doodies doodoo dirt disaster grow log

[Mr Jay]

While it is possible to create the environment required to start a compost fire at home, the limiting, or preventing factor would be Mass.
That is to say, even if you are looking to start a fire, you probably wouldn't be operating at a large enough scale to initiate a fire.
The only way to create sufficient heat would be through sufficient insulation.
Until that compost heap gets as big as your car, a fire is very unlikely to occur.
In addition, home composting usually entails a mixture of N (Greens) and C (Browns)
Spontaneous combustion would involve a pile of pure green ; greens so fresh that they are literally still respirating.

https://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/facts/HAYCOMBUSTION.PDF

 

[Mr Jay]

are those tumblers worth it for composting?

Aeration speeds decomposition.
No one likes chores, the easier it is to aerate the more likely you are to do it.

Some Homemakers can relieve stress by vacuuming the hell out of their carpet.
I find that when I am on edge, there is nothing more satisfying than grabbing a shovel and busting shit up.

 

[iwentdoodie]

While it is possible to create the environment required to start a compost fire at home, the limiting, or preventing factor would be Mass.
That is to say, even if you are looking to start a fire, you probably wouldn't be operating at a large enough scale to initiate a fire.
The only way to create sufficient heat would be through sufficient insulation.
Until that compost heap gets as big as your car, a fire is very unlikely to occur.
In addition, home composting usually entails a mixture of N (Greens) and C (Browns)
Spontaneous combustion would involve a pile of pure green ; greens so fresh that they are literally still respirating.

https://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/facts/HAYCOMBUSTION.PDF

makes sense, then, why my prior efforts have ended in literally smouldering piles with ash in the middle. i guarantee i was just adding way too much green stuff because grass clippings are what i had the most of.

Aeration speeds decomposition.
No one likes chores, the easier it is to aerate the more likely you are to do it.

Some Homemakers can relieve stress by vacuuming the hell out of their carpet.
I find that when I am on edge, there is nothing more satisfying than grabbing a shovel and busting shit up.

i am right there with you til its 100* 95%RH days lol. i actually finslly went out and sledged the stupid concrete surround that our big oak had, and the actual front yard landscaping.

amazing how much stress a 15lb block on the end of a stick can relieve.

 

[Mr Jay]

literally smouldering piles with ash in the middle.

yup yup
Sounds like you met all the conditions. Maybe lack of oxygen stopped it from self-combusting?
The link also mentions that boundary layer, almost like a riparian Zone, a place where oxygenated dry material meets the heat in order to provide the trigger.

More thoughts on the rotating drum,,
On a scale of 1 to 10, an apartment dweller would have the most trouble composting.
Tailor your regime to fit your space. What work the best best is what will works best for you.
At the other end of the scale, having unlimited outdoor space allows you to address the process in phases.
Every task is easier with a little elbow room.

 

[iwentdoodie]

yup yup
Sounds like you met all the conditions. Maybe lack of oxygen stopped it from self-combusting?
The link also mentions that boundary layer, almost like a riparian Zone, a place where oxygenated dry material meets the heat in order to provide the trigger.

id assume lack of oxygen for sure, thankfully nothing in there was an oxidizer or thats a bad day.

More thoughts on the rotating drum,,
On a scale of 1 to 10, an apartment dweller would have the most trouble composting.
Tailor your regime to fit your space. What work the best best is what will works best for you.
At the other end of the scale, having unlimited outdoor space allows you to address the process in phases.
Every task is easier with a little elbow room.

ill have to dig in some more and maybe see if i can find someone local who does it and see how they handle it. the drum does seem cool, but hell thats not even enough to make a soil blend in reality.

cant wait to get home and sit in the office till i hear that click and see the glow come out so i can climb in there with em other night fixing plant tags and making some bigger ones just chilled with a j sitting with them and it was so damn relaxing.

 

[Mr Jay]

More thoughts on the rotating drum,,

not even enough to make a soil blend in reality.

As true as that may be, I am sitting here starting to wish I had one.

What's in your tent? Is it 10× 3 gallons?
30 gallons per crop?
Folks using an average of 25% compost per finished soil mix?

So you keep feeding and turning that thing until you have 8 gallons of finished compost.
This drum is sounding appealing to me because I want to use it like a concrete mixer. Start loading in the store bought ingredients and other (top secret bunny) additives, ,,sit back - enjoy the show
I am lucky enough to have a big concrete pad where I can do all of this mucking about. But I can envision an entire soil production plant in a very small footprint, if a guy had a drum mixer.

 

[iwentdoodie]

dammit man

 

[BH]

 

[iwentdoodie]

bro thank you. i binged these and some others at work today. its gonna happen over the winter for sure.


morning of day 5. im gobsmacked.

 

[iwentdoodie]

been a hectic few days and weather changes knocked me on my ass with sinus infection so havent been on much. havent checked mail today yet but still anxiously awaiting some goodies.

pics from last night. morning of day...7? yeah 7. defoliated a bit down low to help air flow, still need to hit the super cars. sdxtct clearly dominant in size but some TKs giving em a run.

i have one more SF1000, anyone think it would be wise to toss it in? right now its 1x300L Rspec, 2x QB 288s with 125w drivers, and the one sf1000.

 

[Agreenpassion]

Hope your doing well man. Stay cool.