By: MIKE SELVON

Composting has become a popular means of recycling organic materials so that they can be used in beneficial ways instead of adding them to a landfill. In addition to being a great way to participate in recycling efforts, composting is also a great way to generate rich organic materials that can be added to soil for organic garden projects. Compost bins provide a simple and easy way to help people get started composting and are particularly good solutions for people who have limited living space.

There are a number of different types of composters on the market to meet a variety of needs and situations. Bins for composting can be built from materials that you already have around the backyard, or they can be purchased from garden supply stores, especially those that specialize in organic gardening. In some municipalities, the recycling centers provide bins free or at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic materials themselves.

One variety of compost bins are called holding units. These bins are very low maintenance and are probably the best solution when the amount of space for the home composting project is very limited. With holding units, the compost pile is not turned and therefore not aerated, so the overall process of decomposing will take anywhere from six months up to two full years.

Portable bins are another common type of bins and they are very similar to the holding units but they are able to be taken apart, moved and rebuilt. Different types of materials can by used and mixed with this kind of bin. Many types of plastic portable units are available on the market to purchase or they can be constructed out of wood and wire fencing.

One of the best types of bins is the variety called turning unit composters. These are specifically designed to facilitate easy turning of the compost pile which helps to aerate the heap. Turning units will produce fully decomposed material in a shorter amount of time because the composting process is accelerated by the improved aeration, allowing the bacteria to better do its job in the decomposition process. In addition, people like turning units because there are less odor problems because of the improved ventilation.

Turning unit composting bins can either be a set of bins or they can be a device that easily rotates or tumbles such as a barrel or a ball-type of unit. The drawback is that turning units generally cost most, are harder to build and require more space. The organic materials to be composted also need to be collected separately until enough has been gathered to fill the unit to the correct level and once it is full and the composting process begins, new materials cannot be added.

Simple heaps are an alternative for people who do not want o purchase or build composter bins. Turning a compost heap is always optional, but it should be kept in mind that the process of composting is accelerated when the waste material is turned at least a couple times a month.

You will want to locate your compost bins according to the functional needs of your family and also taking into consideration the aesthetics of the area. You should not place your compost pile near an area that you frequently use for entertaining, even if you have it screened with fencing or plants. It should be located where it gets plenty of air circulation, in a partially shady spot and near the garden area if possible.

By: Vera Pappas

 

What To Do With Your Doggie Doo

 

 

We’ve always had a dog and for as long as I can remember I have been cleaning up dog poop. Everyday I get my plastic shopping bag and a shovel and patrol the yard. I had never given it much thought until recently. That’s a lot of plastic bags filled with poop that is going to the landfill never to decompose.

Composting has also always been a part of our lifestyle, but poop was the one thing we couldn’t put in our regular composter. Now Vermi-composting has come along. What a great way to recycle nature’s waste. Tumbleweed Pet Poo Compost Maker is a mini worm farm composter. The Tumbleweed Pet Poo Compost Maker consists of two sturdy nesting boxes with a lid, which form a neat, compact portable unit. The worms eat and breed in the top box. This has a perforated base to allow any liquid waste to drain through to the bottom (collector) box. The “worm poo” or worm castings remain in the top box and can be harvested as desired. The bottom or catcher box collects the valuable liquid waste, which can be diluted and used as a fertilizer on your garden.

The Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter will handle, on average, the droppings of two medium dogs. However, this will vary with age, diet, exercise and breed of dog. (Think Chihuahua vs. St Bernard). The greater the amount of droppings recycled through the Pet Poo Converter, the quicker the level of castings will build up. The castings can then be easily harvested, as per the instructions, and used around the flower garden or in potting mixes.

There is no difficulty in getting the worms to eat dog droppings. Commercial worm farmers rear their worms on manure. However it is not possible to mix diets. They must be fed exclusively on pet poo. If you want to recycle vegetable scraps you must set up a separate farm.

This is the best thing going. Farmers have been using manure for hundreds of years to amend the soil. It is super rich in nutrients. The worm castings and the tea that is made from your dog’s poop is a great return on your investment. Think of all the money you spend on dog food, and all the money you will save on fertilizer!

 

 

atty at law asked:


I live in a Northern Area and it seems to cold to composte.

By: Daniel Millions

Gardening is an engaging, fun activity that anyone can take up at any point in their life. The benefits to starting a garden are numerous, and after realizing these benefits, one might wonder why they did not start pursuing this hobby earlier. You do not need to have a large backyard or living area to tend to a garden, although having space certainly helps. Gardens can be started in the smallest of areas. The benefits one yields from gardening activities are more or less the same regardless of the size of the garden.

Most people get so lost in the fun of gardening that they forget that it is an inherent form of exercise. The tasks involved in gardening, such as composting, digging, and shoveling, are quite physically involved, and are great ways of losing weight and improving your general health. Since gardening is a near daily activity, the consistent exercise can be nearly as good as going to a gym (and a lot cheaper, too).

The garden is the perfect place for one to fully utilize their creativity. Deciding what things to plant, in what way to arrange them, and how to structure your garden all require creativity and innovation. The time spent researching different plants and learning about them in depth adds another layer of interactivity. Gardening is mentally stimulating and keeps your mind sharp, and similar to the exercise component of gardening, you hardly even realize these benefits. Today’s fast paced world rarely allows for one to openly express themselves, but a garden gives you this much needed opportunity. After a few months of active gardening, you may find yourself at a higher intelligence level than you were prior to starting a garden.

With little exception, most people’s lives nowadays are filled with constant stress and headache. Gardening is a perfectly natural stress reliever that works all the time and makes you feel rejuvenated and overall happy. Even if at the moment you are not participating in a gardening task, just sitting and relaxing out in your garden is enough to relieve you of your worries and make you feel serene. The wide array of colors and structures within a garden calm one’s mind and open it up to the things that are really important in life.

For those that live in an urban setting or sprawling city, a garden may be the only way to connect with nature. Being in a garden requires you to slow down, which is something that few of us get to do very often. Immersing yourself in a garden environment has also been shown to improve your health, both physically and psychologically. In fact, not only does engaging in gardening have beneficial effects, but just looking at a garden is positive as well.

With all of these other amazing properties, it is easy to forget the original purpose of a garden, which is to grow food. Fruits and vegetables grown in a garden are completely organic. Organic food is healthier than alternatives manufactured with chemicals, pesticides, and other unnatural techniques. In addition to the therapeutic benefits of growing food, you will receive additional bonuses from consuming your creations. If your garden is large enough, you may be able to grow enough food to offset the expenses of buying groceries, making gardening an excellent way to save money.

BUNguyenI asked:


Other than gardening supply stores, where’s a good place to buy or find composting worms, specifically red wiggler worms or European nightcrawlers. I live near DC