BajaNomad

COMPOST # 2 - HOT COMPOSTING

BajaBlanca - 6-21-2012 at 06:54 PM

dig a hole - pretty wide and about a foot deep






put in dry branches OR sawdust and wet down. not soak - just wet.






put in wet or dry manure (horse, cow, dog, pig or ???). wet down.






put in food and spread around. wet down.










put in dirt or sand. wet down.







put in sawdust (if u have it). wet down.





cover with a plastic bag that is held down by rocks.







mix it up every 2 days. it should be very HOT. one can add to it at any time and the composting should happen very fast. Again, if one blends the food, that also speeds up the process.


we shall see if this resists the test of time.

and if anyone has experience with this one, I would be interested in hearing your opinions.

Ateo - 6-21-2012 at 08:42 PM

Blanca, thanks for sharing. I think this is a great idea, especially for those who have room to do this. Most people in SD live in cramped quarters with no dirt! I'm learning from a friend how I could do this in my backyard.

If I lived in Baja and had some room, I'd dig some holes, try this out and share my results with neighbors. Good on you!

Ateo - 6-21-2012 at 08:44 PM

And I have that same plant in the last picture.....my dogs always eat it though. Any idea what it's called? Doesn't need much water.

BajaBruno - 6-21-2012 at 11:01 PM

Ateo, I can't keep my beagle out of my compost pile. He bulls through wire and rocks and anything else I throw up and eats anything he can find. The vet told me today he was a little overweight. No kidding.

Mulegena - 6-21-2012 at 11:07 PM

Blanca, what's the intent of the styles of composting: hot or cold, stable or turned?

woody with a view - 6-22-2012 at 07:42 AM

the heat is a byproduct of the microbes eating/composting. i think if it gets too hot it turns to s liquidy mush, that's why you need to turn it so the heat is more even and the little microbes can do their thing.

BajaBlanca - 6-22-2012 at 09:37 AM

the plant on the left I believe is jade.

Mulegena time you have available is the difference

to compost faster - use the hot one and turn over every 2 or 3 days to aerate and speed the process.

the fastest compost of all is the wormy one which I will describe later today after classes.

to put the leftovers in and walk away, use dry compost #1.

J.P. - 6-22-2012 at 06:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
dig a hole - pretty wide and about a foot deep






put in dry branches OR sawdust and wet down. not soak - just wet.






put in wet or dry manure (horse, cow, dog, pig or ???). wet down.






put in food and spread around. wet down.










put in dirt or sand. wet down.







put in sawdust (if u have it). wet down.





cover with a plastic bag that is held down by rocks.







mix it up every 2 days. it should be very HOT. one can add to it at any time and the composting should happen very fast. Again, if one blends the food, that also speeds up the process.


we shall see if this resists the test of time.

and if anyone has experience with this one, I would be interested in hearing your opinions.


























Let finished produt sit for 1 week and add a fuse and you have one powerful BOMB:lol::lol::lol::lol:

bajalinda - 6-22-2012 at 07:14 PM

Thanks for the great info and photos Blanca!

Udo - 6-23-2012 at 08:43 AM

A very inexpensive com poster, Blanca...thanks!

BajaBlanca - 6-23-2012 at 05:55 PM

If anyone else does this compost, I would love to know. Wildcoast ladies asked the delegado to keep turning the compost for a couple months hahaha I must get over there and take some photos.

Just keep it small!

durrelllrobert - 6-25-2012 at 04:18 PM

When I lived up north I had a large property and all the tree trimmings, 1/4 acre lawn and kitchen waste went into a compost pile that reached 12ft x 6ft x 4ft thick. Sure enough, whenever it got wet I had spontaneous combustion. In 2 cases the local FD had to put it out which cost me $100/ pop. :fire::fire:

[Edited on 6-25-2012 by durrelllrobert]

mcfez - 6-25-2012 at 05:40 PM

Great post. Let nothing go to waste.

Down at the Campos in San Felipe.....I taught folks there to do bout the same, except fish waste was used along with household kitchen waste. Adding a healthy amount of chopped straw or any other organic will intensely help with moister containment.

Pieces of boards....dried seaweed....cardboard.....palm leafs......used as a covering up top of the buried area.........will decrease water evaporation.

BajaBlanca - 6-26-2012 at 09:05 AM

thanks McFez ! good input.