Composting and Cow Manure

[bernie5711]

I have never tried composting and have only a basic understanding of the concept. I plan to start my first garden next spring and I have accumulated 2 very large piles of grass clippings throughout this past summer. In another month I will have enough leaves to fill a large u haul. I also have a friend with a dairy who said I can have all the cow manure I want. NOW WHAT DO I DO?

Should I mix the manure, leaves and grass all together? A friend said he thought the manure prevented the pile from "breaking down" properly?

I hate to show my total lack of knowledge but I have no idea what to do or how to do it? Can you guys offer some advice? I have no problem with putting in all the physical labor needded but I can not afford to put a lot of money into building, bins, drums etc. to produce compost. Is their a simple inexpensive way to produce compost I can use in my garden come spring?

THANKS!

 

[baymule]

I have never tried composting and have only a basic understanding of the concept. I plan to start my first garden next spring and I have accumulated 2 very large piles of grass clippings throughout this past summer. In another month I will have enough leaves to fill a large u haul. I also have a friend with a dairy who said I can have all the cow manure I want. NOW WHAT DO I DO?

Should I mix the manure, leaves and grass all together? A friend said he thought the manure prevented the pile from "breaking down" properly?

I hate to show my total lack of knowledge but I have no idea what to do or how to do it? Can you guys offer some advice? I have no problem with putting in all the physical labor needded but I can not afford to put a lot of money into building, bins, drums etc. to produce compost. Is their a simple inexpensive way to produce compost I can use in my garden come spring?

THANKS!

God love ya' big hugs to you! Yes, there is an inexpensive way to build a compost pile. It is called a pile. Yup, that's it, just layer leaves, then cow manure, then grass glippings, then manure, then leaves/grass, then manure......you get the picture. A big, plain 'ol PILE! Then water it good, keep it miost, not soggy. Turn it every few weeks with a shovel or pitchfork. As it decomposes, it will get smaller, that is normal. The manure does not keep the leaves/grass from breaking down, quite the contrary, it speeds the process along. The manure provides heat as it decomposes and that helps breakdown the leaves and grass clippings. Count your blessings! You have an inexhaustable supply of raw materials to compost with!

 

[bernie5711]

Bay Mule

THATs GREAT! What about over the winter with snow? Should the pile be covered with a tarp to try to hold in the heat?

 

[baymule]

Haha! Snow! Not here! Sorry, don't have experience with snow and compost. But I don't think I would cover the pile, isn't snow supposed to have insulating properties? Does the snow hang around all winter or just a flurry now and then? It might make turning the pile a little more difficult if first you have to dig all the snow off. Personally, I wouldn't bother with turning the pile if it is going to be buried under snow all winter. Just make several piles and let nature do the rest. By the way, can you get any raw milk from the dairy? The bacteria in raw milk activates the microbial action in the soil. If you can get any raw milk, spray the compost piles and spray your intended garden spot. The mix ratio is 3 gallons raw milk to 17 gallons water for a total of 20 gallons.

 

[thistlebloom]

What Baymule said.

Um, you said enough leaves to fill a large U haul? Are you talking truck, or trailer, or... because that's a lot of leaves!
But leaves are awesome, and I bring home dozens of bags of them myself.

I see Baymule just suggested several small piles, which is what I was also going to suggest. Supposedly the optimum working size should be 4 x 4 x 4. But, really, how many of us measure?

Your pile will likely not do much cooking in the winter. Mine freezes solid. But you could cover it with a tarp to keep the snowmelt from getting it totally soggy. I don't worry about it, but I'm lazy about my compost, even though I have spurts of energy and good intentions occasionally.

You're going to have a great garden!

 

[897tgigvib]

Yep, what Baymule says.

Couple things to add. Might want to mix the grass cuttings with the leaves so you can get air in the pile a bit better. Nice light and fluffy makes better compost. Easier to mix too. You can stuff in some kitchen waste too, no meat or oilly stuff though. No predator pet poop, cat or dog, cat poop especially no. cat poop can have some really bad germ.

You can let it snow on it. snow melt might make an ooze around the pile. That's good ooze for gardens.

When you turn the pile, if all is composting well, it should be kind of to very warm in the middle of it. That'll cool some after awhile.

Compost like yours=good stuff!

 

[897tgigvib]

Do it how thistle says about tarps and sizes

 

[897tgigvib]

Ha! simultaneous writing! Who clicks the submit button first?

 

[baymule]

I can see Bernie5711's yard now......deep winter, snow covered piles all over the place........Bernie's yard has snow pimples........

 

[Smart Red]

I hate to rain on the parade of good compost information, but. . . .

Ideally a compost pile is built over the summer. We here in the cold climes can expect far less composting activity taking place through the winter. You might not have good rich compost come spring, but you will be well on your way to healthier soil.

Yes, to layering. No to leaves - or rather to putting in leaves whole. Leaves will take a couple of years to break down unless they are shredded before adding to the pile. Shredding can be done by running over the leaf pile with a lawn mower or investing in a shredder/chipper.

Also, I dig about 16 inches of top soil off the base of my compost area before starting my layering. Then put down a good layer of branches and twigs to allow air circulation under the pile. Layer with greens, browns, and a layer of that reserved top soil. Repeat to no more than 5 feet tall. Remember to add lots of water to your pile as you add layers. Air and water are the two most important materials to this type of composting.

Another place we posters differ in composting is the size of the pile. Actually, 4 x 4 is the smallest size for a compost pile. The heat lost from the top of this size pile will be greater than that in a larger pile. My resource indicates that a 6 x 10 pile would be the biggest you would want because any larger is harder to work. After a week or so, you should be able to feel the heat in the center of your pile. Once that heat begins to cool, it is time to turn the pile so the materials at the edges are moved into the center and the nearly composted materials at the center are moved to the outer edges. This will start your pile heating up once again.

Once the pile cools for the second time it should be ready for use in the garden. Because of the need for water, it's not a good idea to cover with a tarp. Also, with a properly heating pile, there is not likely to be an insulating cover of snow for any length of time.

According to the 'wisdom of the ages', the best time to start a compost pile was last spring. The second best time is right now. So please do follow the excellent suggestions given by TEG posters, just don't be overly upset if spring finds your pile needs a bit longer to compost because of our winter weather. The end results are worth it.

Love, Smart Red