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joesav
Joined: 30 Aug 2004
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:02 am Post subject: compost in a rotating drum |
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| Hi everyone, I'm new to the list. I want to start composting manure and yard trimings in a smal property, so i am thinking of making a rotating drum. I have heard that it can compost the manure in a very short time, as short as a week. Is this possible? How big shoud it be? Could aanyone help me? I am also thinking of a flow through worm bed. Can you give me some sugjestions? |
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kbrew
Joined: 17 Mar 2003
Posts: 358
Location: Midlothian,TEXAS
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| Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:17 am Post subject: |
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Welcome...
Unless you have a tiny place, like a zero-lot, I think you might be disappointed in the results as-far-as volume. See article below from dirtdoctor.com:
Containers for composting are interesting and fun to play with but usually aren’t necessary. People who manufacture composters don’t appreciate that comment too much but it’s the truth. They also restrict the volume of compost that can be made. I’ll explain the pros and cons of various compost containers right after this.
Compost is the most important tool in gardening, farming, and any other kind of plant growing. To create healthy soil, lots of compost is needed. That’s the main reason I’m not a big proponent of compost bins. Most of these structures hold less than a half a cubic yard of raw materials. As raw organic materials turn into compost, the shrinkage is about 70%. Containers are useful if you have extremely small space, but if you have plenty of space compost containers are ill-advised. They don’t hold enough volume. Better to pile the material on the ground in a free standing stack like the commercial companies do. The only container I sometimes use at home is hay bales. Alfalfa – not bermuda. A 2 or 3 sided structure of hay bales holds the moisture in the pile and at some point rots, falls in and becomes part of the compost. |
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joesav
Joined: 30 Aug 2004
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 5:32 am Post subject: |
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Hi, thank you for your reply. I am thinking oof bulding a 2 c.y. polygonal drum as I have seen on the web. I am very conseres about the time neaded for the composting procces. Is it posible to have compost in a week? I know that it will nead about a month for curing but after than is it ready to use?
Thank you. |
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