Product review: GreenPig Solutions 60 Accelarator Compost Accelerator

I am using this accelerator in the tumbling large Envirocycle composter. I am not sure this accelerator made any difference compared to just adding a gallon of water on a regular basis.  I did not see the super-fast breakdown I was hoping for.

This package contains 12 packets.  Instructions say to dissolve each packet in 1 to 2 gallons of water.  The packets are sealed (i.e. you cannot split them in half) and dissolve in water.  The mixture needs to be used within 15 minutes to keep bacteria alive.  Instructions recommend using the liquid weekly or when a large amount of the new material was added to the compost pile.

The description states that 12 packets treat 108 cubic feet. One packet treats 9 cubic feet.  1 cubic foot is 7.5 gallons. This means one packet treats 67.5 gallons. The large Envirocycle that I use is 35 gallons, this means one packet is more than enough to treat its content.  In fact, I wish I could split each packet in half to make it more cost-effective. 

To manufacture: I would have preferred a non-dissolvable bag with a zip closure so I can control how much I use for each treatment. 

concentrate

Product review: Envirocycle Composter Tumbler Bin and Compost Tea Maker

I decided to use Envirocycle because it looked like it would the easiest to keep from smelling bad. I don't think it is beautiful, but it is efficient, effective, and easy to use.

- 35 gallonComposter Dimensions: L 25.4" x W 21.5" x H 27.7"
- Drum Capacity: 35 US Gallons
- Compost Tea Base Capacity: 2.5 US Gallons
- Weight: 24.6 lbs

A friend of mine who recommended Envirocycle has the smaller (the 17 gallons) bin and I measured it for reference: Length 19″ x Width of 18.75″ x Height of 21.5″

The drum sits on the base and is not held down to the base with any attachments. The bin should be placed in full sun as heat speeds up composting. The drum has narrow slit openings at the bottom from which access moisture drips into the base. These drippings are called compost tea and can be used (after dilution) as fertilizer for plants.

The instructions call for 75% green materials (like grass clippings) and 25% brown materials (like dry leaves) by weight.  Since dry materials are dry and light it is easier to think of the materials by volume not weight.  The volume is more evenly divided between green and brown. I don't obsess over the precise measures but rather check for smell and wetness.  The proper mixture should smell earthy, no bad odors. The key to the good composting pile is to rotate the drum approximately 3 times every 3 days to give air to microbes working on the pile. I also give it a turn whenever I add new material to mix things up.  The bin is very easy to turn by pulling and pushing on the grooves on the sides of the drum.

If it smells it means it is too wet and needs more brown material and more rotation. If it looks too dry it means it needs more green material or a bit of water spray.  The contents should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge. If the pile is too dry it will compost slower and it can be watered with a hose but if the ratio of materials is correct it is not necessary on a regular basis.

To speed up the composting process I cut content into smaller pieces (general recommendations about 1 inch).
Once the composter is full allow it to cook and in 4-8 weeks you should have usable compost.  As the pile cooks it decreases in volume and it is possible to fit more raw materials into. Envirocycle instruction recommends not adding any more raw materials to speed up composting. What you do depends on your goal: do you want to compost as soon as possible to use this year? Stop adding new raw materials. Do you want as much as possible compost to use next year?  Keep adding new material.  However,  stop adding new material if the majority of the pile has mostly composted. At that stage, microbes will not have enough to eat and the compost pile will be in the cooling down stage.

The bin does not need to be protected from rain, but the container is not watertight. During heavy rainfall periods, I check the composter's base more frequently. The base might need to be drained every 2 weeks.

WIf you see mold it means the bin is not turned enough and is not getting enough aeration. Rotating the drum approximately 3 times every 3 days should aerate the compost and prevent mold.  I cover wet ingredients with dry when I add new wet stuff,  I hope that prevents smells.

I saw compost starters being sold on-line. These products state they can speed up the composting process.  Adding a compost starter into an Envirocycle composter is not necessary according to Envircycle instructions. Adding them, however, will not hurt, just cost extra.

The base of the bin collects compost tea that drips out of the drum. To empty the base, plug all of the drain holes of the compost tea area, raise the base and place a bucket or container under the hose spout, then unscrew the hose cap and allow the liquid to drain. There is a handle groove on the back of the Base to help tilt it to fully drain all of the liquid. This liquid can be stored for up to a month and can be diluted as needed. Compost tea should be diluted at most 10% compost tea mixed with at least 90% water. Compost tea can be sprayed on plants or poured into the soil as a liquid fertilizer to add nutrients to the soil. The compost tea needs to be diluted before use: 10% leachate to 90% water.  If used undiluted it can burn the plants.

