right. But practically, I am OK with sprinkling zoo doo for quick results. I am going to ruminate on this.
Some of the issues I have with the whole composting thing is that I cannot compost any meat, dairy, or greasy foods that attract pests. This is a nice, clean word for rats. At least that's my guess. Pet poop should also not be used in the pile. I can put "green material" in the pile. That consists of veggies, and grass clippings and yard waste. For every amount of green material, an equal amount of brown material needs to be added. Brown material can be wood chips, hay, twigs, wood ashes, dried out leaves, or dried out lawn clippings. Organic brown material can include: clean cotton or wool rags, DRYER LINT, string, rope, untreated hair...where will THAT come from? and paper towels with no grease on them. I have two bails of straw that were supposed to be for the garden over the winter. I could use that. Or, I could become obsessive and start collecting dryer lint and scooping hair out of the sinks, and the vacuum cleaner bag...(not a chance of that happening).
After I add the brown material on top of the green material, I can mix it up. Then on top of that I add some soil. It introduces microorganisms to speed up the decomposing process.
Before I even begin, 3-4 inches of twigs needs to be added to the bottom of the pile to promote air circulation and avoid odors. Avoid odors? We have rotting food and worm poop. My guess is if I don't want odors, don't compost.
Once again, I have questions. The book says the material cannot be too hot or too cold. OK...in Arizona, 90 degrees is a warm day. Here, 55 is a warm day. So I am guessing if I see icicles or steam, I have missed the mark.
Too moist is also a problem. It should be "moist". Alrighty then, moist it is. Not wet, not dry, moist.
This composting could be waaaaayyyyyyy more trouble than it is worth. It sounds as though I could conceivably spend my days running around collecting green and brown material, and mixing garbage inside a bin. The bottom of the bin has an opening for removal of the composing material. I am envisioning a huge pile of moist, dark rich composted stuff when it is all done. Wrong again! It looks from the pictures that this 50 gallon bin will produce about 3 tablespoons of composted material. Enough for a small petunia. This is why I am having serious doubts about cost effectiveness and time spent with this whole composting thing.
Zoo doo is looking better and better. I know myself well enough to know that I am going to have to try this, and see what comes up. If it doesn't work out, or turns out that I suck at composting, I will entertain the thought next year of having a load of zoo doo delivered. The only thing stopping me right now is that I will have to get out there in my hip boots and spread poo all by myself. As fabulous as he is, I don't think I could talk my partner into shoveling s*** for me.
I will keep you "posted".
Karen
P.S. I don't know if I am spelling Zoo Doo correctly, so if anyone knows...please enlighten me.
I think that with zoo doo...I miss the opportunity to recycle my unused garbage and put everything back to earth, rather than in a land fill. Philosophically this makes a lot of sense and feels right. But practically, I am OK with sprinkling zoo doo for quick results. I am going to ruminate on this.
Some of the issues I have with the whole composting thing is that I cannot compost any meat, dairy, or greasy foods that attract pests. This is a nice, clean word for rats. At least that's my guess. Pet poop should also not be used in the pile. I can put "green material" in the pile. That consists of veggies, and grass clippings and yard waste. For every amount of green material, an equal amount of brown material needs to be added. Brown material can be wood chips, hay, twigs, wood ashes, dried out leaves, or dried out lawn clippings. Organic brown material can include: clean cotton or wool rags, DRYER LINT, string, rope, untreated hair...where will THAT come from? and paper towels with no grease on them. I have two bails of straw that were supposed to be for the garden over the winter. I could use that. Or, I could become obsessive and start collecting dryer lint and scooping hair out of the sinks, and the vacuum cleaner bag...(not a chance of that happening).
After I add the brown material on top of the green material, I can mix it up. Then on top of that I add some soil. It introduces microorganisms to speed up the decomposing process.
Before I even begin, 3-4 inches of twigs needs to be added to the bottom of the pile to promote air circulation and avoid odors. Avoid odors? We have rotting food and worm poop. My guess is if I don't want odors, don't compost.
Once again, I have questions. The book says the material cannot be too hot or too cold. OK...in Arizona, 90 degrees is a warm day. Here, 55 is a warm day. So I am guessing if I see icicles or steam, I have missed the mark.
Too moist is also a problem. It should be "moist". Alrighty then, moist it is. Not wet, not dry, moist.
This composting could be waaaaayyyyyyy more trouble than it is worth. It sounds as though I could conceivably spend my days running around collecting green and brown material, and mixing garbage inside a bin. The bottom of the bin has an opening for removal of the composing material. I am envisioning a huge pile of moist, dark rich composted stuff when it is all done. Wrong again! It looks from the pictures that this 50 gallon bin will produce about 3 tablespoons of composted material. Enough for a small petunia. This is why I am having serious doubts about cost effectiveness and time spent with this whole composting thing.
Zoo doo is looking better and better. I know myself well enough to know that I am going to have to try this, and see what comes up. If it doesn't work out, or turns out that I suck at composting, I will entertain the thought next year of having a load of zoo doo delivered. The only thing stopping me right now is that I will have to get out there in my hip boots and spread poo all by myself. As fabulous as he is, I don't think I could talk my partner into shoveling s*** for me.
I will keep you "posted".
Karen
P.S. I don't know if I am spelling Zoo Doo correctly, so if anyone knows...please enlighten me.
Composting is the perfect opportunity to make this a family affair. Perhaps your husband to be would help turn the compost pile for you. It's a task much more suited to a strong upper body.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think. Delegate delegate delegate
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