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I love that first question! You can either read this complete article, or just come over to my house and spend a little money and go fishing without composting as part of your life
What Can I Compost?
Generally, compost is made from plant type materials such as:
Brush/Shrubs
Cuttings
Leaves/Weeds
Kitchen Waste |
Fruits
Straw
Old Flowers
Garden Veggies |
Trimmings
Newspapers
(preferably
shredded B&W) |
Manure
(preferably
from horses) |
Sawdust, Wood Chips, & Branches
Composting sawdust, wood chips, & branches are ok, but will need a little help with decomposing bacteria (extra nitrogen). Some helpful items that can be added would be green lawn cuttings or a nitrogen fertilizer.
What NOT to Compost?
The following items are not recommended for composting:
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Meat
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Bones
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Grease
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Eggs
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Dairy Products
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Reason:
These items will slow decomposition and would most likely attract rodents, raccoons, stray dogs, homeless people & other pests |
Advisory:
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Do not add pet feces in compost pile as it may spread disease
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Do not add plants that are infested with insects or diseased
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Weeds or bushes with lots of seeds should be avoided
(these items may not be composted completely and could be spread back into the lawn, plants, or garden where composting will be used later.
Where Can I Compost?
You can compost just about anywhere! It is preferable to use an out-of-sight area on your property. Locating your compost pile behind a fence, bushes, or trees keeps it out of sight, if that's a factor.
Many stores offer several types of pricy, and not-so-pricy items that may work best with your specific landscape or neighborhood needs. I won't go into al of these items since a typical search engine online will bring you to numerous sites that discuss this in detail.
I am fortunate enough to have an area that is hidden from view, where one compost pile resides in an enclosed area, 5' x 5' square, open on top, and has three cedar fence slats that allow plenty of air flow. I have a second area that is approximately eight feet square and is just laying on the ground.
The idea is to keep turning the compost pile over and adding more stuff to it. Every once in a while, spray a little water on it. Ideally, it would be best to have three bins side by side so you can turn over, rotate, and start a new pile as you start using the compost.
What Tools Do I Need?
We just purchased our home and the need to compost hit us quick & hard. Putting your compost on the ground and using a pitch fork is the quickest and least expensive way to get started...bottom line? Start Composting!
I tried to cut the cost of composting by not purchasing a pitch fork and using tools already in my tool shed. Forget it! Get the pitch fork!
A great winter project will be to build some off-the-ground hand-rotating sort of units...since I now have plenty of garage and storage areas to do this in.
How much time does composting take?
Very little time is actually spent in composting! You'd spend a lot more time dumping composting material into a garbage bag or can and taking it to the dump than just composting it!
What are the Benefits of Composting?
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Combines with recycling, we barely use one trash can a week (savings of 50%)!
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Compost can be used on the lawn, flower beds, new plantings of trees, shrubs, house plants & gardens.
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WORMS!!! They just came out of nowhere!!! They love the compost pile and help with the composting process. I do believe, I never saw so many worms in one place before! I will never be without fishing worms again! At the price of worms alone I will save enough money to buy the material for my future composting units.
So...the answer to that first question? Will Composting keep me from going fishing?
What do you think?
WORMS! You'll get a real sense of pride in knowing you are providing for your own landscaping beautification and saving money in the process.
Happy Composting...and GOOD LUCK FISHING!
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