I'm the compost guy

[raydigsdirt]

The wife says my job in the garden this year is digging dirt for her & working the compost. She seems to know what she's doing out there, but I have no idea what working the compost means. I don't want her to think I am a total idiot, so can someone give me some pointers that will make the wife proud of me? I know she loves it when I don't have to ask her what to do and I just get out there and do it. I've got a bag of leaves she dragged over behind the shed, a pile of food scraps, and she's been saving the dirt out of worm cups from the bait store from when my boy and I go fishing. What do I do with this stuff and do I need to add anything else? Thanks.

[Laura]

Dont pheel bad about asking Chrissy ??'s..I myself still have to ask Phil thing's about gardening..I was a city slicker all my life till we met..Now..I cringe when we have to buy store bought vegies..they just dont taste the same..

[raydigsdirt]

Thanks for the advise Laura. I know the stuff Chrissy brings in from the garden does tate better than the stuff out of a can, but it always seemed like so much work. She finally convinced me it wouldn't be near the work if I helped her out there, so I am going to give it an real try this season and see how it goes.

[crazy1]

" The Compost Guy" She's got you doin' the pile turnin'. Well, first find ya a nice sunny spot for your pile, then layer in the leaves and grass. You are gonna layer the green and the dry stuff. A real good thing to do is get ya some feed grade molasses from the co-op and add that on top of each layer. If dry then about a cup of it. If it's liquid mix about a cup to a gallon of water. And spray some on the layers. This will feed the little microbes and make them happy! Then just sit and wait. It'll start to "rot" and the pile will need to be turned every couple of weeks.

[Pharmer Phil]

Oh Bro, you are sooo screwed
Chrissy, makin' ol Ray do all the diggin'

easy stuff Bro, I am at work and can't go into detail, but I imagine you will get filled in by several members!
If not, Ol Pharmer Phil will take Ya on a compostin' tour when I get home later!

[raydigsdirt]

Thanks for the tip crazy1. Now when ya say molasses are ya talking about the syrup we have in the pantry for cooking? Sorry, idiot here.

[crazy1]

You could use that. But I use feed grade molasses. store bought is too expensive. You should be able to get like 50lbs of dry from the co-op fer like $9. Just ask someone there at the desk, those ladies are real nice. I think it's in the barn cross the street from the office.

[raydigsdirt]

Thanks Phil. I would love the tour. Yeah, I kinda figured she was giving me the raw end of the stick when she said I was the digger and the compost guy hahaha. But I guess all is fair since she's been doing it all by her lonesome for the last 11 years while I watched nascar hahaha.

[raydigsdirt]

crazy1, you know Edon? I'm impressed. You live here too?

[crazy1]

No, but I'm about 30 min away. When the wife and I raised decon calves we got all our feed and milk replacer from the co-op. My Dads a member there.

[raydigsdirt]

Cool, so we're almost neighbors. Thanks for the low down on molasses. Chrissy probably would of hit me with a rollin pin if I started cleaning out her pantry to make compost hahaha. I'll go to the coop this weekend & buy the right stuff.

[crazy1]

Yup, so howdy neighbor Ya don't need the wife ya I'm sure Phil, Doug, Greg, Xdx, and many more will add to the simple explanation(sp?) that I gave ya. You'll do just phine Bro.

[Laura]

If you guy's are that close we be expectin to see a phamily re-union.. It is alot of phun to meet pholk's from here in person..Hop to it..

[raydigsdirt]

That would be fun one day. Maybe next summer when I can pretend I know something about gardening hahaha:)

[crazy1]

No need to know how to garden Bro, to have a good time. We'll be havin a big shindig the weekend before labor day. But we could always meet up before that.

[chrissysohiogarden]

Yeah, I kinda figured she was giving me the raw end of the stick when she said I was the digger and the compost guy

^ Nah, it ain't the raw end of the stick...it's just that you're so strong & full of muscles, I knew you'd be darn good at it (got to feed the male ego now & then lol).

I am so proud of ya Ray...you are trying to impress me in the garden...ya got me smiling ear to ear over here:)

I think it would be lots of fun to get together crazy1!!

