Easy Question re Browns and Greens

[rainbowgardener]

I've never used a compost tumbler. My main problem with them is that it is batch composting. You have to load it up with a batch of compostables (where were you storing them before you got a batch full?). Then while that is tumbling, you can't keep adding more or you will never have finished compost. Where I used to live, I could not have buried kitchen scraps - raccoons and other critters would have dug them up again. Now I think I could get away with it, but (sorry), it always seemed kind of yucky to me. Do you mark the spots so you don't accidentally dig into them again, when weeding or planting?

If I were going to have tumblers, I would want two or at least one of the two chambered ones:



When I moved here at the end of summer last year and no leaves were coming down yet, I just used torn up paper and cardboard as browns.

[Taiji]

Actually, I do accidentally dig into the garbage once in awhile! But, I just move over a little! It's surprising though how fast this Arizona hot soil incinerates organic matter.

Yes, you're right. It would better to have more than one tumbler. Last year I just kept adding to it til I couldn't rotate it anymore. It's nice stuff now. Probably not the most efficient system, but it sure is convenient.

[KitchenGardener]

I'm so glad for this information on the tumbler composter, since that is the kind I just bought and am using. Years ago, I tried the big black square plastic type composter with no bottom, where you'd lift it off and pitch fork the contents around. The problem for me is that I have invasive bermuda grass which would come up from the bottom and make it very hard to mix. Yes, the middle was hot and there was no bermuda grass growing there, but it was such a hassle trying to mix it when I was constantly fighting with the edges and sides. I suppose if I had been really diligent, I would've gone after the grass in a big way to eliminate it, but I just wanted compost, not a full time job!

Anyway, I have my tumbler now and I'll see how I do. I keep opening and adding more, and I know that defeats the purpose, but I want to at least fill up the first side before I move over to the next compartment. So far, I love its ease of use.

[rainbowgardener]

Well, you understand that unless you generate pretty huge amounts of compostables daily, you will never succeed in filling it up. If it is nearly full today, tomorrow when you come back it will be half empty.... If you want the finished compost, at some point you just have to say stop. Especially if you have the two chambered one, just switch to filling the other side. You can keep doing that until the stuff in the first side has composted, at least a month.

[KitchenGardener]

So now questions: I am just a simple home gardener without shredders and chippers. How do others in the absence of high tech tools, get compostables in workable size? Here are my questions:

1) when I pull a bunch of long weeds, do I have to cut them up before putting them in the composter?

2) Do you cut up corn husks? What about corn cobs - do you chop them up?

3) Is there a better way to deal with cardboard then to sit and shred it up (no, I don't have a hamster)?

4) Is there anything of large size that you don't feel its necessary to cut up?

5) what's the deal with coffee grounds - can I put them into the composter with their paper filter? Do they need to go in the composter or can I put them straight into the garden?

Thanks for any suggestions you may have or any light you can shed on composting for me!

[rainbowgardener]

So now questions: I am just a simple home gardener without shredders and chippers. How do others in the absence of high tech tools, get compostables in workable size? Here are my questions:

1) when I pull a bunch of long weeds, do I have to cut them up before putting them in the composter? NO

2) Do you cut up corn husks? What about corn cobs - do you chop them up? NO (but if I were putting the corn stalks in the compost, I would cut them up)

3) Is there a better way to deal with cardboard then to sit and shred it up (no, I don't have a hamster)? Just tear it in notebook paper sized pieces

4) Is there anything of large size that you don't feel its necessary to cut up? I don't do all that much cutting up.

5) what's the deal with coffee grounds - can I put them into the composter with their paper filter? YES Do they need to go in the composter or can I put them straight into the garden? Straight in the garden, I wouldn't use the paper filter, and you should scratch them into the ground a little.

Thanks for any suggestions you may have or any light you can shed on composting for me!

Depends on how fast you want finished compost. The smaller you cut/ shred it, the quicker it will break down and become compost. But if you are willing to just throw stuff in the compost pile and let it sit for months, you don't need to do much chopping.

[KitchenGardener]

So now questions: I am just a simple home gardener without shredders and chippers. How do others in the absence of high tech tools, get compostables in workable size? Here are my questions:

1) when I pull a bunch of long weeds, do I have to cut them up before putting them in the composter? NO

2) Do you cut up corn husks? What about corn cobs - do you chop them up? NO (but if I were putting the corn stalks in the compost, I would cut them up)

3) Is there a better way to deal with cardboard then to sit and shred it up (no, I don't have a hamster)? Just tear it in notebook paper sized pieces

4) Is there anything of large size that you don't feel its necessary to cut up? I don't do all that much cutting up.

5) what's the deal with coffee grounds - can I put them into the composter with their paper filter? YES Do they need to go in the composter or can I put them straight into the garden? Straight in the garden, I wouldn't use the paper filter, and you should scratch them into the ground a little.

Thanks for any suggestions you may have or any light you can shed on composting for me!

Depends on how fast you want finished compost. The smaller you cut/ shred it, the quicker it will break down and become compost. But if you are willing to just throw stuff in the compost pile and let it sit for months, you don't need to do much chopping.

Thank you so much for your detailed response; it really helps me! Off to compost some more now...

[toxcrusadr]

Find a mil surplus store or a Harbor Freight and buy a $10 machete to chop your long stuff up with. Watch your fingers please.

Cardboard tears easily when wet.

Compost your paper filters as well as tea bags, paper towels, napkins. They all grew on trees at one time.

[imafan26]

The smaller the pieces the faster they will compost. You might consider chipper/shredder if you have enough stuff to shred. You might want to rent one first and see if it does what you need it to do. Sometimes you can find second hand ones. The cheap ones are mostly for leaves. The more expensive ones can do some small branches. You need a monster to do a tree.

If you want to get a jump start on the compost pile, contact your local tree trimmers, often if they are in the area they will drop a load for free, already chipped. You have to be picky and make sure the chips are fine and that the material is free of nasty weeds and roots and has not been sprayed with herbicides. Here the local utility offers tree trimmings for free when they are in the area, but they drop it where it is convenient for them to access and you won't know when they are coming and it is usually a big truck load.

[KitchenGardener]

Thank you all for this information. I've been debating whether to include paper products like napkins and paper towels; I just don't like to think of all the chemicals used in their production. But then again, I am using cardboard, so...