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Here is my LOG for the Gardening - Sand - Ruth Stout Composting BB.

To document the completion of the BB, I have provided the following:
 - a photo of the bucket of kitchen scraps next to the opened mulch
 - a photo of the empty bucket and the new mound of mulch
 - repeat for the second bucket
 - describe the volume of your bucket(s) and how full they were

COMMENTS:
 
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Composting Scraps came from the kitchen in the main house at Wheaton Labs.  The pail used to collect food waste holds 3.5 gallons when full.  Here are the calculations for the volume.

The base of the pail is 9" in diameter and the top is 12" in diameter.  The pail is 9.5" tall.  Averaging the base and top allows me to calculate the volume of a cylinder.  

Average RADIUS of the pail is (9+12)/2/2 = 21/4 = 5.25
Volume of a cylinder is PI * r^2 * h = (5.25)^2 * 3.1415 = 822.6 cubic inches
converted to gallons: 1 gallon = 231 cubic inches
822.6 / 231 = 3.5 gallons

Composting Site #1 is on one of the Hugel Berms near the main house at WL.  I picked a comfrey leaf to use as a temporary marker which will become part of the mulch for the compost when I'm finished.

October 19 was my first contribution to this composting site.  The bucket was 3/4 full providing 2.5 gallons of compost.

1.JPG
Compost in pail next to comfrey leaf marker
Compost in pail next to comfrey leaf marker
2.JPG
Compost placed after mulch was pulled aside.
Compost placed after mulch was pulled aside.
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Composting Scraps came from the kitchen in the main house at Wheaton Labs.  The pail used to collect food waste holds 3.5 gallons when full.  Please review the calculations in the previous post for the volume.

Composting Site #1 is on one of the Hugel Berms near the main house at WL.  I picked a comfrey leaf to use as a temporary marker which will become part of the mulch for the compost when I'm finished.

October 21 was my second contribution to this composting site.  The bucket was 2/3 full conservatively providing 2 gallons of compost.

The easiest way to 'wash out' the pail is to use a scoop of sawdust as a scrubbing agent then add that to the compost pile.
1.JPG
Pail next to open mulch showing previous contribution
Pail next to open mulch showing previous contribution
2.JPG
empty pail next to RS compost pile
empty pail next to RS compost pile
3.JPG
sawdust mulch over compost
sawdust mulch over compost
4.JPG
straw replaced to close compost pile
straw replaced to close compost pile
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Composting Scraps came from the kitchen in the main house at Wheaton Labs.  The pail used to collect food waste holds 3.5 gallons when full.  

Composting Site #1 is on one of the Hugel Berms near the main house at WL.  I picked a comfrey leaf to use as a temporary marker which will become part of the mulch for the compost when I'm finished.

October 22 was my third and final contribution to this composting site.  The bucket was 1/3 full conservatively providing 1 gallon of compost.

The three contributions to Composting Site #1 were 2.5 gallons on October 19, 2 gallons on October 21, and 1 gallon on October 23 for a total of 5.5 gallons.  That completes contributions at this site.
1.JPG
Pail next to open mulch showing previous contributions
Pail next to open mulch showing previous contributions
2.JPG
empty pail next to RS compost pile
empty pail next to RS compost pile
3.JPG
straw replaced to close compost pile
straw replaced to close compost pile
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Composting Scraps for Site #2 came from the kitchen in my sister's house in Tacoma, Washington.  

The measuring cup holds approximately 6 cups when full to the top but is only marked to 5 cups so I'll use 5.5 cups for this project.  

Converting cups to gallons:
16 cups = 1 gallon

5 gallons of compost * 16 cups per gallon = 80 cups

Today, I cut up spoiled/molding cauliflower for the compost and collected/measured three volumes for 16.5 cups - Bag #1.
0.JPG
Measuring Cup showing markings - 5 to 6 cups per volume
Measuring Cup showing markings - 5 to 6 cups per volume
1.JPG
First Measure - bag on right is empty
First Measure - bag on right is empty
2.JPG
Second Measure
Second Measure
3.JPG
Third Measure
Third Measure
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
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Composting Scraps for Site #2 came from the kitchen in my sister's house in Tacoma, Washington.  

