Newbie Alert! What addt'l items are useful when starting with composting -- theremometer, activators...? I'll be doing kitchen and yard waste. Thnx!
1622814
I purchased a compost starter as well as some "pine" cat litter. It takes a little time to figure out the proper balance of green and brown. I was primarily using kitchen green waste with paper towels, egg shells, etc. and it wasn't enough "brown" so I added the pine cat litter and ripped up newspaper and that kicked it off. I sometimes have to use a hot water bottle to keep the heat up as again, if the balance is off, it won't get going.
1622815
Can't help on thermometers/activators (I haven't felt the need for those). You might consider getting some kind of compost pail for your kitchen to collect material you'll eventually transfer to composter. I got a neat little stainless pail, nice enough for countertop, but keep in cabinet under sink. Size should match your expected material amounts. Mine is full enough to take out every 2-3 days. I compost only vegetable material (nothing animal, including egg shells) and with its double filter system, it doesn't smell. Watch amount/proportion of yard waste (brown to green). Composter insides are not large so it can fill up quickly if you put lots of bulky dry leaves, grass clippings, etc. Can't help on thermometers/activators (I haven't felt the need for those). You might consider getting some kind of compost pail for your kitchen to collect material you'll eventually transfer to composter. I got a neat little stainless pail, nice enough for countertop, but keep in cabinet under sink. Size should match your expected material amounts. Mine is full enough to take out every 2-3 days. I compost only vegetable material (nothing animal, including egg shells) and with its double filter system, it doesn't smell. Watch amount/proportion of yard waste (brown to green). Composter... » Read More Can't help on thermometers/activators (I haven't felt the need for those). You might consider getting some kind of compost pail for your kitchen to collect material you'll eventually transfer to composter. I got a neat little stainless pail, nice enough for countertop, but keep in cabinet under sink. Size should match your expected material amounts. Mine is full enough to take out every 2-3 days. I compost only vegetable material (nothing animal, including egg shells) and with its double filter system, it doesn't smell. Watch amount/proportion of yard waste (brown to green). Composter insides are not large so it can fill up quickly if you put lots of bulky dry leaves, grass clippings, etc. « Show Less
1622816
If you want to spend the money, a bag/or box of starter is OK. A thermometer is nice to have but your hand can be almost as good. You should buy a bag of wood pellets. They can be found at a feed store or on the net. Also, dirt from your yard can serve as an activator.
1622817
What I've noticed with our Joraform is that you fill it with yard waste and kitchen scraps, spin every few days, then in about 2 weeks the contents have shrunk by 50-75%. No thermometer or activators. This product was well worth the purchase.
1502127
Yes, but make note not to keep your compost too wet. I usually add water until I start to see water coming from the bottom, then stop. It you compost looks like mush then taper back on the water. I would also suggest a compost starter to help it along.
553715
I don't really remember and I found the instructions away. But you can go online Google composting and get a lot of information.
251581
Idk. Save your money. Invest in a composting site and worms. It will work better last longer.
1062185
I Started My indoor worm bin for my Kids to enjoy and to learn the importance of composting; We started by reading the book " Worms eat my garbage " by Mary Applehof and watched some youtube howtos. We started our indoor bin with some small totes and its still going strong, however how many worms for your vermincomposting project does depend on the amount of waste you wish to have them process. The size of the bins, and type of bins are important as it helps with the worms management as I we added another tote to the ones we alllready had to make room for the babies,also harvesting their nutrient waste at the same time. I am still very happy with my worms I received from Uncle Jims I Started My indoor worm bin for my Kids to enjoy and to learn the importance of composting; We started by reading the book " Worms eat my garbage " by Mary Applehof and watched some youtube howtos. We started our indoor bin with some small totes and its still going strong, however how many worms for your vermincomposting project does depend on the amount of waste you wish to have them process. The size of the bins, and type of bins are important as it helps with the worms management as I we added another tote to the ones we alllready had to make room for the babies,also... » Read More I Started My indoor worm bin for my Kids to enjoy and to learn the importance of composting; We started by reading the book " Worms eat my garbage " by Mary Applehof and watched some youtube howtos. We started our indoor bin with some small totes and its still going strong, however how many worms for your vermincomposting project does depend on the amount of waste you wish to have them process. The size of the bins, and type of bins are important as it helps with the worms management as I we added another tote to the ones we alllready had to make room for the babies,also harvesting their nutrient waste at the same time. I am still very happy with my worms I received from Uncle Jims « Show Less
337004
There are several types of juicers. If you are using a centrifugal juicer you do not get all the juice out. On the other hand, the "waste" that comes out is sopping wet, right? therefore, it's got nutritional value and you could use it in bread or soup, or whatever. You don't have to throw it in the compost heap. Having said that, if you juice, please only use organic vegetables (and apples), since you're concentrating not only the nutrients but also any chemicals used on them. If you want all the fiber, you can use the Vitamix, but if you want liquid juice, a juicer is still best. You can get a triturating juicer like the Champion for a little less than you will pay for the Vitamix, or for $2500 you can buy a new Norwalk juicer (that's actually what I have). This juicer is a bit of work to use and clean up after, but when you are finished the fiber is dry, hence no waste. Good luck!
