All you need to know about compost and composting

Good morning, and welcome once again to Coverin’ the Bases. Thank you all for coming and it’s good to see you back.

When we started this column, I thought I knew quite a bit about the topics we speak about. These being recipes, gardening, cooking, canning, vacuum sealing, and the like.

Honestly, in regards to our own situation, we are pretty self-sufficient in many ways. But in regards to the “science” of what we’re doing, our website’s log-in for me, could literally be…imadumee! Kudos to Brian…right, ole’ buddy?

I had no idea of the amount of knowledge and information in regards to our topics that is out there, literally it’s endless. Does it all apply? No, it doesn’t, but it DOES in many cases.

For example, let’s look at the subject of composting. Now here’s a topic that never interested me. How come? Simply, I felt Deb and I had no need, as this was something people, and pardon me because I mean NO disrespect towards anyone, but I felt composting would benefit the “city dweller,” or even the suburbanite.

By really not having easy access to manure and other things we take for granted, by living out, I felt these people, “city dwellers,” were the ones needing a compost pile, not us.

Well, by listening to our friends that we’ve made since the inception of our little undertaking here with you guys, which we both love doing by the way, I’ve begun to see I’ve been looking at things pretty narrowly. I’ve been hampering my own opportunity to learn and apply different methods in regards to not one, but EVERYONE of these topics I was describing above!

Thanks to all of you, you’ve helped me to realize my own ignorance. Not from a literally being ignorant standpoint, (though Deb begs to differ with me on that statement), but being ignorant from shutting off any attempt to learn new ways, or procedures. By doing so, I prevented myself from trying different approaches, that may directly have benefitted us, and one of these mistakes was not composting some.

As I continue to get older, I see the statement, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” does indeed have merit.
But, it’s not so much teaching the old dog new tricks, as it is, getting the old dog to WANT to learn new tricks! That’s my case anyway!!

So, by doing our column, and you guys being gracious enough to jump in and share your knowledge and experience with us, you’ve shown the old dog, ME, that I might “wanna’ git’ up off the porch,” and start “scratchin’ around” a little more!

Well, now that I’ve confessed publicly, imadumee, to the ones who didn’t already realize this fact…Let’s talk about compostin!

Composting:

Seems like a nice word for rottin-in, don’t it? Does to me!
From Answers.com
Compost is when plants and animal decompose and turn into soil.
From Definitions.net
(n.) compost 
a mixture of decaying organic matter, as decomposing leaves, manure, kitchen scraps, etc., used for fertilizing soil.

So actually, composting is the breaking down of different types of matter, placing them into an area for them to be composted, then, continually adding more, and stirring or mixing to aerate these different materials to be used later to enrich your existing soil, or soils. Okay?

This is one project we’ll be starting up next week. The more I read on this subject, the more I feel it is a win-win proposition.

We are always mowing, trimming, burning, or just cleaning up areas on our place. 90% goes into a burn pile, which we do use from time to time, to scatter in grassy areas on the place. The scatterings of these ashes really green up where they’ve been put.

Okay, okay, confession time. Let’s just say the area where we spread these ashes is really, really close, TO the burn pile! But boy, it sure is pretty and green right there, and the cows love that area during the summer!

My point in all this jabber being, we’ll be doing less burning of this material, and more composting of it. We do though, after harvesting and between gardens, start several brush piles, and burn them in the garden area. This is then tilled into the soil, adding potash.

What to Compost:

Basically, just about anything. There are some materials more desirable than others. Now understand, I’m again stating, I’m no expert, and am not professing to be, these are things I’m learning through my own research. Remember, old dogs…new tricks…

Some of the “you-cans,” but really don’t want to, are meats. A couple reasons for this. Meats will breakdown, but they possibly may spawn harmful bacteria growth. Another reason, and out where we live, being a good example of this, is animals.

If we were putting meat waste in a compost pile here, the coons, coyotes, and fox, would be all over this, digging, scattering, and being just one big nuisance!

On top of that, our “baby girl,” Cheyenne, would have to check that spot out as well! After rolling around, digging around, even just doing a little investigating on her part, would simply mean…A BATH! Her two most hated words!

So what can you compost? Almost everything else!

Egg-shells, banana peels, coffee grounds, tea bags, grass clippings, leaves, newspaper, cardboard, vegetable leftovers, old mulch you’re changing out, cow or horse manure, twigs, saw dust, soil to be thrown into the compost pile from time to time, even dryer lint.

Dryer lint is also a very good fire starter material on its own, but is even better when rolled into a little petroleum jelly, which helps it to burn longer. Kinda off the subject, but still good info.

How to Store Your Compost:

This can be done any number of different ways. Small plastic bins, trash cans, old 30-55 gallon drums, preferably made of plastic, for longevity, or they make, and sell compost tumblers.

