Composting
Wherever possible I think it’s a good idea to make your own garden compost. It not only saves you having to dispose of garden waste at the local tip, the compost that you make is great for the garden. There’s an old saying that goes “you only get out of the garden what you put into it!” and one of the best things you can put into a garden is organic matter.
19 Responses to Composting
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I’d be really worried about the wood preserver. I use untreated pallet wood and I put a lid on the top with a good overhang, which gives protection from the elements. If you really want to preserve the bin then a coat of organic hemp oil or linseed oil would be preferable but a gracefully-aging compost bin blends in better with an organic garden! Thanks for posting.
Organikmechanic
January 9, 2012 at 10:19 am
@Megich Just garden waste and kitchen scraps to get started. Remember to keep the pile’s moisture levels balanced, too dry or too wet can both hinder the decomposing process. Too wet, add browns like dead leaves. Too dry, add greens like the grass mulch after you cut your grass… Good Luck!
bertdiaz35
January 9, 2012 at 10:43 am
Hi , this i a helpful video and i’m new in this thing never done it before , but i want to know if there must be some soil in the newly starte compost or just the waste and scraps will do ?
Thanks a lot
Megich
January 9, 2012 at 11:28 am
I echo the concerns using wood preservative. It’s a pesticide and potent enough a chemical to keep away from anything to do with food and gardens. I suspect that for a cheap natural wood sealer that boiled linseed will work well for this kind of application. 2-3 coats will go a long way. Nice design on the bin!
carpenterjai
January 9, 2012 at 12:06 pm
This guy gets merit for his compost bin instruction, but I wonder about the chems.
I personally glean (get for free) old pallets, and not worry about them “rotting”. The pallets themselves are also composting, and are freely replaceable.
His attention to craftsmanship, however, is honorable.
An old man I know uses olive oil as a “mild” wood preservative, making last a bit longer, without toxifying the compost. Just a thought.
BhaktaNeal
January 9, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Chemicals
MrMaleBee
January 9, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@teflod – I think you’re right. That stuff constantly offgases. I’d stay away from it. Read the book “Cradle-to-Cradle” if you want to learn more about offgasing chemicals.
jbibm81
January 9, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Isn’t there a problem in using the preservative as the compost will potentially take up some of teh chemicals. This is not a great idea particularly if you are growing food. There is evidence that arsenic can be introduced in this way.
teflod
January 9, 2012 at 2:23 pm
I was at Good Will the other day and a man was buying a used toy chest the large plastic kind made from fisher price I think. He said he was going to drill some holes in the bottom and use it for a compost bin closer to his house.. I bet it will work ok because those things are made to last.
Allen2045
January 9, 2012 at 2:27 pm
What a great question! I bet it would be ideal for them to be composted, but unless the volumes your bunnies and chickies produces is ENORMOUS it is probably perfectly fine raw.
Have fun!
SaviourSole
January 9, 2012 at 3:26 pm
I have a question for you. I have Rabbits and Chickens. Are their droppings better for the garden if put directly on the garden?…or are they better if Composted first? Thank you for your help! 🙂
Stormclouds777
January 9, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Thanks for the pallet idea. Mine isn’t near as fancy as yours, but it’s functional and it was free!!
MomOfTwoInTexas
January 9, 2012 at 3:50 pm
For a medium sized garden I find that two of the plastic compost bins are sufficient. Also plastic bins don’t suffer from drying out like open-slatted wooden ones. See the video of my bin (if allowed by Hoggywart) for details.
johnjrp01
January 9, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I prefer compost tumbler for fast composting it only take less than a week for the organic garbage to turn to humus. Plus the humus goes to my vermicompost bin as beddings for my worms making an even more better natural fertilizers. Just try it.
TogieTung
January 9, 2012 at 5:25 pm
que pena que no entiendo un pomo!!!!
brunerss1
January 9, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Son videos muy educativos. Me han ayudado a poder aprovechar mejor la naturaleza.
venkoze
January 9, 2012 at 6:53 pm
I appreciate the composting tool you have built, I would like to know more about how it works. Also, the chemicals you are applying to help the wood last longer… will that be unheathy for true orgainic gardening?
mikeandlaurie1979
January 9, 2012 at 7:52 pm
I’ve been using this composting method for a few years now and it works well. Be careful using wood preservatives however. Particularly if you plan on using the finished compost in a vegetable garden. Try preserving with citrus oil. My first boxes I built were with treated wood that rotted away anyway within a few years.
mahalo111
January 9, 2012 at 8:14 pm
way to go in that method,
LeoBurns728
January 9, 2012 at 8:43 pm