Composting question

JenD1018

So I'll be starting my first compost bin this spring.

I understand the general idea and what to put in but my question has to deal with adding material.

If I add material daily (or every couple days), how will it ever fully break down into compost?  Would a second bin be helpful?  Or does it not really matter?

barbnsteve

My husband asked me this question just last week as we will be starting our fist compost this year too!  Great question as I didn't know how to answer him...so I'm looking forward to what others have to say!

SuperGreen

We've had a compost bin in our small townhouse backyard for several years now.  We add material (like kitchen scraps) daily and add browns (like leaves or paper bags) when they're available.  The microbes and worms in your bin will slowly over time eat your material, it will break down into smaller and smaller pieces, until you can't tell what the original material was.  It will be black, crumbly compost.  How long that process takes depends on how much attention you pay to it.  It will turn into compost regardless, but it could take 4 months if you turn it regularly and watch your green/brown ratios, or it could take 12 months if you ignore the bin.  I don't think a second bin matters personally, we get more than enough for our 4 raised beds from our single composter.

Let me know if that didn't answer your question, I am more than happy to clarify.  Composting is so great, congrats on starting a bin.  You'll reduce your household waste by a lot, and your plants will be so healthy.

ETA:  Two great composting how-tos:

http://www.gardeners.com/Back-to-Basics-Composting/5007,default,pg.html

http://www.gardeners.com/All-About-Composting/5061,default,pg.html

You don't have to buy one of their expensive fancy composters though.  I got ours from craigslist for $25.  Lots of people use wooden pallets or chicken wire.

Lucyboo25

What kind of composting are you planning? Indoor for kitchen scraps, etc, or outdoor for yard waste and everything?

JenD1018

SuperGreen:

We've had a compost bin in our small townhouse backyard for several years now.  We add material (like kitchen scraps) daily and add browns (like leaves or paper bags) when they're available.  The microbes and worms in your bin will slowly over time eat your material, it will break down into smaller and smaller pieces, until you can't tell what the original material was.  It will be black, crumbly compost.  How long that process takes depends on how much attention you pay to it.  It will turn into compost regardless, but it could take 4 months if you turn it regularly and watch your green/brown ratios, or it could take 12 months if you ignore the bin.  I don't think a second bin matters personally, we get more than enough for our 4 raised beds from our single composter.

Let me know if that didn't answer your question, I am more than happy to clarify.  Composting is so great, congrats on starting a bin.  You'll reduce your household waste by a lot, and your plants will be so healthy.

ETA:  Two great composting how-tos:

http://www.gardeners.com/Back-to-Basics-Composting/5007,default,pg.html

http://www.gardeners.com/All-About-Composting/5061,default,pg.html

You don't have to buy one of their expensive fancy composters though.  I got ours from craigslist for $25.  Lots of people use wooden pallets or chicken wire.

Thanks, I will check out the links.

I did read somewhere that chopping up your material helps it break down faster.  And we are planning to use a large, lidded metal trashcan with holes drilled in the sides and bottom.

I guess I just didn't understand how I would get useable compost if I keep routinely adding and mixing.  But I guess I have to see it to understand.

JenD1018

Lucyboo25:

What kind of composting are you planning? Indoor for kitchen scraps, etc, or outdoor for yard waste and everything?

We are planning to create a compost pile using kitchen scraps (and then adding some yard waste) but we'll keep it outside.

littlemissflip

Some composting bins (like ours) has a little sliding door at the bottom, so that you can remove fully composted material from the bottom while still adding materials to the top.  I think some people might use some kind of mesh/screen to help seive out the fully broken down compost from the decomposing items. 

 

sillygoosegirl

It's okay to use the compost before everything has decomposed.

WendyGR

I have wanted to start one too - but DH is worried about the smell. What should I tell him?

SuperGreen

WendyGR:

I have wanted to start one too - but DH is worried about the smell. What should I tell him?

If you take proper care of the compost it will not smell.  It only smells when something is wrong, like a lack of air or you've added something rancid like oil, fat, meat, or dairy. If you turn your pile regularly and keep a 50/50 green (nitrogren-rich materials, like kitchen scraps) and brown (carbon-rich material, like leaves) ratio, there will be no smell.  The compost itself will smell like rich soil.

SuperGreen

JenD1018:

Thanks, I will check out the links.

I did read somewhere that chopping up your material helps it break down faster. Yes, this is true. And we are planning to use a large, lidded metal trashcan with holes drilled in the sides and bottom.

I guess I just didn't understand how I would get useable compost if I keep routinely adding and mixing.  But I guess I have to see it to understand. Like PP said, some compost will be ready and some won't be broken down.  You can use a compost screen to sift out the unfinished bits.  Personally, I heave out a shovelful, pick through that roughly, and throw back the unfinished bits.  I don't worry if I have some uncomposted bits.  I just throw back the big sticks or large clumps of leaves.