Note to self: build extra compost bins before the snow falls. Ah, but what would we do without a challenge? We had three compost bins, two of which are not being added to at the moment, waiting for spring and our trees. Well the third bin is officially full. Overfull. Compost doesn’t really heat up when the temperature ranges between -20 and -40 Celsius so it fills quickly.
Not a problem- just build a new one, right? Yep. Once several feet of snow has been shoveled out. So that was one of this weekend’s tasks. And we’re working on a modified rocket cook stove, I’ll have more details on that later…
Shane's tall but the snow's deep!
pretty full bin at the end
just about dug to ground
almost
voila- a new compost bin!
Hi there,
I saw online and you can check out http://www.envirosponsible.com/
my buddy, he has a rolling compost video. Different way of doing it. It looks real easy from used blue barrels, so not expensive either.
If you check out the link from the your last post, that I put in there is some awesome ideas in regards to heating and composting there.
How did you make out with your rocket stove idea? I am building one that is portable for use and one that will be stationary at the property that I will be living and working on this summer and winter.
I can send you two files,
1st the composting heating book if you do not have it
2nd a excel file for prepping and preparedness that is awesome.
Cheers and have a great day.
Interesting site- thanks man. We’re doing humanure though and it’s not entirely practical for barrels, besides which- we couldn’t roll a barrel in this snow unless we continuously dug a patch.
I’ve done some reading on Pain’s work. Interesting stuff. Sure, if you wouldn’t mind sending on that e-book that’d be much appreciated! I’ll try to figure out where to reply by email on this site though so that I don’t have to post my email address publicly…
lol, composting is problematic at 30 below! In the city it becomes less of a compost pile and more of a buffet for raccoons.
Hopefully the spring hits you guys soon and gets things going, compost-wise.
Any pics or work getting done inside? or are you waiting for warmer weather there too?
Not much can be done inside yet I’m afraid. We’d need floors for that and unfortunately never made it that far. Another month of this though and we should be building? In the meantime, finalizing plans and building what we can to be assembled once we’re out again…
We’re fans of the frozen compost pile tucked away from sight. And so are the dogs, who regularly go digging in there, and sometimes either eat too much or the wrong thing, then throw up, and then eat that. If compost can be gross, dogs can be REALLY gross. Thought I’d share that with ya.
But, yes, nothing like trying to get into gear in deep snow, to learn lessons you hope to remember next autumn. e.g. We have to shovel out in front of the barn door; we could have used access to that building about now… At the moment, it would take blasting caps or something.
Sun gettin’ higher ‘n’ hotter. Not long to wait!
Yup- we forgot to leave a path to the shop. That was fun when the snow drifted all the way up the door and Shane had to shovel it out. Hmm, and suddenly I’m glad we don’t have a dog.