How to start my first compost bin?

[Binkalette]

How do I start? What kind of a box do I put it in? (Yes, it will need to be in a box of some sort.. our yard is an open field currently and I don't think our neighbors would appreciate a giant pile of compost in the middle) Where do I put it? Sun/shade? What should I put in it? We don't have a lot of leaves available because of the lack of trees.. Plenty of grass and weed clippings though!

[cynthia_h]

There are so *many* threads here in the Compost Forum on whether to use a bin or not, to turn compost or not, that I'm staggered by the thought of just recommending a couple to you. So...here is the direct link to the first page of Compost Forum threads (there are 11 pages of them!)...

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=35

Here are some that deal with bins/tumblers/pens/containers for compost:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21424 (tumbler, home-made)

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21460 (bin in shade OK?)

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21220 (tumbler, home-made)

and that's only through page 2 of 11...

Don't stay up too late!

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

[StorageSmart2]

How do I start? What kind of a box do I put it in? (Yes, it will need to be in a box of some sort.. our yard is an open field currently and I don't think our neighbors would appreciate a giant pile of compost in the middle) Where do I put it? Sun/shade? What should I put in it? We don't have a lot of leaves available because of the lack of trees.. Plenty of grass and weed clippings though!

When composting, don't forget to add stuff from inside the house. Egg shells are good, because they add calcium, but you can add any type of organic material from inside the house, like coffee grounds, bits of bread, apple cores, orange peels, etc.

I have heard arguments that it's okay to add meat and dairy if they are well buried in the bin, but I personally think it's a bad idea. I'm a bit of a traditionalist at heart and when I was growing up it was always no meat no dairy so that's the way I do mine.

Grass clippings are good, but you want to avoid weeds, because they can sometimes take root and grow in the compost if conditions are decent for the type of weed. Again, I`ve heard arguments that it`ll be fine, but I don`t risk it.

Also, something I just learned this week (where have I been?!?!?!) red wrigglers are the way to go for composting worms. Almost everything I`ve seen recently has been recommending them. I`m assuming that I didn`t know because I never formally researched composting and just kind of did what I was taught as a child. Now that I`ve joined some forums I`m learning so much.

P.S. Thank you everyone on this forum for expanding my horizons!

[rainbowgardener]

Welcome to composting!

cynthia didn't give you this thread:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=122218&highlight=compost+bins#122218

in it I give links to plans for building various kinds of compost bins and talk about how to get started.

Do read the sticky at the beginning of compost forum about greens and browns. Once you have some kind of containment system (not exactly a box because you do want air going through it), your grass clippings and weeds and even if you add kitchen scraps, all that is "greens" (yes even coffee grounds are "greens" -- it's not about color, it's about nitrogen content). So you need some kind of "browns" to go with it. If none of your neighbors have a pile of old fall leaves lying around, that can be shredded paper, shredded newspaper or cardboard, sawdust, straw, egg cartons, paper grocery bags, etc.

This fall you can do what I did last fall, go around and "steal" bags of leaves that people set out at the curb for yard waste collection. I brought 8 bags of them home and I'm still using them.

[Binkalette]

Thanks for all the links! I have a lot of reading to do.

Now, where do I get "Red Wrigglers"? Would they sell them in a fishing shop maybe?

I didn't know about the greens/browns thing. What is the ratio I should have for that? 50/50? I can get lots of sawdust from my husbands wood shop and definitely have egg cartons and papers I can use.
Also we have a guinea pig that uses aspen bedding.. Is it good to use something like that or bad (talkin' about the guinea pig poo).
I have a 55g turtle tank as well, would the dirty water from his tank be good for a compost bin, or would it be better dumped strait onto the garden? Lemme know your thoughts! Thanks!

[The Helpful Gardener]

Red Wigglers can be found online...

[url]https://www.unclejimswormfarm.com/[/url]

[url]https://www.wormswrangler.com/?gclid=CM7Zkfig-qACFV1-5Qodw12Jyw[/url]

[url]https://www.planetnatural.com/site/red-wiggler-worms.html[/url]


G:B ratio should be between 1:5 to 1:10; you'll find about what works for you...

Either or for turtle juice: both would be great...

HG

[rainbowgardener]

But the red wrigglers are for if you are doing worm composting in a worm bin. If you are doing regular composting with a pile sitting on the ground, you don't need to add worms, they will come!

The guinea pig bedding would be fine.

Green to brown ratio by volume can be anywhere down to 1:2 and you will still be fine.

Get to know the Search the Forum feature; it will be your friend. I think aquarium water has been discussed several times.