The measuring cup holds approximately 6 cups when full to the top but is only marked to 5 cups so I'll use 5.5 cups for this project.  

October 25, I cut up a "rubbery" personal size watermelon for the compost and collected/measured 4 volumes for 22 cups - Bag #2.
1.JPG
First Measure
First Measure
2.JPG
Second Measure
Second Measure
3.JPG
Third Measure
Third Measure
4.JPG
Fourth with some mint tea leaves on top
Fourth with some mint tea leaves on top
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Composting Scraps for Site #2 came from the kitchen in my sister's house in Tacoma, Washington.  

The measuring cup holds approximately 6 cups when full to the top but is only marked to 5 cups so I'll use 5.5 cups for this project.  

October 25, I cut up some fruit which either won't ripen or had gone too far for the compost and collected/measured 5 volumes for 27.5 cups - Bag #3.
IMG_3316.JPG
First Measure
First Measure
IMG_3317.JPG
Second Measure
Second Measure
IMG_3318.JPG
Third Measure
Third Measure
IMG_3319.JPG
Fourth Measure
Fourth Measure
IMG_3320.JPG
Fifth Measure
Fifth Measure
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Three bags of Composting Scraps for Site #2 measured 66 cups.

Bag #1: 16.5 cups
Bag #2: 22.0 cups
Bag #3: 27.5 cups

October 25, I took them out to the area that I had previously done the Chop & Drop Gardening BB.

80 cups = 5 gallons of compost so I'll be measuring more contributions.
1.JPG
Three bags of compost ready to be buried under the chop & drop mulch
Three bags of compost ready to be buried under the chop & drop mulch
2.JPG
dumping bag #3
dumping bag #3
3.JPG
three empty bags next to compost
three empty bags next to compost
4.JPG
compost burried
compost burried
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Composting Scraps for Site #2 came from the kitchen in my sister's house in Tacoma, Washington.  

The measuring cup holds approximately 6 cups when full to the top but is only marked to 5 cups so I'll use 5.5 cups for this project.  

October 28, While preparing a Stir Fry, I decided to clean up all 5# of Brussel Sprouts for the compost and collected/measured 2 volumes plus 4 cups for 15 cups - Brussel Bag.

s1.JPG
All those Brussel Sprouts - clipping the stem and removing damaged leaves - first volume on left
All those Brussel Sprouts - clipping the stem and removing damaged leaves - first volume on left
s2.JPG
Second volume with Brussel Sprouts all cleaned up
Second volume with Brussel Sprouts all cleaned up
s3-volume.JPG
Third volume with onion and spent mint leaves - yummy tea
Third volume with onion and spent mint leaves - yummy tea
s3.JPG
Third volume measures 4 cups conservatively
Third volume measures 4 cups conservatively
 
Opalyn Rose
gardener
Posts: 1577
Location: Washington State
990
7
forest garden trees rabbit earthworks composting toilet fiber arts sheep wood heat woodworking rocket stoves homestead
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Composting Scraps for Site #2 came from the kitchen in my sister's house in Tacoma, Washington.  

October 29, I took the Brussel Bag and a partial measure (let's call it 2 cups) out to the chop & drop area.

Total contributions to Composting Site #2:
Previously measured contributions: 66 cups
Brussels Bag contained: 15.0 cups
extra measure today: 2.0 cups

Total for Composting Site #2: 83.0 cups which equals 5.2 gallons.
IMG_3433.JPG
the Brussels Bag and a partial measure
the Brussels Bag and a partial measure with uncovered site
IMG_3435.JPG
[Thumbnail for IMG_3435.JPG]
added compost
IMG_3436.JPG
[Thumbnail for IMG_3436.JPG]
covered RS compost area
 
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