General – Page 101 – Crazy About Compost

How to Collect a Soil or Compost Sample

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2TQy3QaG98 It really is that simple, right? Dig just under the top layer in a few spots, dump into a bag. While I'm not going with this particular lab, I was doing some comparative research on techniques although there's not much to it. I got my cooler packs, my quart-sized ziploc bags and a trowel. I'm going to take a sample from the middle, but I'm more interested in the materials that are on the outer edges of the pile. These particular areas are where it's not as likely that the higher register of thermophilic activity was able to reach. I'm still not worried, but I'd like to make my test as honest as I can get it. The stuff from the center of the pile will be thoroughly…

Skeletons in my Compost!

I stopped adding to my "cured" compost bin just over a year ago- it's had plenty of time to cure, cool down and break down. It's strange how compost piles age- all the non-compost stuff seems to bubble up to the surface, like tires rise to the surface in a landfill. Can you guess what this glob of green stuff is in my hand? It's the remains of a compostable garbage bag. Where's the rest of it? Has it degraded safely and completely? What's up with the stuff in my hand? What other stuff is in here? I really don't remember what I put in my compost pile... I'm making that pledge right now that when I empty this one and start it all over soon, I'm keeping a clipboard…

Saturday’s Deposit

In just ten minutes, I took care of a week's worth of toilet waste and food scraps. -Dig an indentation from the center of the pile. -Dump in food scraps followed by compost toilet contents. -Rinse out both containers and dump water into center of pile. -Cover the pile with leaves and dampen. Done!