Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread

sullivan666

Active Member
Awesome setup RM! I really like the idea of a 'junk' pile. I hope to setup a 3 bin system soon with shipping pallets. I have one bin now that's almost ready, but it'd be nice to have a perpetual cycle going.
 

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
Used pallets are a GREAT way to make a compost bin...

My friend has had one for years, and made his really strong by wrapping the whole thing up with chicken wire after it was built.

(Did anyone see the chicken in my first photo?...
Who ever said "Theirs no such thing as a free lunch", as soon as she sees someone carrying a shovel, she follows, knowing worms and bugs will result)
 

sullivan666

Active Member
Used pallets are a GREAT way to make a compost bin...

My friend has had one for years, and made his really strong by wrapping the whole thing up with chicken wire after it was built.

(Did anyone see the chicken in my first photo?...
Who ever said "Theirs no such thing as a free lunch", as soon as she sees someone carrying a shovel, she follows, knowing worms and bugs will result)
I'm aiming for this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66tLQVUcHdI

I'll be using smaller pallets as I don't really have a spot in my backyard for the size they use, but basically the same setup.
 

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
Great set-up. The 3 bin system makes things really easy once its all up and running.

And its also really easy to fork out one bin, into another. Thanks for posting the video and good luck on your set-up.
 

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
Watch Dirt! the movie free on Hulu while you can. Really cool film about what we all love...

[video]http://www.hulu.com/watch/191666?playlist_id=1668&asset_scope=movies[/video]
 

fattiemcnuggins

Well-Known Member
Here is a question:

what are acceptable cover crops? just clover and comfrey or can i use something I already have..?

Like mint, or basil, rosemary, ..?
 

sullivan666

Active Member

Rising Moon

Well-Known Member
Here is a question:

what are acceptable cover crops? just clover and comfrey or can i use something I already have..?

Like mint, or basil, rosemary, ..?

Try thinking about low growing mineral fixing plants...

Clover, Vetch, Basil, Thyme, Oats, Peas...even Strawberries or Moss could be used.

Mint is very aggressive, and will smother just about anything in its path, all while eating everything in your soil mix very happily...

And Rosemary would be a bit too big, unless you did some super bonsai job and kept it LOW.
 

woody333333

Well-Known Member
Try thinking about low growing mineral fixing plants...

Clover, Vetch, Basil, Thyme, Oats, Peas...even Strawberries or Moss could be used.

Mint is very aggressive, and will smother just about anything in its path, all while eating everything in your soil mix very happily...

And Rosemary would be a bit too big, unless you did some super bonsai job and kept it LOW.

strawberries????..........im sold..........been stalking u guys for hundreds of pages all u had to say was strawberries
 

fattiemcnuggins

Well-Known Member
Try thinking about low growing mineral fixing plants...

Clover, Vetch, Basil, Thyme, Oats, Peas...even Strawberries or Moss could be used.

Mint is very aggressive, and will smother just about anything in its path, all while eating everything in your soil mix very happily...

And Rosemary would be a bit too big, unless you did some super bonsai job and kept it LOW.

I thought the mint might be an ok one, I am just low on cash and like to use what I have around. Maybe I'll try some basil and mint .
 
I thought the mint might be an ok one, I am just low on cash and like to use what I have around. Maybe I'll try some basil and mint .
I would strongly suggest not using mint. Mint spreads like wildfire and it takes over raised beds and chokes other plants out. I made the mistake of putting it in my aquaponics system and the mint completely took over and choked out all the greens I had in there.
 

viewer1020

Well-Known Member
Used pallets are a GREAT way to make a compost bin...
One caution when using reclaimed timber in the garden: make sure it isn't CCA-treated. That blue-green tint you see on treated pine is Copper, Chromium and Arsenic. The copper might not be so bad, but you really don't want the other two! In my country (Oz) the hardwood pallets seem to be mostly untreated, and I've seen some pine pallets which are treated, and some which aren't.

If your timber has been treated, I believe you can remove the bulk of it by sanding/sawing/planing the top few millimeters off all faces.
 
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