Market Farming

[Leslie Moyer <unschooler AT lrec.org>]

Mixing is best, though we usually layer at first and then mix when we're 
putting on the next layer. You can certainly get composting during the winter 
months. It happens faster at higher temps and more slowly at lower temps, but 
our pile is trucking right along right now and we have below freezing temps 
here (Oklahoma) right now.  The temp inside the pile is very warm.

"Ideal" brown-green ration depends a bit on what you're going to use the 
compost on.  Trees and perennials will like a more brown-rich compost and 
annuals and vegetables will prefer a more green-rich ratio.  "Ideal", IMO, 
means "whatever you have locally available to compost".  Right now, for us, 
it is coffee grounds from about 7 local coffee shops and about 15 dump truck 
loads of (bagged) leaves we collected from curbsides this fall.  In the past, 
it has been chicken litter from our chickens and old hay.  Compost 
happens....ideal ratio or not.

--Leslie

On Jan 13, 2011, at 2:36 PM, Jay Atkerson wrote:

> 
> When composting is it better to  mix or to layer your green and brown 
> matter?
> 
> What is the ideal green - brown ratio?
> 
> Can there be much composting action during winter months?
> 
> Jay
> 
> 
> 
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