Large Scale Composting

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Ed89

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Large Scale Composting
« on: April 10, 2012, 19:58 »
Hi all,

So along with my new allotment at the activity centre I work at we are setting up a composter too. I have a roll of chicken wire and some poles to make it with,

Is thier a maxium/optimal size composters can be? As we will produce alot of compostable waste.

Also what rules do people for what they compost?

I was thinking just uncooked fruit, veg and salad peelings/ waste, wood ash (as we produce quite a lot after our campfire sessions) and grass cuttings.

What are the rules on cooked veg, left over boiled carrotts etc,

Cheers all!
Young and first year growing looking for help and advice along the way!

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mattwragg94

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2012, 20:00 »
theres no maximim size you can build a compost bin - however i would suggest that you divide it up into sections/bays - so that you can turn it more easily.

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arugula

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2012, 20:14 »
Cooked foods will attract vermin and should be avoided.
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compostqueen

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2012, 09:18 »
Chicken wire and posts is more suited to composting leaves, which makes very good leafmould and is well worth the small amount of effort to do  :)

A more solid construction, say of wood,  would be better for compost as it retains heat

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mumofstig

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2012, 09:37 »
you could always line the wire cage with cardboard to conserve some heat. The cardboard eventually rots down as well  ;)

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Ed89

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2012, 20:15 »
What about if I insulate all sides with carpet, good idea? Or just cardboard and when that composts down re-do it?


Ed  :)

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Yorkie

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2012, 20:27 »
Carpet would probably be OK; it may release toxins but I'd have thought them unlikely to contaminate the compost too much.
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...

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jrko

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2012, 19:13 »
6ft fence panels make the easiest system. They are made to a set size, and have fence posts cut to size and a system for connecting together.

A run of 3 along the back and 4 sticking out as bin 'sides'.  Then just make the 3 along the front to close the bins removable. 

You could go to 6ft high if you felt you'd get enough compostable material.  Once the first bin is well along, open the front and empty, then shove it into bin 2 all nicely mixed.  Refill bin 1 with new stuff and repeat. Move bin 2 in bin 3 when ready. By the time bin 3 is ready to move on you'll have loads of compost to use
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Christine

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2012, 16:24 »
If you can obtain some form of black polythene covering and have a patch of bare ground, you could use your wire netting for a leaf mould compound and just cover a compost heap on bare ground. It works for me. I inherited a container and a roll of polythene you see.

Amongst the information on this site is an article on how to build a compost bin using wooden pallets.

And a useful guide to how to make compost can be found here.

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TerryB

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2012, 15:46 »
I had to make some compost bins in a hurry last year, so I just turned some builders 1 ton bags upside down, cut the bottom on three side to form a flap and put a cane at each corner untill the dag was full.
Its worked very well, because as the compost reduces in volume, 2 bags reduce to 1 the unused bag can just be put away untill required again.
The bags don't appear rot and the flap on the top stops too much rain getting in.

From your list you don't appear to have a lot of brown material so add cardboard/paper.

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sunshineband

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Re: Large Scale Composting
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2012, 18:16 »
If you have a paper shredder where you work, then this would provide a useful source of 'brown' material  :D
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