blendocomposting...

Mario, when I was growing up, my Dad had a composting pile in the back alley. That was bf ‘Organic Farmer’ and environmentalists. Eventually the back ally started being used by more people for other things and Dad had to find another way to compost. We kept all compostable stuff in a pail and every day he pick a new spot in the flower gardens to burying it- – - maybe it was every few days, when you’re a kid you pay attention. :-) He had the most beautiful flower gardens in town and he never used chemical fertilizers, never.

He also grew green onions, radishes, lettuce and the odd tomato plant in the flower garden in the back yard.

-- 'To plant a Garden is to believe in Tomorrow'

someone mentionned blender composting before in this forum, was it you?
I cant wait to see what happens, one thing for sure it cannot hurt the garden…..

-- south shore montreal, zone 5a, whish it was 9

Good experiment.Let us know how it turns out.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Even pouring the ground up compost on the compost pile will help, as the grounds take up a lot less room. I am aware of the dutch people doing this for many years. Because it is ground up, it takes a lot less time for the finished product. I don’t think one wants it ground too fine though.

-- jroot

actually this stuff is quite mushy…..

-- south shore montreal, zone 5a, whish it was 9

What a great idea- I might try this some day too.

I still think it needs to break down somewhat. Real compost tea, is derived from the compost after it has broken down.

... just my two cents. ...;)

-- jroot

my blender died the other day… but that’s another story.
I can see that this would be easier to compost—less room, less time for the composting process.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

I was kind of shocked when I saw what you were doing but it’s a really great idea to get some goodness back into the earth in preparation for the fall.

-- Desktopgem

sounds like a great idea to me… keep us posted

-- Paul , Ca.

kind of gross looking… but it makes sense. Better than what I tried one year was bury veggie waste in spots all over the garden. When I tilled the next year up came banana peels and what have you!

-- Zone 4a or 4b... depending on where you are standing!

Mario
I was the one who mentioned the blender composting, we were talking about the indoor composter and thought we better stick to the cheap way remember? :-)

I just put the items in the blender and add water, I wouldn’t use oil that could get rancid.
you can just go outside and pour it right next to your plants, but be sure to water it down a bit too much “fertilizer” is not good. It will soak in the ground and feed it, if you want to scratch it in around the plants that would be good also.
I use a vita mix and it breaks it down to almost water.

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

cool rosewood, i love it, its easier and quicker to be rid of the stuff instead of having it lying around….

-- south shore montreal, zone 5a, whish it was 9

What a good idea. Now I have the perfect reason to replace my rather worn and missing-a-handle blender with a new one for smoothies. And I am reusing and recycling too. My compost bucket-a large plastic dog cookie treat pail is over-full! Would like to start a compost pile in the back. Maybe behind a shed so Boo Boo won’t recycle (eat it) herself! Let us know how this is going for you.

What a neat idea! I thought running over paper with your lawn mower to shred it was a great composting idea, but this has it beat. I’d use two blenders, though, and label them well – one for compost, one for smoothies, lol!

-- Chris, the Prairies, zone 3b in a good year, http://Goorganicgardening.com

Chris, don’t worry if you get some compost in your smoothy it may help you grow big and strong. LOL

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

Goorganicgardening: My bright, new, shiny blender could never be confused with the old, broken, worn one!
Rosewood513: Yuck to the compost in the smoothie! Just say no to blending those!

Actually what I put in my smoothies canbe composted also, I make most of mine with blueberries and other friut, 8^)

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

The blender method works great on a small scale.. Just blend it up into mush and use it.. It will then compost directly where it’s placed at a high rate and feed the surrounding area. But you need to be mindful of things NOT to add in and keep it strictly vegetative. Nothing salted, no oils, etc.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

thanks scott, i compost the paper and stuff like that still in the old composter…the blender is for my cooking scrap and coffee grounds….

-- south shore montreal, zone 5a, whish it was 9

Love using coffee grounds.. I keep wanting to pester the local coffee shop to see if they’ll give up their spent grounds. Never do stop in.. Should though.

