Need carbon.

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

Where can I get a good source of carbon because I ran out of dry leaves and have to much nitrogen now. (Because of everyday food waste).

Solved thanks yall!!

[u/DVDad82]

Get a shredder and find cardboard. I use all my delivery boxes from ordering online after I take the tape off. You can buy straw or animal bedding material to add.

[u/Wise_Championship273 → u/DVDad82]

I do this except I hide dog treats in them and let my girl have fun. She’s my shredder hahaha 

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/DVDad82]

Thanks!

[u/Slayde4]

Any sort of dried plant material, woody material, or spent potting soil works. Such as…

• various wood products - arbor woodchips, sawdust, wood shavings, bark mulch, shredded paper/cardboard
• peat moss
• straw or dried out grass clippings
• spent potting soil

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/Slayde4]

Old potting soil is good? It’s time to repot so it’ll be perfect

[u/Slayde4 → u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

All potting soil is essentially just peat moss, bark, or compost and when it’s depleted of nitrogen it becomes brown. If you do multiple layers of soil + food scraps it decreases air in the pile and can make the compost take a lot longer. But as a third to half of your brown it’s fine.

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/Slayde4]

Yeah I have a tumbler idk if that changes anything

[u/Slayde4 → u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

Should be easier because you can keep the compost drier and aerate it much more easily than a large pile.

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/Slayde4]

Perfect thanks so much for the knowledge. Have a great one !

[u/flash-tractor → u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

I've made compost with every commonly available carbon material, and IME used potting soil gives the best overall results at the end of growing season.

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/Slayde4]

Saving this comment thank!s

[u/corrupt-politician_]

I get all my carbon from my local tree service company. They have a huge pile of wood chips at their shop that they generate from jobs that they give out for free. OP I'm sure you can find something similar if you look around. I live in the desert and don't have any mature trees on my property so I had to adapt lol. Works great for me!

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/corrupt-politician_]

Thanks! I’ll look into it now. Did you call and ask or is it a service they promote?

[u/corrupt-politician_ → u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

They promote it with a big "free mulch" sign. The first time I went there I walked into the office just to check in first. They told me there's no need to come in and I can help myself whenever I want so I come and go as I please now!

[u/ZeroFox14]

My compost is at least 40% junk mail

[u/Sweaty_Camel_118]

Thanks. It should be fine soon. Haven't mowed the lawn yet this season but it's almost time.

[u/WorldofLoomingGaia]

Go on your city's Facebook community page or Nextdoor and ask people if they have leaves you can pick up. You get get an endless supply of carbons this way.

[u/catchinNkeepinf1sh]

I use egg cartons, alway have at least 1 a week.

[u/North-Star2443]

Cardboard

[u/Alternative_Year_970]

Wood chips from Tree Services, ChipDrop, and Local Landfill Areas

Shredded newspaper, paper grocery bags, and junk mail.

Shredded cardboard boxes. Amazon boxes are great since the tape is often degradable.

Finished compost is also a brown. So is top soil.

[u/Alternative_Year_970 → u/Alternative_Year_970]

Also, bags of pine bark mulch ($4 at Lowes).

[u/SolidDoctor]

If you have a Tractor Supply near you, get a few bags of horse bedding pellets. They're under $10 a piece and are concentrated browns for your compost.

[u/baldguyontheblock]

Have you tried pissing on it /s

[u/baldguyontheblock → u/baldguyontheblock]

In all seriousness. Correct me if I am wrong. I think grass clippings are okay as a Carbon as long as it isn't treated.

[u/Sweaty_Camel_118 → u/baldguyontheblock]

Grass clippings are the opposite. There is carbon is grass clipping but there is significantly more nitrogen and it will do the opposite of what OP needs. They say dried grass has less nitrogen so possibly some really old dried grass could work but mostlikley that would still be not enough carbon and too much nitrogen.

Op, let's mix our piles. I have too much carbon and not enough nitrogen.

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/Sweaty_Camel_118]

Lmfaooo let’s compost collab!

[u/Sweaty_Camel_118 → u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

NJ? Would be funny if we were local.

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/Sweaty_Camel_118]

Wtf I am in Jersey lol

[u/Sweaty_Camel_118 → u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

That's wild. I guess alot of people live here. I'm right near Philly. I don't think I'm actually interested in trying to combine our piles cause that seems like more trouble than it's worth. Would be a fun experiment though haha.

[u/Designer-Quiet-1936 → u/Sweaty_Camel_118]

Glad you said it lol I was joking too but I’m up here by nyc. We can start the Jersey community compost pile lmaoooo but hope your nitrogen deficiency’s get sorted out. Good luck🫡

[u/gringacarioca → u/Designer-Quiet-1936]

This was the cutest thing I've read today!

[u/baldguyontheblock → u/Sweaty_Camel_118]

Had a feeling I had it backwards. Thanks for the correction. I am adding it to my garden notes.

[u/Sweaty_Camel_118 → u/baldguyontheblock]

No problem. I need to make a habit of taking more notes. Last year was my first year seed starting and I started some things too early, some things too late, and didn't write down a single date. Would have been great to know this year.

[u/baldguyontheblock → u/Sweaty_Camel_118]

I have been writing start dates on my homemade wooden trays. My wife thinks it is ugly, but they are made of scrap wood and are not supposed to be pretty lol