The tumbler variety is a simple design that looks like a drum or barrel, and you add your material to be composted through a door. Once it’s added, you spin the tumbler and mix up the compost.

The plastic bins, trash cans, or drums you choose, need to have several holes drilled throughout, maybe a couple-three inches apart, this to allow air circulation.

You can build your own bins out of lumber, or you can designate an area, perhaps a four by four, eight by eight, whatever suits YOUR needs. By using areas such as these, I believe I’d set some 4×4 posts in each corner, and maybe run a board fence, two, three boards high, for attractiveness.

If you’d like, you could then run chicken wire on the inside of your boards, to help contain your composting materials, hold them in place, you might say.

I think what Deb and I will do, is go with a fence, off in an area we see fit to place it in. I don’t think I’ll run chicken wire to begin with, just try to keep it pretty much contained inside the fence as it is…just fence. This is subject to change though.

Where to compost:

Actually, pretty much anywhere you’d like. Again, different strokes for different folks!

Obviously, you wouldn’t want it beside your front door, of course, although I have seen in my day, where a compost bin or even a compost pile, would in fact be an upgrade over what they’ve got beside their front door right now! LOL!

If you live in suburbia, this area would have to be maintained and be an attractive layout. Some of my friends who live in “Home-Owners Associations,” have rules, enforcing the rules, which are enforcing the rules that are enforcing even MORE rules!! It’d drive me crazy, but, to each his own.

There’s a bucket load of people who wouldn’t live out like we do, for love nor money…it’s just your own personal preference, that’s all.

Try to find a spot that has some sun, but some shade as well. Full sun at all times will dry your pile out, and try to keep it out of really windy areas, as that too, causes drying.

Your compost pile needs to stay, slightly damp, from what I’ve read. If it becomes too wet, add more dry leaves, hay, newspaper, cardboard, or anything similar, and turn in thoroughly. A pitchfork, shovel, or even a hoe will do this, but I think I’d probably prefer the pitchfork.

I believe this about covers the extent of my knowledge at this point, on the subject of composting. We’d really appreciate some input of your own in this matter, especially from our friends who’ve been doing this for a while.

For the rest of you, who are like Deb and I, just start asking questions. If we can’t answer them for you, I’m sure our friends will jump in to help. They always do!

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about! Here’s a completely different style of composting, and from one who knows.

This is one great lady…a “Southern Belle.” You have the floor, Sandra!

Reading this it is very informative as I am an old gardener. I notice you do not mention a compost heap. Can’t live without one myself. Simple and easy to do, gives great nutrients to plants and soil.

Also, mulching. Heavy mulching is required in our deep south due to the high summer temps that leach the soil of moisture. Dub and Deb, for fertilizer, since you have cows, you might want to make cow tea. Cow tea is famous in the south. For large gardens it is not practical.

For trophy plants, vegetable (think Tomato) and ornamentals it is almost a must. Ferns really love it.
1 huge container. (non-toxic, 55 gal. drum)
or (a big lug bucket plastic)
old panty hose (does anyone wear those anymore)
dried cow pies ( our immigrant ancestors used them for fuel)
Water
Methodology:
Place the container for easy access.

Fill container with water. Fill your panty hose with several dried cow pies and put it in the water. It is just like tea, when the water turns brown it’s ready to use. It does not burn, nutrient is about 1-1-1. As the water level lowers add more water. As the color of tea lightens add more cow pies.

If you decide to refresh your cow tea and remove your panty hose to start again, hang your hose up to dry and then cut open and top off potted plants or trophy plants in the garden. To start over just fill more hose with some pies put in tub or barrel and fill with more water. Potted ferns submerged in this liquid overnight grow bigger and have to be watered less. If you are curious about the panty hose, It’s like this, your pie will melt in the water and make a big fat mess and who wants to fish around in melted cow poop?

My other suggestion is put your lug container near roof edges to catch rain water. Free water. There will be times when deluges of rainfall will over flow your container, don’t worry all of the overflow will feed whatever it touches.
Have a bucketful of cow tea it’s good for your garden!
Next time I will tell you about planting soybeans in your garden.
 And the next I will tell you about the Melons wearing panty hose.
 Sandra: “Hi Sandy!”

And more input still. This is from Orion 777, in regards to Sandra’s “cow tea.”

This works very well with horse manure and the yields are amazing…

Once again, I’d like to say thank you to both Sandra, and Orion. Sharing of knowledge, and the opportunity of increasing your own! How can that not be a win-win for everybody?

Listen, my friends, thank you all for everything you’ve done in helping Deb and I receive the enjoyment we get from talking with all you guys! Please come back and visit us anytime…the door is always open!

Be sure to keep your eyes open, and your nose in the wind!

God Bless!

D&D out!