Build a Compost Bin and Begin Composting!

Looking for ideas in how to compost?? We’ll look no further!

[@roncatlin7271]

i really appreciate someone that adds soil to their compost. i do this often. one word of advice here though, source some of your soil locally. using 'foreign' soil will introduce some diverse life, which is a good thing, into your compost but what if your compost can't support some of the life that was just introduced. if i lived in seattle i wouldn't use soil that was obtained in florida not to imagine the transportation cost & carbon footprint left behind.. local soil will probably be more closely tailored for your hyphae and/or rhizosphere which is what most gardeners dream about. your property looks like there may be old growth trees nearby, maybe even on your property. find a spot that grows mushrooms regularly and scratch up some of that soil for your compost heap. i'm 1/2 mi from a wildlife preserve and a retired hydroelectric dam and during the drought times of summer i replenish my water barrel with river water that has just crossed over the dam and i also am scratching up some of the mushroom growing earth from the wildlife preserve that nearly always populated with mushrooms. also, if you are checking temps on your heap you probably realize that temps above 160F are deadly to everything. add your soil during cool down from thermophilic rather than heating up, that was living matter won't be destroyed by the heat composting can produce. good job though. bravo !!!

[@LeadaQuietLlife]

Thank you! I really appreciate the advice! I’ll try and add some soil from around the property next time I add some.

[@TheDrivewayGarden]

Hi! You don't need to add soil/dirt to your compost. There isn't much life left in that topsoil by the time it hits the store shelf and gets to your house. All this really does is add volume without adding any of the beneficial organisms that really get your compost cooking. There are better things to add to get that healthy living soil that you're after!

[@kevindegracia7609]

To achieve a high temperature for hot composting, I think the pile should be at least 4 ft. high. But I think you're good for a cold composting. Good luck !

[@roncatlin7271]

size matters some but isn't everything. i trash can compost in 20 & 32 gallon trash cans and my temps get hot enough, long enough to reach thermophilic stage. you just need to understand how to generate heat in your pile.

[@valeriesalazar2743]

You really don’t need any type of dirt but if you would like to add a scoop of naive soil that’s a good way to introduce beneficial bacteria

[@relaxandunwind1496]

I used to use a shredder. I used lawn clippings, manure, and wood mulch. Whoo boy that pile got hot once all mixed up. Turned to black gold. My plants loved it.

[@roncatlin7271]

i love grass growing season. i get excited waiting for the sun to change position so i can start mowing my lawn. grass clippings could almost be marketed as instant compost.