Ideally, the bin should be turned three times every 3 days. However, if you are unable to turn the composter for a period of time, this is not a problem. The lack of turning will prolong the composting process. If you turn and have the right mix of ingredients it takes 4-8 weeks after the drum has been filled to the top to have a ready batch of compost. Without any turning, it will take a year or so.

The bin can be left outside in the winter. It is okay to add compost to the bin in the winter, but do not turn in the winter. Composting slows down in the winter.

Some people use worms in an Envirocycle composter as an alternative. If you add worms, you should not turn the composter. The worms may be killed by the turning action.  Worms take care of aeration by digging holes, so rotating is not needed.

To remove compost from the bin roll the drum off of the base, push the drum and roll it from the middle of the drum, rolling it off the higher ends of the base (the high end side has the hose cap spout). Get a grip on the hand grooves towards the bottom of the drum and push while rotating the drum. This way it will roll off the base. Then you can roll to where you want to use the compost.

If the pile does not get hot here are three possible reasons:
1. Not enough stuff,  compost needs to have enough volume, about a cubic yard of material
2. Not flipping enough because composting happens in the center (core)
   The general rule of thumb: every three days or when the pile shrinks by 30%
3. Too dry, not enough water for bacteria to feed on.    

Green Material:
• Fruit scraps such as banana peels or apple cores
• Vegetable scraps such as onion or potato peels
• Plant matter such as Wet grass clippings and wet leaves
• Chicken poop can add nutrients to the compost.
• Chicken eggshells, if ground into a fine powder

Brown material:
• Shredded cardboard (the box from you Envirocycle is 100% compostable!)
• Cardboard egg cartons
• Brown paper towel
• Paper towel rolls
• Toilet paper rolls
• Straw
• Hay
• Wood shavings (1" chunks)
• Wood chips (1" chunks)
• Cornstalks
• Nutshells
• Dry grass clippings
• Dry leaves

Materials to avoid:
• Certain paper products such as high gloss paper, waxy paper, brightly colored paper
• Wild mushrooms or fungi
• Products of combustion such as ashes and embers
• Chemically treated wood
• Chainsaw sawdust or any sawdust mixed with lubricant oils
• Pharmaceutical waste such as expired and non-expired medicines
• Petrochemical products such as gasoline, diesel, motor oil, paints, glues, etc.
• Most inorganic materials such as plastics and metals.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Instapark YT1008 Solar-powered Dusk-to-Dawn Outdoor Motion Sensor LED Light, Weather-proof

Instapark YT1008 solar light is 5" x 3.35" in size. When it is mounted on a vertical surface the top part of the light that faces up and the entire surface facing up is the solar panel. This light is both motion and photo sensitive. The light turn on at dusk and shines dimly when noone is around. When the light detects motion it turns on the brighter setting. At the brightest setting Instapark Solar light is not very bright but sufficient to light the area so you can see. After a full day of charging in the sun the light stay on for approximately 6 hours.

To activate the light you need to turn on it with a provided pin by inserting into small hole on the under side (white) of the light. You only need to activate the light once. I suggest you do it before installation as to find a spot where to push inside the light is a little tricky. Just keep poking inside at different angle until it clicks and turns off. The light is water tight and this on/off mechanism provides a way to save the battery when you don't need it operating without compromising the water proof aspect of the light.

The attached video shows a close-up of the light, how to turn it on with a pin, then I turn off the lights so you can see the amount of light it generates after a full charge.

I am also attaching a collage of three photos.

Photo #1: show both sides of the light: the top with the solar panel, and the bottom with the light.
Photo #2: shows the lights in the two states: the left light shows the bright state (when motion is detected), and the left light shows the dim state (no motion detected).
Photo #3: shows both lights on bright setting in total darkness. All the light you see is generated by the two solar lights.

I mounted the light on the deck near the rear entrance of the house. The light detected me approaching from any direction (180 degrees) from about 10 feet away. After the movement stopped it went back to dim setting in about 2 minutes.

I received this solar light from Intapark for providing an honest review be it positive or negative. I have no financial interest or business relationship with the manufacturer, and this review represents my independent opinion of the product.

Overall, the light worked well. It detected motion in a good range and turned on to the brighter setting. However it does not light a large area so I recommend using at least a couple of these lights together.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: White Dutch Clover Seed

 Early last spring I purchased 5 pound bag of White Dutch Clover on Amazon.  I have been very pleased with it. The germination rate of the clover I received was excellent during the fist some.  I had a little bit of it left over and replanted the left over seed this spring and they came in beautifully as well.

