Alternative Technology Assn Forums

1. 

   Greenozi
   Member

   I have small 2 acre property in the urban area and then constant supply of branches, grass , leaves etc.

   What could be be best way to rid off all this organic matter?

   I tried already:

   1.Communal rubbish bin: pro: easy con: too mulch staff , and not so ethical to pass the problem to others ,since could be solved onsite

   2.Composting: pro: not polluting and not time consuming con:takes forever to digest branches and bigger wood pieces, take some valuable space on central city property

   3.Power mulching: pro efficient and quick, extra mulch can be useful on property but I have this staff too much already con: require at least big petrol powered mulcher, noisy
   4. Burning pro: less residue and quick con: smoke may alert neighbors, fire safety and only takes away wooden part . So far that is mine favorite thanks to my cyclonic incinerator my own construction that produce very little smoke even when burning fresh green stuff.

   I would like to know your advice.

   How to dispose all this organic stuff constantly produced on your land?

   Posted Saturday 12 Feb 2011 @ 1:56:53 am from IP #
2. 

   dymonite69
   Member

   Personally I think that burning a little fossil fuel to produce useful mulch is the best option.

   Posted Saturday 12 Feb 2011 @ 4:45:19 am from IP #
3. 

   Buzzman
   Member

   GO
   Stockpile the wood and heavy stuff and once or twice a year hire a big mulcher from Kennards

   Posted Saturday 12 Feb 2011 @ 5:39:11 am from IP #
4. 

   matas
   Member

   I have cut down and chopped up lots of weed trees and bushes on my property,
   I just cut branches in lengths less than about 300mm long, then either
   1/ throw them back under trees as mulch.
   2/ put in a big pile, in damp low place and keep moist to rot (diluted urine is a good source of nitrogen which helps the process too).
   The size of the initial pile decreases rapidly.
   Lately I have put these piles next to banana trees, to supply continuous nutrient and maybe a bit of heat.
   I try to water them constantly.
   3/ large logs I have been growing shiitake mushrooms in.

   I find burning completely gives ash that is too alkaline for my soil.
   Incomplete burning might be better, but produces too much smoke in an urban area.

   Surely on 2 acres you have enough space for a few compost heaps ?

   Also I find an electric chainsaw is essential for cutting up larger branches.

   Posted Saturday 12 Feb 2011 @ 7:26:30 am from IP #
5. 

   tullera182
   Member

   Burning is polluting in a number of ways - fine particles and CO2 into the atmosphere.

   Rotting or composting also emit CO2 but not as quickly and not as much, more of the Carbon and other nutrients get into the food chain and soil.

   Posted Saturday 12 Feb 2011 @ 7:40:40 am from IP #
6. 

   sandystone
   Member

   The golden rule - waste, whatever kind needs to be separated before disposal.
   If you separate out the large twigs and wood, it could be given to someone with a wood fire.
   As for the leafy stuff and grass - it is best left on the ground to decompose, otherwise there will be a constant depletion of soil nutrients.

   If you enjoy the work of collecting all the leafy material then for large quantities of composting use a wire barrel type such as they use at Brisbanes 'Northey Street City Farm'.
   The composting there is done in bulk quantites and they have a number of the cage type barrel composters. From memory they are about 2 metres diameter X about 2 metres wide built of something like 50 x 50 welded mesh, with a trap door. Turning the compost is simple- just roll it along!

   Posted Saturday 12 Feb 2011 @ 9:44:15 pm from IP #
7. 

   Greenozi
   Member

   What about termites? Could I get big barrel throw some wood scraps and get termites to eat all that staff?

   Posted Wednesday 16 Feb 2011 @ 12:01:14 pm from IP #

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