967353
Sorry, don't compost. I suggest you contact St. Gabriel Organics for info like that.
1766994
Yes, Ringer can help compost fruit and vegetable scraps. But it's not magic, so having an idea of ideal composting environment will improve your compost and composting time. Assuming you are composting by "heap" method in your yard (5x5 and 1ft deep is good) (as opposed to a store bought spin bin), Ringer can help your heap heat up by adding the organisms that do this. Ringer won't work at all if you don't also follow some good practices. For instance the ideal environment includes air circulation (thus why you stir compost every 3-6 weeks), moisture (which is why it needs watered) and a rain covering because hard rains can wash nutrients away. Your compost also needs a proper balance between green and juicy things like your fruit and veggie scraps, and brown and dry things like tree and bush trimmings and dried leaves. A good balance is two to one. That is, two parts brown and dry to one part green and juicy. Other green and juicy things include non seeded grass clippings, coffee grounds, egg shells, fish wastes. There are entire books written about composting. I like Compost This Book. I bought Ringer to get my compost started, but it is not essential because probably those same micro organism are already found in the soils in our own yards. So what is more important than buying the right product is following good practices. Follow some good practices and nature will do the rest. Composting is ultimately forgiving, but you'll reap a lot more benefits if you start right.
1602765
For what you're doing, thermometer placement would be critical. You'll have a much higher temperature gradient in soil than in compost. You might try inserting at a shallow angle to get more of the probe at a given depth.
801151
Each time you start a new tray. I use the organic dirt from the old crop for my compost pile. Other uses I'd suggest such as house plants which need bigger pots or perhaps one of your outdoor flower beds as it is thankfully springtime now. As you do your last cutting for the juicer just go ahead and soak another jar of seeds for the next crop.
398399
I had the same question when I got my bag, which wants you to use the whole thing at once. So I asked a farmer friend; he recommended half an ounce per gallon of compost. Hope this helps!
1762006
I goggled it and here's what came up: http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/fungus-gnats-in-worm-compost-bins/ and http://www.redwormcomposting.com/worm-composting/fungus-gnats-in-worm-compost-bins/
2202785
Pretty quick....we live in Chicago so we don't have a full year of composting. But the materials we throw in break down fast. We keep in a spot that gets full sun so it soaks up the heat. I usually give it a good mix when I add some new material. Last fall I stuffed it full with the last grass clippings/leaves/plants. This spring when I opened it up the material was below the half way point. The composter itself is very nice looking in the yard......not ugly at all. Very sturdy...should hold up for years.
14477
To my original batch of compostable materials I added some local worms as well as some red worms I purchased online. They seem to be doing just fine with a once a week tumble so I encourage the addition of some worms to your tumbler to speed and enhance the composting process. If my worms prove too frail to survive the tumbling, they don't deserve to be called real worms and they'll just become part of the compost!
468538
I haven't had my composter long enough to know. But, thank you for the heads up! I might try to get it 'under cover' before the snow comes.
1834136
peat moss, vinegar -- check out the video on YouTube. There's a couple who has several videos about the composting toilet.
1124965
This unit sits on your kitchen counter. It chops up orange peels, celery leftovers, banana peels. Things that won't decompose for a year if not chopped up. Then you throw all that into the larger outdoor composter with the grass clippings and weeds. You will need a compost container too.