Comments on: Composting 101

By: Composting 101 | Growing a Homestead

Composting 101 | Growing a Homestead — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:33:10 +0000

[…] Composting 101 […]

By: Rick Bickling

Rick Bickling — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 05:53:57 +0000

In reply to Jeannine.

Jeannine – Most newspapers today are printed with soy-based ink and are safe to use as mulch or as a weed blocker. The exception being anything printed on “glossy” paper. These should just be thrown out or recycled…Rick

By: Jeannine

Jeannine — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:57:13 +0000

I thought newspaper now contains toxic substances…can you clarify this?

By: Rick Bickling

Rick Bickling — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 00:50:37 +0000

In reply to Vern M. The highest internal temperature that it is likely to reach, about 150 degrees.

By: Vern M

Vern M — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:18:38 +0000

“….allow the internal temperature to peek.”

At what?

By: Rick Bickling

Rick Bickling — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:43:41 +0000

In reply to P. Anderson. Glad you found the information on compost helpful. Happy gardening!

By: P. Anderson

P. Anderson — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:51:22 +0000

Thank you so much. I just started a compost pile in my backyard based on what I remember our parents telling us to do growing up. We always put dirt in it. No dirt? And we never turned it. I learned on PBS to use 1 part brown 1 part green. Didn’t know where the kitchen scraps came in. Now I know. I may have trouble coming up with enough “brown” stuff. Wait. Newspaper is “brown?” Nevermind. Problem solved. I am so excited!

By: Rick Bickling

Rick Bickling — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:18:33 +0000

In reply to Theresa.

Theresa – If you can’t rotate the bin, you may want to remove some of the existing material. You can then add some brown material such as saw dust, peat moss, straw, pine needles, or newspaper pieces. If the contents are too wet, try leaving the lid open for a few days to let it dry out. The good news is that it’s not an exact science. Things will break down and turn into compost pretty much no matter what you do or don’t do. Hope these tips help.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:40:02 +0000

Just wondering how to correct my mistakes in my compost pile – namely adding too little brown. I have one of the rotating bins and frankly it’s too heavy torotate. Any suggestions other than the obvious?