We just moved into our new home and I have the perfect spot for a vegi garden and I've heard that making your own compost is the best type of fertelizer. Does anyone make their own? How long does it take to have a "good" batch? Any info would be appreciated!
Thanks,
Amy

I just started making compost, so I've done some checking. If you make "hot" compost - the kind that you have to turn, it's supposed to take about 2 months. If you make "cold" compost - the kind you just dump your scraps on and ignore, it should take about a year. There are products you can get at garden centers that will speed it up.

I bought a big plastic garbage pail, and had dh drill holes all over it. I put a layer of old straw on the bottom, and have been throwing my scraps in. You're supposed to be able to turn it on its side and roll it around to aerate instead of shoveling.

I was just reading the April issue of Self magazine last night, and there is an article in it that explains how to set up a compost pile. I've attached the link to the article if you're interested.

Green special: Adventures in composting: Living Well Articles: self.com

thanks for the link! I'm gonna start saving my scraps today!! It might not be ready this year but by next year I should have a ton plus save money on fertelizer!!

In our old house I had a spot where I could compost, and I loved it. I always felt good that I was using scraps instead of throwing them in the landfill. I never could get it "hot" however, I wasn't very good at turning it. It took about a year. My only complaint was that I didn't have nearly enough. My friend says, "It's never enough!"

When I was originally looking for the perfect composter, I was appalled at how much they cost. I just found one at Whole Foods (aka Whole Paycheck!) that was $35, but it had a lid on it to keep out animals and a door where you could remove the finished product w/o taking the whole thing apart. I'm sure if I was handier I could have made one cheaper, but I am pretty happy with this one. When it stops raining, I'll put it up!

**One tip I read in the booklet that I'd never heard before- putting dog hair in your compost heap is supposed to help keep animals away! I told my husband, finally! our dog is contributing to our family.

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Darcilew

Add a little beer to your compost pile. Helps feed the good bacteria.

I am by no means an expert but I started mine last year and it looks like I have a bit of compost this year! I think mine is considered a cold pile -- takes longer but it still works. Hopefully one day I will figure out that right amounts of everything and it will heat up a little faster.

I started my compost a couple of months ago. I just took a large plastic storage container and used some scissors to poke a bunch of 1 inch length holes all over it. I have thrown in all our non dairy or meat scraps, a lot of raked up leaves and non seeding plants into it. I haven't turned it over once yet so I will have to get started on that. But every week I add a lot more "stuff" to it and everyweek it decomposes down enough that there is plenty of room for the new stuff so it must be working all right.

I also leave the lid a bit ajar to help with aeration and moisture as you are supposed to keep it moist. I forget to add water to it so with our weird weather down here (rain one week, 90 degrees the next) having the lid open a little helps with the moisture.

I am hoping to plant my garden in about a month...after DH finally clears out the few large plants that I am unable to pull out on my own.

Sandra

We always used our rabbits poo to help with our garden. My husband built a pit and we would put the poop in there along with fruit and veggie scraps, egg shells, etc. We covered it with a liner and would go out there and turn in every so often. Not sure if we did it right, but we've always had an okay garden. My problem is I'm not very good at weeding, and I don't use weed killers or anything.