tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post6760017435796146901..comments2024-03-28T06:21:18.668-07:00Comments on Confessions of a Composter: How to Harvest Compost: A PictorialMichelle http://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-27845525903283583522014-11-18T06:04:12.908-08:002014-11-18T06:04:12.908-08:00Thanks, Fia. I use the compost right away because ...Thanks, Fia. I use the compost right away because you want to get those beneficial microbes into your soil. This year since it was late in the season, I just used it as a top dressing around my plants that I thought could use a boost. You could store it in plastic buckets but most of the good bugs would not survive the winter. Michelle https://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-61669943845170622972014-11-17T14:51:35.866-08:002014-11-17T14:51:35.866-08:00How do you store the finished compost for the wint...How do you store the finished compost for the winter? Or do you use it right away? Love the step by step photos, and of course the selfie!Fiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14098334552253521075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-87604761250357306742014-11-17T06:12:06.284-08:002014-11-17T06:12:06.284-08:00Great question! Urine is very high in nitrogen and...Great question! Urine is very high in nitrogen and many composters use this as a natural nitrogen boost in composting. I have read of no negative effects to the microbial life. You do want to be careful that you do not add too much, nitrogen needs to be balanced with carbon materials and urine can also be high in salt so excessive urine could cause a build up of salt which is bad for the microbs. I have never read anything about adding store bought ammonia, I would be careful with that, I have a feeling that is much more toxic than urine. Just stick with the free natural supply of nitrogen. :)Michelle https://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-36063952569060963152014-11-15T13:13:56.177-08:002014-11-15T13:13:56.177-08:00Now with it turning cold I have a nice mix of mulc...Now with it turning cold I have a nice mix of mulch leaves and grass clipping in my compost bin. I am now adding kitchen scraps- coffee grounds fruits and veg left overs... So have a ??? I read adding urine and ammonia is good to add for moisture and extra nitrogen to activate heat up the compost come spring but wont the urine and ammonia kill or drive away earthworm, microbes and other good stuff or what??? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-14661120651802926802014-11-14T10:01:57.854-08:002014-11-14T10:01:57.854-08:00Nice pictorial, Michelle. After piling a lot of r...Nice pictorial, Michelle. After piling a lot of raked leaves onto my pile, it felt good to dump some kitchen scraps on top; I think of it as "making lasagna." Keep layering!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-79321696171476751432014-11-14T07:14:34.065-08:002014-11-14T07:14:34.065-08:00Great tip, thanks!Great tip, thanks!Michelle https://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-61210750700886006802014-11-14T07:14:17.187-08:002014-11-14T07:14:17.187-08:00Yay, I'm glad you're inspired!Yay, I'm glad you're inspired!Michelle https://www.blogger.com/profile/03806770073814563148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-28078301310954501692014-11-14T07:13:25.594-08:002014-11-14T07:13:25.594-08:00I use a two bin system, similar to the three bin s...I use a two bin system, similar to the three bin system you see in many of the composting classes. It works very well for this task, as I just toss unfinished stuff from one into the other, and alternate which I harvest from. Relocating the bins also works well, leaving a pipe behind that is easy to access in the open, versus digging out of a confined space. This works really well if you have a larger yard, smaller yards may not have the space for multiple bins and moving each time you harvest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5567973235731943181.post-53116387599488841182014-11-13T23:15:54.260-08:002014-11-13T23:15:54.260-08:00Great pictorial Michelle! Now I'm ready to ta...Great pictorial Michelle! Now I'm ready to tackle the big bin! Happy Thanksgiving!Nanhttp://thenotillgarden.comnoreply@blogger.com