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steven in tn 12-05-2012 14:05:20 64.12.116.80 Report to Moderator	can i turn a 4x5 hay roll into black gold? what would be the steps in doing so. i have a couple of rolls full of sage grass blomed out that the cows will not eat. just wondering if i can turn it into compost for garden? [Reply]   [No Email]
TnRoy 12-06-2012 12:34:55 72.161.39.232 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to steven in tn, 12-05-2012 14:05:20   So. sounds like wood chips are out.Any ideas for what they would be good for, got about ten loads where I chipped a bunch of limbs. [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 12-06-2012 13:40:33 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to TnRoy, 12-06-2012 12:34:55   gravel drive?use them there,or any dirt road.in winter. be aware though that not all wood chips do this,. [Reply]  [No Email]
jackinok 12-06-2012 10:34:50 162.58.82.136 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to steven in tn, 12-05-2012 14:05:20   problem with a round bale is that its so tight air and moisture cant get in.like the others say roll it out or tear it up. wood chips maybe if your soil needs to be more acidic. if its too acidic normaly you wouldnt want to add wood chips.unless you knew exactly what kind they are.this time of year what i do is simply lay or roll out a layer of old hay or straw and till it in. the i cover it again with another layer.composting in a bin will actually kill more weed/grass seed that is in your hay because temps will be higher.i use straw mostly. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 12-06-2012 18:39:19 209.86.226.11 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to jackinok, 12-06-2012 10:34:50   That is why if you put the bale flat end up that it will compost but if you just set it as it drops out of the baler it will take years to compost. My self the way I do it is feed the bale to my horses with out a hay ring. That way they mess up about 1/4 of it and then I take that and push it up in a pile and let it compost. I have people asking me for my compost all the time but have to limit how much I let go [Reply]  [No Email]
TnRoy 12-06-2012 05:40:44 72.161.39.232 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to steven in tn, 12-05-2012 14:05:20   I have been thinking about trying that too.But I was considering rolling out the bale in one layer,then add a layer of wood chips,then a layer of manure.And maybe working it up with a tractor tiller.How do you think that would work? [Reply]  [No Email]
old 12-06-2012 09:17:06 209.86.226.32 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to TnRoy, 12-06-2012 05:40:44   Rolling it out first then layering like you said would make it compost faster. I would leave out the wood chips since many types of wood are high acid which is not good for the soil. Then after you layer it push it in a big pile and water that pile and let it cook. Many years ago Mother earth mag had a way to use a compost pile to heat a house but the problem was it is took lots of work to set up and keep it going. A compost pile should be nice and warm in the center as in around 120 degrees or more [Reply]  [No Email]
TomA 12-07-2012 10:44:46 76.9.81.247 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to old, 12-06-2012 09:17:06   Years ago I went to a farmers conference on composting. We were told as a rule of thumb you need 1/3 nitrogen containing material (manure, green material etc.) to 2/3 parts carbon containing material ( hay, wood chips etc.) [Reply]  [No Email]
old 12-07-2012 16:57:43 209.86.226.11 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to TomA, 12-07-2012 10:44:46   Do not know about that but know what I have been doing for decades seems to work well and my plants have always shown so as in plants as tall or taller then I am and I stand 6 foot [Reply]  [No Email]
old 12-05-2012 14:38:37 209.86.226.18 Report to Moderator	Re: compost? in reply to steven in tn, 12-05-2012 14:05:20   Yes you can and not all that hard to do. I do wasted hay every year and I have plants that grow taller then I am 6 foot. You start by setting the bale so the flat end is up and if you have manure around then cover or top it with manure and now you water the heck out of it. Let it sit a month or so then if you can flip it 180 and re-water it. Keep pouring on water ever few weeks and in a year or so it should be very good for your garden. The more manure you can pile on the better. I have a bale right now doing just that to it and I just keep piling manure one from time to time [Reply]  [No Email]