In the past year many people have spent more time at home than they have in decades, and one result is that people have also paid more attention to their homes and yards than usual.
Two things yards and gardens require are water and good soil; the City of Greensboro is offering low priced help with both.
The city through Oct. 1 is offering discounted prices on 80-gallon Earth Machine compost bins and 55-gallon Systern rain barrels.
Earth Machine compost bins start at $50 and go up to $94.95 for the deluxe bin with all the bells and whistles including the Wingdigger compost turner. If all that seems a little much for compost, the GeoBin open composter and leaf corral can be purchased for $39.95.
Rain barrels are $69.95.
All the items can be ordered online at https://greensborocompostersale.company.site/
You don’t have to be a resident of Greensboro to take advantage of the offer. The deal is available to all Guilford County residents. Bins and barrels ordered online will be available for pick up between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Oct. 9 at the White Street Landfill at 2503 White St.
Greensboro Recycling specialist Masey DeMoss said, “Whether you want to take better care of the planet by enriching your soil or conserving water, there are plenty of reasons to buy a bin or a barrel.”
It is estimated that 25 percent of a typical household’s waste can be composted. Not only does compost reduce the need for chemical fertilizers, it helps the soil retain moisture and prevents soil erosion. It also reduces the amount of garbage going to the landfill.
The Earth Machine compost bins are designed as cold composters for household food scraps and do a good job of keeping critters like racoons out of your compost.
Rain barrels help conserve water as well as reducing storm water runoff.
Wonderful!!! compost smells like fecal matter. Now, my neighbor collects rain from her roof into a 55 gallon barrel and she is the neighborhood “skeeter” breeder. Folks on either side of her have paid Mosquito Squad lots of $$$ to treat our properties, but not her, she breeds the darn critters. Nice neighbor to have.
Jack maybe you should be a better neighbor and educate her how to do properly if it’s done right no skeeters
I’ve been doing it for over 20 years never had a problem
Will, I agree with you. I am sure these bins come with proper instructions. If it is done right compost has a pleasant “earthy” smell like rain on a summer day. If the rain barrel is covered, mosquitos can not breed in it.
The Guilford County N.C. Agriculture Extension Office has a composting class scheduled for October 2021.
https://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/05/spring-gardening-virtual-classes/
There composting and rain barrel videos on the web.
look at the rain gutters on most houses stuffed full of wet, rotting leaves. skeeto heaven!
It is critical to maintaining a compost heap’s water and temperature equilibrium. Do I need to water my compost bin? The short answer is, yes. Water is required by bacteria to aid in the decomposition process, however, too much water may stymie or totally halt the process. Water should be added sparingly and often, but only as needed.
A thin somewhat rusty iron rod approximately 4 feet long is an excellent composting tool. Push the rod into the pile with your finest rapier thrust technique, feeling the consistency of the materials as you do so. Perhaps you detect twigs and other brittle material, or perhaps it is constantly smooth and open. Push the rod in and it will go and then draw it out, inspecting the rod’s surface for indications of physical water or dryness. Then reintroduce the rod and let it there for a half hour. Withdraw again and feel the warmth of the rusty rod, letting your hands pleasantly filthy and feeling the quality of your compost through which it went. If your hands get very smeary, the pile is probably already too moist and needs drying and rebuilding.
https://mydayideas.com/do-i-need-to-water-my-compost-bin/