Green Daily

That's great! Go for it! We have a compost bin, and although we have mice in it occasionally, NO rats and no cockroaches. It makes such great soil additives - and takes all the scary-going-anaerobic stuff out of the trash.

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Get over your fears of rats and bugs!!! If you do it right (which isn't hard at all) you won't have any of those, okay, maybe earthworms but that's a good thing. Keep a list by your kitchen pail so you or your kids (yes, your kids can compost too) will follow the guidlines. I've been composting for 12 years. When I die they'll probably burry my ashes in the compost bin!

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Kelly---good for you! You can even get the "black gold" in 3 weeks if you do the following:

1) Be sure the carbon-nitrogen ratio is good---about 2 parts nitrogen (grass clippings/kitchen waste/etc.) to one part carbon (shredded black/white newspaper, straw, or a little sawdust from untreated wood--not too much!). That's a good start, but you'll have to experiment a little.
2) Be sure you get it wet enough the first time (like a wrung out sponge).
3) Be sure to turn it at least once-a-week to get it going and even add more water if it's too dry. It needs air and moisture to break down the materials. Once it's underway, you don't have to turn it as often and won't need to add water until you make a new pile.
4) Have your pile be a minimum of 3' x 3' for the most efficient hot composting and a maximum of 5' x 5'.

GOOD LUCK! There are a lot of great resources on-line (Seattle Tilth is a good one), and one great book to consider is Let it Rot! by Stu Campbell (a paperback about $12).

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Let me know if you have any questions as you go along....I'm happy to help out.

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