Breaking this down into sections, disclaimers, my comments on the build and my questions:)
Disclaimers:
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I am aware it is close to a fence, it is coming down in a year or two because it is in bad shape 👍🏼
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i am aware I should water it!!! It is gonna rain all week here so I am taking advantage of nature’s gifts.
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Palettes are HT and I am planning on a more permanent securing method than twine. We just moved and I want to find my box of nails instead of buying something I know we have 😅
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I am a complete novice so anything I say is not advice
The build:
Cost breakdown of 5ish USD~ in gas to pick up the palettes
0 USD – Heat treated palettes and old burlap sacks from a local business
0 USD – old mulch, leaves, straw, etc from the yard
150 USD – Old toro lawnmower with a bag. I’m not sure I’d count this towards the cost of making the bay as I had to buy it regardless. Let me know how you all have downsized your lawns!!!!!
0 USD – Grass clippings, food scraps
3 USD – Jute twine
0 USD – paver fragments from around the property
0 USD – beat up moving boxes i got off facebook for free
Total – 155 USD OR 5 USD -lawn mower
I simply aligned the palettes and tied them together using jute twine and supported the sides with old pavers. I will later come back with nails if I like this spot for the long run. I laid sheet cardboard over mulch with old burlap
I then layered more old mulch, followed by some soil and compost from the yard.
Then layered roughly 1/3 grass clippings and other greens with shredded cardboard and old mulch/yard detritus
I haven’t peed on it 🥲
I plan to add a wire gate in the front so my dogs don’t go digging in it.
Questions:
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Is it ok to put some rotting wood and small twigs in the pile? If so, how much is okay?
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How do I know if it’s heating up without a thermometer? Stick my hand in there???
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How often to turn and water if it isn’t raining enough?
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How to tell when it is ready????
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Any warning signs for things not going as intended?
by pompadare
1 Comment
Hey u/pompadare I’ve seen worse, and have been asked to make worse ones by my customers.
Keep it up. You’ve got the most important factor in the entire formula, and that’s desire.
I had an 86 year old customer who hired me to be his Gardener. It was like I was a 7 year old all over again. It was great to learn from a guy who made Master Gardeners look like punks. I’ve been gardening for 30 years and a professional Gardener for the last 10, and this guy made me look like a parking attendant.
His back yard had no grass: it was a series of flower beds. One September, I counted NINE things in bloom. In September! You can bet the ranch when that guy talked, I listened.
He died last year. I miss him. Best customer I ever had.
Answers:
1. I wouldn’t, but that’s just me. I keep a ‘sticks & larger’ pile separate.
2. You could, but you’re too eager. Just keep piling onto the top, and you’ll be fine.
3. Wait at least a year or two before turning it. At least.
4. It won’t be ready for at least 4 years, just forget about using it until year 5.
5. Well, excessive mold or moss would be bad. If I saw that on mine I would stir it up with a 4 tined rake or pitchfork. You can use a panhead shovel if you absolutely have nothing to do, but one of the most fun parts of having a mulch pile/compost heap is how easy it is to just leave it alone.
Good luck!