Steel post and electrical conduit....... what I had on hand.... used the conduit for tomato cages for a couple of years...
I use an aerobic process so want airflow around and into the pile. I save a lot of leaves from the fall for my carbon input for composting though the following summer. Since they often come in those paper yard bags, I just tear those open and use two of them to cover the top of the pile. This lets it have access to O2 from the sides and top where the bags come together. A light cover keeps moisture in, which along with O2 is essential. I also use a heavy metal bar to poke holes from the top and sides, to the bottom of the pile to allow O2 in. I would also recommend considering getting a compost thermometer to track temperatures and your process.
I bought a bag of red wiggler composting worms from Jim's Worm Farm about 7 years ago and released them into a big pile of finished compost. I didn't know if they could survive our winters, but to this day I find them all throughout my finished compost. They are really good at breaking things down and creating lots of baby worms and castings.
Listening to you guys talking about turning your compost piles really makes me appreciate my rotating bin. Give it a spin every 3rd or 4th trip and it's all mixed and oxygenated. Got 3 wheel barrows out of it again this year. I don't till it into the whole garden. I put a dab in with every plant. The worm thing…..I never knowingly put any worms in the bin. But there are a bunch in there. Got those red wigglers. Had a ton this year. Bunches of them go w/the compost into the garden. They don't seem to have any problem wintering in there.
Buddy at work his Mom and Dad have a horse farm and they make a point of taking care of the little guys in their pile and I was given a 5 gal pail of the horse fun 3 weeks ago. All I am doing is keep adding dirt,dead leaves,ripped up newspaper and water. They just keep multiplying like Rabbits and there has been about 20 gals of compost taken outta the big cooler. Which I just refresh with the stuff I'm using. Wont touch it for a week as I just threw in some sheep fun tonight. This is a 120 quart cooler which I don't shut tight.
I have never tried the rotating bins for making compost, but always assumed they must work or they wouldn't sell so many of them. It don't think they would work for my operation considering the amount of compost I am making...2 yards of finished material, or at lest 18 large wheelbarrow loads a year. Plus I am generating enough heat (= or >150f) to break down fish and game remains without any odor or pest problems in the piles. I have three large piles going at all times in various stages of composting. I am with you on not tilling it in. I use it all season long for side dressing plants, mulching, and then topping off beds at the end of the season. I have 22 raised beds to work with. I have gotten away from tilling at all in my home gardens, but run my old tiller up north at the garden I made for my brother-in-law.
Was just informed by the Mrs that only 10 gal has been taken out. That sounds like a big operation hov.
So as much as I hate to spend this kind of money on just makin some dirt...I broke down and bought one of these, I just didn't want to do piles...seems to take forever sometimes, attracts critters and I cant keep the Hounds out of it. The Jora Compost Tumbler – Jora Composters Supposed to be the cats meow of composters and because its insulated they can work year round. I started one full side late yesterday after getting the thing put together, a mix of coop bedding, grass clippings and some kitchen scraps. It was showing 120f this am...6-8 weeks to finish. The thing is a bear to assemble...took a lot of help from my wife to get the panel screws started...I think we may have invented some new positions.
Best of luck with it. I've been composting for years. Basically, 3 piles, rotated through most revery fall. Two bins are similar to this - New Age Compost Bin for Boston Residents (store pickup only) — Boston Building Resources My third "bin", is a couple of covered trash bins. The finished compost is put in them. From there, it gets used with plants. When the time comes to rotate (move from one bin into the other), and if I still have finished compost, it gets broadcasted over a section of lawn, that looks the most needing help. I'd replace what I have, if I knew someone in a community that sells them.
Will deer actually did in a compost pile to get the egg shells? The egg shells you are talking about, are they crushed?
Nice composter DaveGunter. Ours got a hole chewed in it a few years back by squirrels. It is now a drive up window for chipmunks.
