From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Tipp City, Ohio

The Barn that we have has about 150-200 bales(loose or broken left from the previous owner). I would like to get it out of the barn. What is the best way to compost all of this? I know the ratio is about 50/50 greens to brown but this is a lot of brown. I am not in a hurry for this as so time is not a factor for breaking it all down. Any opinions?.....Tom

3/31/2004 10:43:32 AM

Norton, MA

What is the "brown" you're talking about? Manure? Just dirt? Alex.

3/31/2004 5:00:45 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

That hay is now dry enough to qualify as brown. So we're after greens to add to it in layers in a dedicated compost bin. I would layer some hay on the bottom of a bin. Add some already cooking compost as well as a little that's near finished. Then begin layering in the fresh greens. Vegetable scraps, Grass clippings, even surplus kitchen wastes from restaurants or delis is helpful so long as it's clean. Regularly turn the layers into each other.

Once on it's way, start another new bin & let this one cook. Turn as usual so the hole pile composts evenly. Keep watch on the piles. Hay can be funny & you might want to occasionaly add manure or other brown if things studder.

You might want to look around for a fruit or vegetable processing or canning facility in the area. This way you'll have supply of fresh to hopefuly match your supply of brown.

3/31/2004 5:51:46 PM

Sheridan . NY

take the bales a part---add cow mauner or what ever green you can find --fish seaweed molasses at 8 oz to the gallon of water--spray the pile-- water the hay down and spray every ten days and turn the pile every 10 day with a loader or what every you get turned with

4/4/2004 8:21:25 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Craig, You're Symbex would help in this case too wouldn't it?

4/4/2004 10:35:57 AM

Montoursville, PA

Yes Symbex would help but would not be needed if time were not a major factor. It's hard to sell a quality product like Symbex for such work when commercial gain is not an issue.

....A load of pea hulls or bean plants would come cheap from a cannery. That would be a lot of N to work with the straw or the browns. I always like to add about ten percent by volume plain old top soil as a booster containing lots of bacteria.

4/4/2004 7:28:13 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Thanks for the Ideas! I will get my boys to work and should keep them busy for a while.

4/4/2004 8:56:56 PM