tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post702068628143571023..comments2023-11-28T22:47:40.465-05:00Comments on Tales from FAR Manor: Go YardLarry Kollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317037795075278427noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-8425487006124103842008-04-29T02:00:00.000-04:002008-04-29T02:00:00.000-04:00Well I'll leave it up to you ultimately, FAR. But...Well I'll leave it up to you ultimately, FAR. But when I read about peeing in the compost, I couldn't help but think of Flaubert's <I>Bouvard and Pécuchet</I>, his last (unfinished) comic masterpiece about two incredible dunderheads who set out to learn everything they can learn and practice it in their life. There's a chapter about composting that is absolutely hilarious. With disastrous results, of course! <BR/><BR/>You can find the entire e-book free at this site: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/25014/25014-h/25014-h.htm<BR/><BR/>I think this would suit your sense of humor nicely, as Flaubert was a wicked master of satire and irony. I highly recommend the whole book, but at least read Chapter II, "Agricultural Experiments" for a good laugh. Can't testify to this particular translation, but if you like it and want a really good one, the Penguin edition is a fine one.Iowa Victory Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07220818462081082930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-34078716035889385032008-04-27T09:01:00.000-04:002008-04-27T09:01:00.000-04:00Yes, IVG, I was not pleased about where I bought i...Yes, IVG, I was not pleased about where I bought it. If there was anywhere else locally that carried them, I definitely would have bought it there (and probably gotten a better one).<BR/><BR/>As I understand it, urine is nearly sterile and provides lots of nitrogen. The first article I read about composting, decades ago, said that peeing on your compost was good for it. Maybe, like carbs, fat, and cholesterol, there have been refinements to opinion since then?Larry Kollarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317037795075278427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-76982644412656318082008-04-26T17:59:00.000-04:002008-04-26T17:59:00.000-04:00Ahem, a big wag o'the finger to getting that from ...Ahem, a big wag o'the finger to getting that from the Great Satan of Retailing! Our compost pile is a 3 walled plot about 3 cinderblocks high and open at the front where we can dump stuff and then turn it every so often. That's it. And I hope those cinder blocks were made in the US at least. (They came from Lowe's)<BR/><BR/>Not so sure I'd be peeing in there though... I've always thought that human/carnivorous animal waste was a no no for compost. We do add dried horse manure about once a year (from Fernymoss' folks' horse) which does wonders for it...Iowa Victory Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07220818462081082930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-33098556603142768802008-04-26T17:39:00.000-04:002008-04-26T17:39:00.000-04:00Hey all!Boran, I've noticed that the pile has been...Hey all!<BR/><BR/>Boran, I've noticed that the pile has been heating up like it's supposed to now that I have it in a covered (but vented) container.<BR/><BR/>O, it works pretty well so far except for the common "new gadget" bugs like fasteners coming loose. Lost a rear wheel this morning & had to find the pieces to put it back on, then had a few moments figuring out how to get it good & tight.<BR/><BR/>Yooper, it sounds like you've got a good one going — I have an open one like that, but it didn't ever get very hot & it took a couple of years for it to break down. I'm starting to think that they need to be enclosed somehow, and covered, to really get going. The enclosure might be nothing more than a chicken-wire cage.Larry Kollarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317037795075278427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-13642366469022747382008-04-26T12:06:00.000-04:002008-04-26T12:06:00.000-04:00Hey Far! Gee, maybe I'm going about my compost pil...Hey Far! Gee, maybe I'm going about my compost pile the wrong way. I've got about 2 cu.yds. of old flower garden dirt and been adding scrapes to it. I did notice after it rained the pile did shrink down. Ha! The bears haven't showed up yet to help me mix it! <BR/><BR/>Thanks, yooperyooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11297259993402713368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-13641690377020096432008-04-26T10:57:00.000-04:002008-04-26T10:57:00.000-04:00Neato mower FAR. You'll have to give us a review a...Neato mower FAR. You'll have to give us a review after you use it ... :)oliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03401788202984343513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-49366804460856957712008-04-25T23:10:00.000-04:002008-04-25T23:10:00.000-04:00Hay Far. The mower looks like it's more than up t...Hay Far. The mower looks like it's more than up to the job. As to composters, I use a large open plastic bucket with a drainage hole that I drilled. It's been outside for a couple of years and has held up fairly well.boran2https://www.blogger.com/profile/10483728578007756485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-42307966362897880572008-04-25T10:11:00.000-04:002008-04-25T10:11:00.000-04:00China, of course!Those handle-looking things along...China, of course!<BR/><BR/>Those handle-looking things along the bottom are hatches. You pull them off and rake out the compost from the bottom. By that time, the pee has long broken down and what comes out isn't any more "nasty" than a bag of garden soil.Larry Kollarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317037795075278427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12954391.post-8265799603194674732008-04-25T09:39:00.000-04:002008-04-25T09:39:00.000-04:00hmmm, let me guess, was it made in China? Not sur...hmmm, let me guess, was it made in China? Not sure I'd want to be using it as a toilet though, don't you have to dig in there to spread the compost around at a latter date?solarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04405817886144483396noreply@blogger.com