General – Page 151 – Crazy About Compost

When the Left-Hand doesn’t know what the Right-Hand (PLA) is doing.

originally found here: http://woodsend.org/2013/09/left-hand-doesnt-right-hand-pla-doing/ American and European consumers are very familiar with PLA widely marketed as compostable for just about everything from chip-bags to golf-tees. This renowned PLA, a biological plastic made from a “left-hand” lactic-acid molecule, also has a quirk: it requires a pre-heat phase before it will actually biodegrade. That trait is referred to as Tg or “glassy transition” in the trade. Tg is a feature of all plastics and can occur over a very wide range of temperatures, but none as convenient as PLA’s at 55-58°C, making it eligible to be called compostable,- that is, if the compostability test is conducted at or just above the Tg temperature. To be certified compostable means a standard is upheld such as ASTM 6400 for USA or EN 13432 for…

How do I know the difference between GREENS and BROWNS?

Have you ever checked out the Soil Forum before? It's a pretty interesting hangout that brings me back to the old days of forums and chat rooms, trying to absorb knowledge like a sponge and getting into a debate or two along the way. The following material is a repost from this link: http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/organic/2002091508030485.html . It's a good page for those of you that want details and specific explanations of carbon/nitrogen ratios. While I'm more about simply adding everything and always supplementing with twice the amount of leaves, some want to make it more involved... This is a popular question among many first composters or organic gardeners. Regardless of the name, "Greens" and "Browns" are not differences in physical color. It is more technical than that. These terms are functions…

How to Compost in Bear Country

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7Lr2e1IncU I really like this video... I view the instructions for how to keep bears out as the same as simply composting properly. Any time you add food scraps to the pile, be sure to cover it with brown materials. This will balance out the green material while not attracting pests. Personally, I don't find the aeration step necessary. If you add your materials as stated, the pile will cook and you will get good results. These compost bins are good, but be sure to check that air can circulate through the bin to some extent.