Comments on: How to build a compost pile http://www.compostinstructions.com A guide to making your own compost. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:17:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Steve http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2622 Steve Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:47:56 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2622 @Monica, Yes, cinder block will work well. You may want to drive some stakes into the holes of the block to keep them from shifting on you over time. Also, you may want to turn a few of them on their sides to create some air flow, maybe wrap those in chicken wire to prevent the material from going through. I would not put chicken wire down first. The wire will get in your way when you use a pitch fork or rake to mix it. Once it starts cooling down, covering it with plastic will help @Monica, Yes, cinder block will work well. You may want to drive some stakes into the holes of the block to keep them from shifting on you over time. Also, you may want to turn a few of them on their sides to create some air flow, maybe wrap those in chicken wire to prevent the material from going through. I would not put chicken wire down first. The wire will get in your way when you use a pitch fork or rake to mix it. Once it starts cooling down, covering it with plastic will help

]]> By: Steve http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2618 Steve Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:24:10 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2618 @Marci, Yes, that is a good idea, I have also heard of olive oil being used to stain wood. @Marci, Yes, that is a good idea, I have also heard of olive oil being used to stain wood.

]]> By: Marci http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 Marci Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:49:01 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2607 My husband is building a 3 bin compost for me and I am wondering if I can stain it so it will last longer. I have read that milk paint is the most eco-friendly that will not leech toxins. Any other thoughts? My husband is building a 3 bin compost for me and I am wondering if I can stain it so it will last longer. I have read that milk paint is the most eco-friendly that will not leech toxins. Any other thoughts?

]]> By: Monica http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2597 Monica Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:55:52 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2597 I live in Phoenix and want to start a compost pile. I thought to build the containment area with cinder blocks and then add my yard and kitchen waste as I have it. Is that an ok process, to continually add? I also thought I would need to cover it with a black plastic tarp as it is now fall for us which isn't necessarily . cold but much cooler. Should I put chicken wire down first? The area I wanted to build it on is dirt/pavement but there is occassiobally some crab grass that has grown there in the past. Thanks for your help! I live in Phoenix and want to start a compost pile. I thought to build the containment area with cinder blocks and then add my yard and kitchen waste as I have it. Is that an ok process, to continually add? I also thought I would need to cover it with a black plastic tarp as it is now fall for us which isn’t necessarily . cold but much cooler. Should I put chicken wire down first? The area I wanted to build it on is dirt/pavement but there is occassiobally some crab grass that has grown there in the past. Thanks for your help!

]]> By: Steve http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2295 Steve Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:57:33 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2295 @elisha coyle, No, don't start over, just mix in the items you mentioned and keep it moist. Make sure you turn your compost pile at least once a week. You will likely find your compost breaking down much quicker when a greater range of brown and greens are being used. @elisha coyle, No, don’t start over, just mix in the items you mentioned and keep it moist. Make sure you turn your compost pile at least once a week. You will likely find your compost breaking down much quicker when a greater range of brown and greens are being used.

]]> By: elisha coyle http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2289 elisha coyle Wed, 10 Aug 2011 03:53:09 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2289 i have been "composting" for 13 years, or what i thought of as composting. throwing out vegetable & fruit scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, dead flowers etc... but only recently have i begun to take this more seriously and started researching what composting really involves. i didn't know i was suppose to be putting things like leaves, ashes, sawdust, paper clippings, that sort of thing too. also i didn't realize i was suppose to be turning it. should i start completely over? or just start doing it the correct way now? my soil isn't black and loamy, it just looks like dirt, and it isn't warm or hot. i have been “composting” for 13 years, or what i thought of as composting. throwing out vegetable & fruit scraps, tea bags, coffee grounds, egg shells, dead flowers etc… but only recently have i begun to take this more seriously and started researching what composting really involves. i didn’t know i was suppose to be putting things like leaves, ashes, sawdust, paper clippings, that sort of thing too. also i didn’t realize i was suppose to be turning it. should i start completely over? or just start doing it the correct way now? my soil isn’t black and loamy, it just looks like dirt, and it isn’t warm or hot.

]]> By: Steve http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2096 Steve Tue, 24 May 2011 13:24:05 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2096 @Betty Hastie, It may be a fungus but to be sure take the substance to your local county extension office and they may be able to test it. @Betty Hastie, It may be a fungus but to be sure take the substance to your local county extension office and they may be able to test it.

]]> By: Betty Hastie http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-2095 Betty Hastie Sat, 21 May 2011 20:15:49 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-2095 I have just done away with my compost pile. As I dug up the soil, there were white clumps that are spongy. I also had morning glory roots that keep popping up. Can you tell what the spongy substance is? I have just done away with my compost pile. As I dug up the soil, there were white clumps that are spongy. I also had morning glory roots that keep popping up. Can you tell what the spongy substance is?

]]> By: April Emigh http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-1748 April Emigh Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:19:46 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-1748 Is it possible to compost in garbage bags? Is it possible to compost in garbage bags?

]]> By: Lucy http://www.compostinstructions.com/how-to-build-a-compost-pile/comment-page-1/#comment-1418 Lucy Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:39:56 +0000 http://compostinstructions.com/?page_id=15#comment-1418 Is it ok to use shredded papers in our compost pile? I just started today on our compost pile but what I have the most is greens and not much of brown, dry items to add to our compost pile. But I have a whole bunch of shreded papers as in old black and white reciepts. Would that be ok? Thank you for any help. ---------- Yes, shredded paper works fine as a carbon source for your compost pile. You just want to avoid slick, colored papers. White paper is fine, and newsprint is fine. Is it ok to use shredded papers in our compost pile? I just started today on our compost pile but what I have the most is greens and not much of brown, dry items to add to our compost pile.
But I have a whole bunch of shreded papers as in old black and white reciepts. Would that be ok?
Thank you for any help.

———-

Yes, shredded paper works fine as a carbon source for your compost pile. You just want to avoid slick, colored papers. White paper is fine, and newsprint is fine.

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