I am just reeling over here, I cannot believe my old man is asking compost questions!! *doing the happy dance*

[chrissysohiogarden]

I am giving you your 1st karma for this post Ray!!!

[chickenfarmer]

Best thing, first

Find a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, stick it near the kitchen or pantry.

Save everthing from this list.. put in the bucket. Empty the contents every couple days onto the pile, turn in with a pitchfork or shovel.

Coffee grounds
Tea bags
Kitchen vegetable waste, peelings etc.
Egg Shells
Shredded newspaper ( Make sure it has Soy Ink) no colored pgs.
Even some leftovers...

This all makes compost... DIRT

Layer this in the compost pile with grass clippings, leaves, weeds without seeds, etc.

Do not use or put in any meat products, grease, oil, or elsewise cause that will only attrack critters. follow ing me so far.

Place your bin in a sunny spot, this will cook the compost over time. Y ou can easily start a compost bin by placing three pallets together. and filling it up.

I have placed this method together by using pallets in three sections. 9 pallets.. You can start diffrent piles this way or turn over yielded compost into the last of the bins.

Oh yeah , kinda stick the compost bin near the garden, this way the composted end results are near the garden and you can use it.

I'm sure one of our other members can pick this up and tell you how to make compost tea, but there's my couple of cents worth..

Happy composting Ray

[love2garagesale]

I see how it is, the kids grow up and move out and mom puts you to work out in the garden now lol. You got my old job dad roflmao! You'll learn to enjoy it. I only complained till I was thirteen or so, then I started to really love being out there turning the compost and digging in the dirt. Make sure I get some of you and moms green tomaters this year:)

[Compost Pharmer]

Good to hear Ray that you and the family are organic. Makes me smile from ear to ear. Down here, in Texas, Dallas area, I buy dried molasses at the feed store for about $7 - $8 for a 40 pound bag. They call it Sweet PDZ. It looks like ground coffee and smells real sweet. I find it attracts ants to the compost bin. I am just careful not to get bit, because we have those nasty army ants. They bit and it hurts. Any compost or compost tea questions, please ask. I make 10 gallons of compost tea at a time. Crazy makes 20 gallons. You would be supprised at how well the plants do when you folaire feed, spray, the plants with the compost tea.

Again, don't hestitate to ask your questions. We are here to help each other. You will find that the family extends across the pond to Europe as well. We are all a big happy phamily, here on the phunny pharm.

[chrissysohiogarden]

Ok, I am going to ask...what is compost tea? I have always used a compost bin & stayed away from chemical fertilizers, but I have never made compost tea. Sounds like an important step I am missing in my gardening, so I'd love any advice you can give...thanks Greg & Chickenfarmer, and everyone else...your help is very appreciated:)

[Laura]

It is sumpin you dont want to be drinkin yerself.. we have a big ole barrel of it just waitin to go on the plant's.. I myself cant tell you what all goes in it but it sure can smell..

[chrissysohiogarden]

lol...nah I don't imagine I would want to drink anything with the ingredient of compost in it lol:)

[douglas]

I watched on TV and they used animal droppings like chicken poo but it can burn yer plants if yer not careful

[chickenfarmer]

Cockadoodledoodoo is very high in nitrogen, it might just burn out someting if ya use it straight....

[Compost Pharmer]

U R Welcome Chrissy. I PM'ed you about compost tea. Glad to help another organic minded person. Just ask the questions and we will find an answer for you or others.

[chrissysohiogarden]

Thanks to all of you for all of your pumpkin growing tips:) Angel is really excited about her first pumpkin garden & she can't wait to get to taking some pictures for everyone to see:)

[chrissysohiogarden]

Thanks so much for the email Greg, the info on compost tea is wonderful & I intend to make a big batch right away:)

[Compost Pharmer]

U R Welcome. As I find more, I will forward it on. You will be suprised how it perks up the plants.

[mckenzygirl]

Greg,
About your compost tea recipe, I don't have an ocean anywheres near me ,but we do have lakes do you think the green foilmill would be the same as seaweed? Or any weeds that float on the water from the lake?