What composter do you use? Recs for a noob?

[LaydeeBug]

I want to try my hand at composting...it is a precursor to a lifelong dream...my very own hobby green house.

Anyway, I am just dreaming, but wanted to know what you all are using.

[bettyellen]

1. The county was giving away basic models and they worked fine- like a large black

Heavy duty trash can with a sliding hatch at the bottom to pull out the finished compost. As long as you're layering well, I never had to stir that much. Check out your community for give always!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I initially misread your post title as "what composer do you use"

and I was going to say J.S. Bach, but then I read it again and saw you were talking about compost. I have a bin I dump everything in, and I can collect the compost out of a door on the bottom, but it's pretty small and probably wouldn't be sufficient for a greenhouse. There are better ways to do it, I'm sure.

[LaydeeBug]

3. I appreciate Bach for sure, but have always been partial to Mozart

My vocal fach always seemed to fall better with Brahms though.

[newblewtoo]

4. 3 Bin Pallet style

see the link.

https://goodcheergarden.wordpress.com/about-2/3-bin-compost-system-using-pallets/

If you are going to do greenhouse and composting make sure you sterilize the compost.

[Nitram]

6. We bought two of these five years ago.

Algreen Products Soil Saver Classic Compost bin. Our previous composer was a large open bin, and a bear knocked it apart. The raccoons managed to open the lid on this one, but I figured out a way to stymie them. You open the side door and sweet-smelling black earth rolls out from the bottom.

https://www.amazon.com/Algreen-Products-Saver-Classic-Compost/dp/B003959G9Y/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1491329080&sr=8-8&keywords=composters

[tnlurker]

7. I use simple home made design

I am in no hurry with my compost so mine takes a year to cure.

In the back corner of my yard I made a two side compost pit (approximately 8 feet by 8 feet). It is on the ground made of metal post with chicken wire around it and a wall (wood and wire) to separate the two sides (each side 4' x 8'). I fashioned gate of sorts to the front side so I can access each side when I need to.

I put all of this years grass cuttings, bush trimmings, vegetable waste from the kitchen, newspapers, tea grounds, coffee grounds. etc. in one side of the pit and leave the other side (side two) until next year. I stopped adding to the first side in the spring and let it sit. I occasionally turn it (not near as much as I should). I then start filling the other side and continue filling until the next spring. The first side has turned into great compost by this time and I empty that side to mulch my garden. I stop using side two and start filling side one again. I get about 1 cubic yard of compost per year out of this method. It is slow but worth it in my opinion and gives me a good amount to use each spring.

I have seen some books say that when using this method to place a large piece of carpet or cardboard on top of each side to prevent growth of weeds and add heat to help with the composting process. Make sure you add water occasionally (if you use a top) to keep the process going. Also when I am emptying one side to the garden I usually take a couple of shovels full to add to the other side. That adds worms and other earth microbes to the other side to accelerate the process.

[Major Nikon]

8. What composter you'd want to use depends on what you want to compost and for what reason

If you just want to compost lawn waste for use back on the lawn, then you need not get any more sophisticated than a pile as time will do all the work for you. This is my favorite method. I just have about a 20 x 20 foot area fenced off on three sides with a 2 foot fence.

If you want to compost food scraps, then you'll need something enclosed to keep varmints out.

If you are composting for the garden, then it's good to include a more balanced source of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. In other words you'd want a good mix of things like lawn clippings and leaves rather than just one or the other.

Aeration speeds the process, so it's a good idea to mix everything up with a pitchfork every month or so. For composting food scraps I used to have one of those barrels that had a crank on it for turning. It worked well, but rusted out after a few years.