The Garden Gourmet Composter

With the bin came recipes of what you should combine food scraps with (some stuff from the garden shop) but I just threw food scraps in. This attracted cockroaches galore. Can ya spray insect repellant on the compost to deter cockroaches or if I had followed their recipe, would this have avoided that trouble? I didn’t put meat in. Just vege scraps and eggshells. I have abandoned the whole project now. Help please. I have lost the recipe.

You’ll have to empty out the bin and sterilize it (1TBS bleach 1gal water) rinse very well and set out to dry for a few days. If you can set up a small fire pit around the area where the bin was and burn some wood this will clean up that area fine. Set the bin back up, poke holes in the sides (pencil size or just larger, several top mid and bottom) and avoid the food scraps in the next venture since you now know you have roaches nearby. If it’s just that you had a particularly warm summer, perhaps you could try again with the scraps except not in midsummer next time. You don’t want to use any toxins in the mix as these don’t transfer well back into the garden, foiling the point of it all.

http://www.eartheasy.com/live_natpest_control.htm#c
ooh this one is ‘food grade’ http://www.bugsrdone.com/
http://www.pestproducts.com/cedarcide.htm

I have no idea of the validity of these products

These people have concluded they are just bugs, turn ‘em into the soil when the compost is done. I suppose I had the same reaction as you when I read your question, but after reading this, I tend to agree with them. (unless you are in an urban area, the bin is very near your home and these really are household bugs.. )http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/soil/msg0916461518255.html

I started a compost bin about 12 months ago, all of a sudden a big mole mound came up right by the side of the bin, is this due to the bin or just coincidence? I’ve never had moles in the garden before.

In fact, it does attract the moles (amongst other critters). A compost bin uses worms to break down waste into useful dirt/or/ attracts worms which help to break down your waste. Moles primarily feed on these sorts of creatures (worms, grubs, etc) so naturally, when an area has a large concentration (larger than you would find tunneling through the dirt coming across one here and one there) of these creatures you become drawn to it.
One great way to stop this is to put hardware cloth or chicken wire on the bottom of your compost bin and anchor it well with the sides of your bin. From my experience, this is a sure fire mole/rascal deterent as darling hubby and I run a worm farm with outdoor bins where stopping these creatures is a neccesity.
Another good thing to do is to put gravel 6" beneath the hardware cloth/chicken wire and 3"-6" above. These acts as a deterent to moles and helps to keep your worms from escaping. The gravel is abrasive to the tender skin of the mole and likewise for the worms. Worms will crawl out during a rain or tunnel down during the day for cooler soil and generally you want to keep them in your compost bin or it takes a very long time for your waste to decompose naturally.
Hope this helps! Happy composting!!

I live in phoenix and I am wondering what all I can put in my compost bin. I would like the compost for my veggie garden. Also do I have to put water in it every now and again or just leave it? How often should I turn it?

It’s really easier to figure what you shouldn’t put in it. You shouldn’t put meats or cooked items. Otherwise, all kind of peelings and trimming from veggies and fruit. Also, shredded paper/newspaper, Coffee grinds or most anything organic is fine.
I wouldn’t water it unless it becomes dry. The pile should generate heat in the middle, which is what helps to break-down the elements into good rich dirt. You should turn it periodically so that the heat can build up against different material instead of just generating heat in one spot. In Other words, keep it turned about once a week and it will break down much faster.

good luck

Technorati Tags: compost, composter, enviro cycle composter, Garden gourmet composter

I would like to start my own compost bin.
This year we have turned our flower garden into a veggie one instead and want to be completely organic.
Would like some advise on the types of things I can and cannot use. Thanks

I have kept a compost on going for nearly 15 years.
I put grass cuttings, weeds, not seed heads, wood shredded, and all food trimmings, egg shells, cartons, newspapers shredded, teabags, except cooked food, tends to draw out the vermin, though you can add cooked veg if you trust it. Straw from rabbits etc. Sometimes give a helping hand with Garotta, but usually just adding a layer of soil every so often will help to rot down. Virtually any form of vegetation will rot down to give you a perfectly good composting soil, I have two large bins, and transfer from one to the other, any pieces that have not quite broken down, then start again. Do not use bindweed, or couch-grass clumps, as this will only regrow from tiny pieces. Nettles are a good form of nutrients for the bin.
Try and see how you get on.

Here’s the link you want:

https://www.aerobin400.com/

Good luck with your gardening.

I would like to have a compost bin. Would appreciate any suggestions like building my own compost bin. I do not have a garden such as growing my own veggies but I do have a nice landscaping around our patio where I could eventually use the compost. Thanks for the suggestions and websites.

My husband Built me one outta a 50 Gallon barrel. He Cut the top off of it and then Found a Trash Can Lid that fit on it and drilled holes to wire it on. We put all our yard clippings Fruit (that has Fallen off of the trees) and etc. in it. about once a week I have the kids go out and Roll it around the yard to get it good and Stirred up. the only Problem We have with it is when we Add Water you have to leave it standing up so that all the water does not run out. Good Luck

I would like to have a compost bin. Would appreciate any suggestions like building my own compost bin. I do not have a garden such as growing my own veggies but I do have a nice landscaping around our patio where I could eventually use the compost. Thanks for the suggestions and websites.

My husband Built me one outta a 50 Gallon barrel. He Cut the top off of it and then Found a Trash Can Lid that fit on it and drilled holes to wire it on. We put all our yard clippings Fruit (that has Fallen off of the trees) and etc. in it. about once a week I have the kids go out and Roll it around the yard to get it good and Stirred up. the only Problem We have with it is when we Add Water you have to leave it standing up so that all the water does not run out. Good Luck

I just moved into a new townhouse and I am doing everything I can to live in a way that’s less harmful to the environment, I have an unfinished basement that can possibly be used to store a compost bin, but no place to plant a garden, so I would’nt know what to do with the soil. A friend suggested I forego the compost bin and just get a garbage disposal to deal with kitchen scraps. Please help!

A compost bin – but you need at least a bit of living soil and a container of fishing worms to get things started. If it is stirred and moistened routinely it should not smell other than a damp dirt smell. It should never stink or smell like garbage.
Only vegetable, fruit and grain should go in it, never put dairy, oils, fats, or meats in small compost bin.
Use the finished "dirt" for flower pots or give it away.

I just moved into a new townhouse and I am doing everything I can to live in a way that’s less harmful to the environment, I have an unfinished basement that can possibly be used to store a compost bin, but no place to plant a garden, so I would’nt know what to do with the soil. A friend suggested I forego the compost bin and just get a garbage disposal to deal with kitchen scraps. Please help!

A compost bin – but you need at least a bit of living soil and a container of fishing worms to get things started. If it is stirred and moistened routinely it should not smell other than a damp dirt smell. It should never stink or smell like garbage.
Only vegetable, fruit and grain should go in it, never put dairy, oils, fats, or meats in small compost bin.
Use the finished "dirt" for flower pots or give it away.

I am starting up childminding and don’t want it to be unhygienic and smelly in the garden. I want to do my bit for the environment but at the same time the children are my priority

They’re as safe as the rest of the lawn, if you follow the rules. Add only vegetable matter to the pile (no meat products). If you add eggshells, rinse them out first and make sure they’re in the center of the pile. Make sure you add dry leaves too so it’ll start cooking properly. Consider building or buying a bin – it’ll make it look neater, keep kids out of it, and speed up the composting process. Look at www.gardenersupply.com for some great kits.