Composting...

[BigBlueHen53]

Start with CL under the free section. FB marketplace. Any industrial park, drive around to the back... Lowe's or HD (but ask as most that are painted on the side are returned for a deposit), the feed store, sporting goods store... Dumpster diving...

Thanks!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Along that line, are plastic milk crates behind the stores returned for deposit or are they sent back as garbage? I saw a YouTube video where a guy was using those plastic milk crates as a way to make a barrier for composting sections. He had the crates in his run and used them to section off areas. It worked for him.

Those milk crates make great nests.

 

[Sally PB]

I was lucky enough to get 3 of the plastic "pallet" thingies that 2 liter pop (soda) bottles come on. Turn them upside down (ie, flat side up) and they make fantastic boot drying racks racks.

I also use them in my basement. The idiot who built our house did not put a drain in the basement floor. (Where is all the plumbing, the water heater, and other things that might eventually break and spew water everywhere? The basement.) I stack cases of canned goods on these to keep them off the floor.

 

[Percheron chick]

Along that line, are plastic milk crates behind the stores returned for deposit or are they sent back as garbage? I saw a YouTube video where a guy was using those plastic milk crates as a way to make a barrier for composting sections. He had the crates in his run and used them to section off areas. It worked for him.

Milk crates belong to the dairy. They have a $10 deposit value around here. They do have 101 other uses.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Along that line, are plastic milk crates behind the stores returned for deposit or are they sent back as garbage? I saw a YouTube video where a guy was using those plastic milk crates as a way to make a barrier for composting sections. He had the crates in his run and used them to section off areas. It worked for him.

Milk crates used to be given away for free years ago but not anymore. They are reused by the dairy vendors and have to be returned.

 

[Acre4Me]

Here is my 3-bin system. We did some research first, including a small book I own on composting, with a wide variety of styles and types. In the end, we chose this style for functionality and footprint. The boards on the outer sides are fixed. The low boards across the front are fixed. The boards in between the bins can be removed easily as they just sit on top of each other. There are fixed boards below to the same height as front boards. By removing boards between the bins it is easier to transfer from one bin to the next.

Since it gets pretty cold here, it cannot be turned in winter. It certainly breaks down better when turned more often. The hardest bin to turn is the new bin on the left. When I went to turn the middle and right bins this weekend, I noticed a decent number of worms in the middle bin, but probably 10x more in the right bin.

Yesterday I used some of the compost from the right bin, and had to remove a few large chunks of unfinished stuff, but, otherwise looks good in and mixed into the soil nicely!

 

[Percheron chick]

That's an attractive and functional 3 bin setup. Unfortunately, that's $1000 worth of lumber today. I just spent $125 on 6 8' 2x8 for a raised bed.

 

[Sally PB]

I have a similar 3 bin system, but the bins are made of cinder blocks that were scavenged from a falling down barn. I was able to turn the piles last week, which is good, as it's going to get a lot colder soon.

 

[BReeder!]

Weather is warming here in IL. I need to get out there and turn the compost. We have a full bin that will hopefully be ready here soon to top off a few beds. We have been throwing scraps and poop in another bin all winter so that will be getting tooped and then will start on filling the third bin. The ducks and chickens are doing their jobs too making compost. The added drainage from the composting in the runs has been very beneficial.

 

[gtaus]

Milk crates belong to the dairy. They have a $10 deposit value around here. They do have 101 other uses.

Milk crates used to be given away for free years ago but not anymore. They are reused by the dairy vendors and have to be returned.

Well, I am glad that are reused by the dairy vendors and not just thrown away as garbage. I can think of many uses for the plastic milk crates, but not as $10 each. Thanks for the responses.