Dog Waste Composting

A couple months ago I discontinued my curbside trash pickup and now run my own trash to the local waste management site. The price for emptying a small bin of trash was going up every few months due to gas and energy surcharges and I found myself paying close to $80 every 3 months for waste disposal. I don't generate a lot of waste. I buy very few pre-packaged items, I recycle and compost all I can. The waste management site charges $2 to dispose of a 30 gallon size bag of trash. I found that I fill a trash bag about every 3 weeks. Quite a cost savings for very minimal effort.

However, I did find out what was the source of a large amount of waste--

Yes, the Rosa dog.

I found dealing with her waste a bit more difficult. But then I came across information about pet waste composting and in the course of a weekend, put together my system. I followed the directions on cityfarmer.org (Yeah, I still don't know how to add a link in my post)

First I dug a really deep hole

I located the hole in the area where the dog does her business. It is right next to the alley, far from the vegetable garden. "Call before you dig!" It was very easy digging, though smelly-because after all I was right in the area where the dog does her business.

I dug a round hole that was 36" deep. I had only a shovel and a coffee can. A post hole digger would have been nice and my kind neighbor, Dave offered me the use of one when I was done.

I bought a nice new shiny galvanized trash can, Locally made!! Then I used a 1" drill bit to drill several holes in the bottom and sides of the can.


I threw a bunch of rocks into the hole. I was glad to be able to get rid of some various pieces from around the yard- a small area of concrete (or is it cement?) that I broke out, a few broken patio blocks and a couple broken bricks. I added the bricks and rocks to bring the height of the can up to where I wanted it to be.

I then filled in the space around the sides with more rock. Glad to find another use for the piles of landscaping rock surrounding my house. I dug this hole before I bought the garbage can and I think I did an amazing job of estimating the size.

I still have to move the excess dirt pulled from the hole. The can will be just slightly above grade- this will prevent all the rain water funneling into it. But I will grade the surrounding soil so that I can remove the cover and rake the waste right into the hole/can.

From here I just put the waste in the can, then start things composting with the use of septic tank starter and added water. The septic starter promotes natural bacterial growth. As I think about it now, it seems the water will quickly drain out of the can until there is a good amount of waste in there. I'll just see how it goes. Once it gets started it needs a bucket of water a week and packet of septic starter about 1-2 times a month. Most of the waste should turn to liquid, wash out of the container and what remains is a humus (hummus?). There is no smell, even in the warmest weather. I've read that it will take 3-5 years for the can to fill. Then it can be buried in another part of the yard and start again.

Sunday

I worked on this little piece of side yard today, it really needs to be cleaned up. I would like to enlarge the perennial garden area and but I need to put down some sort of mulch or grass right next to the alley. I have trained the dog to use this part of the yard. I used to have a row of mulberry bushes that separated the area. Now it is all out there. Not sure what to do here.

My friend Carol surprised me with these pots one day. We both have Fiestaware dishes and these pots have the same bold colors. I finally got around to putting plants in them. I usually go and get my annuals on Mother's day, but everything was on sale on Father's day.

I spent most of the day in my garage, sanding trim. This has been a three year marathon. I stripped the paint off with the Silent Paint remover, rough sanded with 80 grit, next was 120 grit. I will fill the holes and then do a final sanding. I am afraid to stain and shellac them. All the work to clear the old finish, I am reluctant to mess up a new finish. It is holding me back.

Tomato Cages and a Rain Barrel

Here is the rain barrel I put together last summer. I bought the barrel for $5 at our local Coca cola bottling plant so I know there was nothing more toxic in it than high fructose corn syrup (toxic enough!) I drilled a couple holes, screwed in a brass faucet and an overflow spout and she is done. Some might say this is terrible waste of treadle sewing machine stand, but it is so cute. I topped the stand with a metal grate I found while walking the dog one day, hooked the barrel to the downspout and there it is.


This year's garden project was making tomato cages. I have been frustrated by wimpy cages and spent time making wooden cages that rotted and broke into pieces. Then one day, on another dog walk, I spotted a tomato cage that would work and be long lasting.

It began with a 16 x 4 foot cattle panel at the local fleet and farm place. Before hauling it out of the lumber yard I had them cut it half with their bolt cutters so I could get it on top of the car. At home I cut it apart into 1 foot wide sections. I first tried using my Sawzall with a metal cutting blade but that took forever so I went and bought a metal cutting blade for my (borrowed from neighbor) circular saw. That cut through the heavy fencing like butta'. I use the grinder to smooth the cut edges. I cut off the bottom so that I could set the cages into the ground.

I considered making them square but found that they were large enough in a triangular shape. I fastened the sides together with plastic zip ties. This way the ties can be cut and the cages can be stored flat inside during the winter.

Each cattle panel cost about $25 and yielded 8 sections. Three (or 4) sections make a cage so they cost about $9 each to make. They are sturdy and will last for years, I believe. Here they are in the garden. The tomato plants have since grown up and over the top but are well supported.

Happy tomatoes, happy me!

Spring time

Another warm day, perhaps spring is here. It's a mixed bag, I can open the windows and do all those dust and vapor producing house renovation tasks but then there are all those outside projects to do. Ahh springtime...
Saturday, my Passat wagon once again became a pick up truck.

I am always amazed how much yard waste this small lot (small half-of-a-lot) can generate. I have a compost bin but each spring or fall I load 2-3 car loads of leaves and garden waste and haul it out of here. My town has a compost site where grass, brush, and leaves can be taken. There is no curbside pickup.

My little flower garden, below. The tulips, crocuses, and daffodils are making their way up. The rain barrel is hooked up but the second one still needs to be connected. I need to install a length of gutter as well.


I was told that the landscape fabric I put down to clear this section of weedy lawn would not do the job so I added a layer of black plastic. This morning it was raining and I saw little ponds forming on top of the plastic. Ideal mosquito spawning pools so I went out with a pitch fork and poked holes to let the water drain through in the low spots.

Another Great Mess

Well, this is what the upstairs looks like today. I cleared everything out of the west attic and pulled the rest of the rock wool insulation out. That was the last section that needed to be done. I used every last trash bag, empty dog food and mulch bags that I had in the house and there is still more insulation and trash to be bagged up.

There is no insulation on this side of the attic now. And the temperatures have dropped near or below freezing again. In truth, I don't feel it much because the old insulation wasn't insulating very well.


And in other news...
This was the weedy, lumpy section of my lawn last summer.

Last night after work, I covered it with landscape fabric in hopes of smothering all that is there in order to prepare the area for some new garden beds.


It was a cold, gray day today. I am glad to have all that insulation pulled out. It was the worst job ever. I still need to figure out how I am going to insulate the attic above the ceiling. There is no access as far as I can tell. I may have to cut a hole in the ceiling. I really don't want to do that. I also do not want to crawl up there. I may hire that job out.