Leonardo's Organic Mini Run

Going to do a couple of organic plants in the spring. I'm not sure which variety yet, but I have a few things to get done before that becomes critical.

I want to use my own potting mix for it, which calls for a lot of homemade compost. Of which I am currently shy of.

So to start, I'm going to mix up a compost pile, I don't think I have enough material on hand to make a hot pile, but it doesn't freeze here, so even a warm one should have some goodness ready for next season. I've already seen a couple of worms in it. I'll add some more to it to top it off, and a little more after it first starts to shrink.

The starting pile has:

Lawn clippings (mine, no pesticides)
Leaves (also mine, no pesticides)
Cannabis and vegetable garden rootballs, stems, and leaves.
Coffee grounds (free from starbucks)
Some veggie kitchen waste (melon rinds etc)
Fish goo from the coy pond.

Sounds like you're on the Right track.

Will see, should have some compost goodness come spring.

This grosses most out. But when I get a big pile and it doesn't seem to want to kick of and start cooking. I pee on it any time I need to go for a few days. Within a day or two the pile takes off cooking.

WyoGrow said:

This grosses most out. But when I get a big pile and it doesn't seem to want to kick of and start cooking. I pee on it any time I need to go for a few days. Within a day or two the pile takes off cooking.

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Well not to add to the gross out, but human urine has a pretty high N content, so if the reason that the pile isn't warming up is because it doesn't have enough high N (green) material in it, that can be a way to kick start it. Alternatives are to add in more "greens". In general you add more green to speed up the reactions, and more browns to slow it down and keep it smelling fresh by encouraging aerobic bacteria. If it is being boring, add greens and stir, if it gets stinky, add more browns and stir.

Anytime the compost pile is doing something it shouldn't stir it. And give it a stir every now and then (every couple of weeks is fine) just for fun. I'm a fan of stirring if you can't tell.

In general it should have a good healthy earthy smell to it.

In in ickville anyway, so might as well mention that while there is room to argue in regards to using human urine, never attempt to use human, feline (cat), or canine (dog) fecal matter (shit). That is a health hazard you do not need, and one of the few ways you can get into trouble with composting. The other is using too fresh of poultry droppings. Your urine is pretty sterile in relation to you (you can't catch anything from yourself you don't already have). These days I only use plant materials in my compost personally, but that's a personal preference thing.

(pic 1) The compost is far enough along to use here. I filtered it, mixed 1-2 parts compost, 1 part coir, and 1 part perlite for the base mix.

(pic 2) Pinched once.

(pic 3) Kitty helping trim the lower leaves. (no I don't "let" him, just can't stop him).


(pic 4) Catnip bud in bloom (yes, my kitties are spoiled, they get buds too)


(pic 5) about ready to flip the lights and start flowering. Top dressed with blood and bone meal, kelp, kelp meal, powdered fish, guano, and a little rock phosphate with just a dash of potash.