Homemade Compost?

[cubguy]

Has anyone out there ever made their own compost in large quantities?
I haven't and I would like to start. Each fall our landscaping buisiness brings in Massive Amounts of leaves (about 4 dump truck loads) And right now they are just going to waist. Naturally I would like to do it as simple as possible so are there any tips, tricks, or know hows to get me started?
Any information will be greatly appreciated!

[CADplans]

Last summer I hauled in 100 loads at 5000 pounds per load.
That's a half of a million pounds.

Most of it will go into my garden (50x100 garden).

Over 2 years of sitting on top, it holds in the moisture and just decomposes.

You have to resist the urge to plow it in, during decomposition it needs nitrogen and will deplete the soil.

If you just leave it on top, it decomposes taking nitrogen from the air rather than the soil, then in turn adds nitrogen to the soil.

How much willpower do you have not to plow!!??

[robpa]

I make lots of compost. I use the cold method, meaning, I just pile up any and all waste in a large pile surrounded by concrete block Keep layering on the carbons. I like to put a layer of leaves, some manure, and whatever waste we may have. In a year its rotted down to a fine brown material which has no bad odors.
To make it work faster a more scientifix strategy might be in order. layer browns and greens and turn over now and then to encourage a faster break down of carbons, no need tho really. To get er gpoin you can go to the woods and gather up a wheelbarrow full of woods floor detritis and add to the pikle. it has the good microbes to get er cookin. Dont let it get too hot or it will burn and destroy the good micr organisms.

[cubguy]

thanks for all the help.

CAdplans; Each year I put some leaves into the soil and each year I have a nitrogen deficiency. Now I know what to do.

robpa; That sounds like a really good Idea, I think thats what Im going to do.

[robpa]

I f ya have access to a shredder, run the leaves thru to make leaf mold. I shred all mine, and thats a heck of a lot. I use them mostly to mulch the garlic, I gow lots of it. It finances my cub projects. Any time carbon is added to the soil, nitrogen is taken from the soil to assist eating up the added carbon. If growing plants in this soil an additional source of N is needed. The rotting material will put back N as it decomposes, slowly. Planting a cover crop over the non growing season will help tpo sequester N , P K and micro nutrients and make them available for the next crop. Compost releases its nutrients slowly and in forms immediatly available to growing plants without causing harm. fresh manure will burn the plants normally.

[cubguy]

we use a PTO vacuum to suck up all the leaves and I have considered that. Is leaf mold just as use full as compost? Is It easier?

[robpa]

Its easier to use, breaks down faster and when decomposed has more micro bacteria, a good thing. Once shredded they hold in place better also. I have ta rake all mine. Would like a vacuum but the work keeps me occupied ! You can mow them then suck em up, the grass mixed in will assist in more rapic decomposition and add N.
Compost tea is a nother way to utilize your compost. Put a bucket full of compost in a barrel, fill with water, let soak for awhile and dip out and water plants with it, sparingly, at least till the plants become more mature. There is actually a ton of compost chit chat on the internet. If ya fish, compost piles become a very good source of worms too.

[cubguy]

Thanks for all the help. I cleared out a spot for the pile and set up the cinder blocks. By next weekend I hope to have my tractor up and running again so I will collect as many leaves ans I can and go from there.
I am going to go with the leaf mold process since I have no desire to turn the piles and we dont get that much "green' material. Although, do you think it would hurt anything if I spread what little greens we have over the leaf mold.
I think it would help but you seem to know alot more about this stuff than I do.

[cubguy]

Originally Posted by cubguy

Thanks for all the help. I cleared out a spot for the pile and set up the cinder blocks. By next weekend I hope to have my tractor up and running again so I will collect as many leaves ans I can and go from there.
I am going to go with the leaf mold process since I have no desire to turn the piles and we dont get that much "green' material. Although, do you think it would hurt anything if I spread what little greens we have over the leaf mold.
I think it would help but you seem to know alot more about this stuff than I do.

I think I answered my own question, A few posts ago you use a "cold method"
With includes piling up all wastes you have. Im not thinking clearly tonight.

[HotDawg Cubs]

Originally Posted by robpa

I make lots of compost. I use the cold method, meaning, I just pile up any and all waste in a large pile surrounded by concrete block Keep layering on the carbons. I like to put a layer of leaves, some manure, and whatever waste we may have. In a year its rotted down to a fine brown material which has no bad odors.
To make it work faster a more scientifix strategy might be in order. layer browns and greens and turn over now and then to encourage a faster break down of carbons, no need tho really. To get er gpoin you can go to the woods and gather up a wheelbarrow full of woods floor detritis and add to the pikle. it has the good microbes to get er cookin. Dont let it get too hot or it will burn and destroy the good micr organisms.

That's good advice, as is all the other here, too. I've composted for years, but in smaller quantities. I'd really like to build a concrete block enclosure and do the layering. True, it only takes a round of the seasons for it to break itself down into rich crumbly stuff!