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

i do it around here, the waiters are eager to let me take them, its less garbage for them to haul away…..

-- south shore montreal, zone 5a, whish it was 9

Coffee grounds are the best but I don’t drink it in summer and never had the nerve to ask for it in the coffee shops etc.
I am glad this is taking off with you guys.
You can stretch it with water since it is very concentrated.

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

concentred and heavy, one of the large pails was so heavy i had a hard time lifting it into the truck…..but the worms love coffee grounds…..and the acidity is just right for my soil around here….

-- south shore montreal, zone 5a, whish it was 9

This was my hubby’s facebook post the other day…I thought it was funny!

“Mixing kitchen compost waste with a drill and morter paddle in a 32 gal trash can. Can you say ” problem solving skills”

We save kitchen scraps all winter in a trash can out side where they stayed frozen. I’m doing the same thing you’re doing, starting new beds now for fall and spring of 2011.

Mario, I just bought a 2 litre blender from EBay for $.01 [ no one bid against me ;-) ] and bought it with the precise purpose of trying out your blendocomposting. It works well. I pour it directly onto the compost pile with the understanding that it will take A LOT LESS time to compost.

Thanks for the idea.

-- jroot

jroot why are you pouring it in the compost pile.?
When you pour it on the compost all the good juices get soaked up in the ground and eventually can be washed away. If you pour it right into the plant area all those juices go right to the plant directly.This is a portion of a site re: blender composting
“At the end of the day or first thing in the morning, put all the scraps into the blender, add water and blend it to a slurry or smoothie consistency. Then pour it in the garden, in flower beds, around shrubs and trees, even some in outdoor potted plants. If in a hurry, I just pour and go. If you have more time, I turn a little dirt around it with a spade or hoe to mix it in. It’s like composting at warp speed. The organic material is instantly broken down and quickly adds nutrients to the soil.

The instant compost attracts worms like crazy which is great for your garden. Worms cluster around the root balls of plants and feed on the decaying matter, fungi and bacteria. They mix the soil, improve water infiltration rates, increase the humus levels and leave behind tons or rich castings each year.

So if you are not up to buying an expensive composting bin or building your own, try Blender composting.”

Give that a try, I by passes one step.
Ro :o)

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

Thanks, Rosewood513. My thinking was that “the fresh stuff” might be too rich. I shall definitely consider what you recommend.

-- jroot

You can add lots of waer to dilute it if it is a concern, that way it stretches it. You eliminmate one whole step this way.
The best thing is that you are doing it. :o)

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

I think I need to find a very inexpensive blender too. Sounds like a great method to create your own plant fertilizer.

-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi

Try EBay. ;-)

-- jroot

jroot, do you have a frecycle where you live here is an idea of what to look for:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleTO/
I joined, for free, freecycle in my area and you ask for what you would like and if someone has one they contact you and you get it free. You may also give stuff for free if you have something you want to get rid of.
Very interesting. I have actully given away a blender to someone who needed it.
A possibility to consider
Ro

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

As I said a few postings before, I got one for 1 cent at EBay. It works great.

We do have freecycle here also. I tried to get rid of some stuff, but there were no takers. – even complete sets of dishes for 8. Go figure.

-- jroot

Sorry jroot, I didn’t think that was you, gotcha mixed up.
Did you know that you can try those dishes again. Once a month everybody does it. M aybe the next time it will be taken. But I got rid of a lot of stuff I was holding onto for nothing. Someone got to use it and it is out of the landfill.
How much was the shipping on that blender?

-- If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got!...Lanoka Harbor, NJ 6b

That’s the sad part – $18. Ah well. It works great, and I don’t have to wash it, – just rinse and reuse. My “food” blender doesn’t get contaminated etc etc. Keeps my wife happy.

-- jroot

It also gives you a great story, Jroot. I will keep my eyes open for a blender and remember to check the price of shipping before I bid… Keeping your wife happy: Priceless.

-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi