Can anyone help me get started composting?

I really want to make the most of my new garden in Po Wah Yuen, and dedicate a corner to a composter... can i build 1? If i have to i'll send a pre-fab one to mysefl from TORONTO, Canada - where everyone has been composting for years.

So, a few starter questions:
-Do i need worms? Where can i get them?
-What else is required?
-What about the weather? The bugs? Can composting work here & not just stink like all hell? Will it be full of roaches in no time? (!!!!!!!!)
-Can dog poo go in there? OH PLEASE SAY YES, WE HAVE A LOT OF IT!
-Is the surrounding vegetation ok if i do that? ie: the banana treees, etc?
Any good books or sites to reccommend about this?

Thanks for any and all help. I also just want general gardening advice. I'll have the space & time now Ahhhh.

Sher

1. Choose suitable corner of garden, preferably one with soil underneath rather than tiles or concrete.

2. Pile waste organic/vegetable matter in corner.

3. Wait...the local climate will soon break it down into lovely compost. Worms will find a way.

It won't smell much. Not sure about the dog poo - try it and see. If it smells, stop.

...bingo!

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Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

Im gonna go out on a limb here and predict that shit stinks.

Just Google for composting. There are plenty of guides.

eg: http://www.compostguide.com/
"Manure for composting can come from bats, sheep, ducks, pigs, goats, cows, pigeons, and any other vegetarian animal. As a rule of thumb, you should avoid manure from carnivores, as it can contain dangerous pathogens."

-- i.e. not dog or cat (or human) shit. Though the traditional vege farmers here use human waste, it's pretty obnoxious stuff.

I expect the Herboland farmers at Hung Shing Yeh would be knowledgeable about this.

There's a guy called spinoza on another thread who knows a lot about garden gnomes apparently

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6 down, keep 280 metres !

Hi
Well i never lived with a garden but i have been composting for years now .I use a large bucket with lid(3foot high or so,i think its called a laundry bucket).......punched alotta holes in base and sides using a sharp metal object.......and its done.
In my experience here in HK the main problem is that the mix will tend to be too wet .
1)Ensure adequate drainage/if possible cover it. 2)Unshiny cardboard/dry leaves and grass are good at balancing the mix.(helps dry it out and readdress the nitrogen excess).Your sense of smell is the best tool when it comes to compost.

I would avoid dog/cat crap..........DRIED Buffalo crap is ace though.

Another problem i would foresee in an outdoor environment is compacting and having it wash away during heavy rain times,if its too exposed.........compost needs a good supply of oxygen so if u got it outside make sure it is in a position where u can rountinely get in and mix it all up with a spade.The runoff liquid is also an excellent nutrient for plants.


having said that though July was dry as a bone with only about 70mm of rain.......the average is over 300mm.......so its gettin harder to say how things will turn out.

Just do it......composting lessens domestic waste by about a third,which is obviously good for our rapidly filling landfills...........it also is just perfect for gettin nutrients into our soils.

Peace
JJ

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Pran your trip to Hong Kong Diksleylan"