I took pictures (posted at the end of the review)  with the progress of my clover lawn.
Photo #1: clover lawn after 5 days
Photo #2: clover lawn after 15 days
Photo #3 & #4: clover after 23 days, clover after 23 days close-up
Photo #5 clover after 30 days
Photo #6 clover after 45 days -> appearance of flowers, this is my final photo

I have a lot of lawn and due to back problems limited ability to care for it as well as I should to keep it nice and green. Following a construction project late last fall a large area of my lawn became a patch of clay. After reading about eco lawns I decided to try to reseed the bold patch with clover rather than grass. I selected white Dutch clover because it is low growing (it reaches 4 inches when it matures) and was rated well for the North East region where I live.

I liked that Clover is a perennial and will propagate on its own. I like that Clover helps grass grow. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria that form nodules on the roots of the clover fix nitrogen from the air and increases the nitrogen in the lawn helping the grass to grow. What was important to me that clover grows vigorously even in poor soil, which is exactly what I have.

I read that the ideal time to plant is mid-April before grass starts growing quickly and provides competition for water. It can be planted later in the season as well, by then watering frequently becomes crucial for clover lawn establishment. I planted my clover in the third week of April, seeding some over the new grass that just started growing, some in the clay left by the construction, and some over patches that had dead grass.

Some information I found indicates that you need both clover AND grass to make a "clover lawn" as they are complementary in their ecological functioning and one supports the other. By planting my clover in several ways I will be able to see if I also need to add grass seed to the clover lawn.

The instructions said not to spread them by hand, so I came up with the following solution. I used a large spice bottle (the kind you get at Costco) and opened the side with the round holes and used it as a shaker to spread the seeds.

I watered daily (if there was no rain). The instructions said you only need to do it for 7 to 10 days, but I am watering to insure good growth.

One section of my lawn which included clover is mowed regularly once a week. The clover did not survive many weeks of mowing. It came back a couple of times, but eventually died out completely. A section that has not been mowed still has healthy looking clover.

In the fall the regular mowing ended and I am happy to report that the clover came back in the section which was regularly mowed and where it stopped growing during the summer!

The clover wintered fairly well and I saw plenty of re-growth this spring.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Gilmour 196SPB Pattern Master Impulse Sprinkler on Polymer Sled Base

A lot of control over watering shape, detailed instructions for controls included

Gilmore sprinkler gives you a lot of control of how far the water shoots and the shape of the circle. I have been using it now for two weeks, and I am very pleased with its performance. This is my first sprinkler of this type so I got a bit soaked figuring out how to set it up exactly as I wanted, so I am adding detailed instructions and photos of the controls.

My goal was to set up a 220 degree semi-circle, leaving a small wedge where I can exit the basement and approach the sprinkler without getting soaked. The distance of how the sprinkler head rotates to the left or the right is control by two red levers around the head. The lever on the RIGHT hand side control how far the head rotates to the LEFT, and the lever on the LEFT hand side controls how far the head rotates to the RIGHT. (see photo)

The distance of how far the spray shoots is controlled by a red ring which pushes on the back of the head. The higher the ring is lifted the shorter is the spray, when the ring is at its lowest the water shoots the furthers away. How high the ring is lifted is controlled by the pegs that you can reach beneath the sprinkler (see photo of the sprinkler upside down). When you push on the pegs from below they raise the ring. When you push on the ring from above, you lower the ring. You can control each individual peg, so you have a lot of control and can create a pretty intricate shape for your watering needs.

If you need to the sprinkler to make 360 circle, you need to pull the medal clip towards you.

The sprinkler comes assembled with female hose-end connector with shut-off valve and male hose-end adapter. For some reason the sprinkler's shut-off valve does not want to stay facing up, so I found it easier to turn the sprinkler on and off using the shut-off valve on the spigot.

I have been watering the newly planted lawn twice a day. The sprinkler is working very well. I am pleased with precision of the watering I was able to achieve avoiding various areas that should not get wet yet getting water to everything I wanted to water.

This sprinkler worked all last summer twice a day every day.  The sprinkler was still going strong when I packed it up for the winter. I am very pleased with it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Toro 38361 Power Shovel 7.5 Amp Electric Snow Thrower

 Toro Power Shovel did a great job last winter!

I recently had lower back disk fusion surgery.  In my post-surgical state I have trouble bending and lifting heavy objects. But I can work the Toro Power Shovel!

I bought it with low expectation, thinking that either it will not work well or that I will have trouble with it due to my current physical limitation. Surprisingly, neither concern materialized. Toro easily chopped through 10 inch snow banks, and I was able to push it through the snow as well as move it up and down the stairs to the house. In some areas I was able to push it one handed which was an easier position on my back, and sometimes I needed the second hand to get through a tougher spot. The handle is adjustable so with the highest position I don't have to bend too much.

Toro power shovel did well even in wet snow.  It was a little harder to push, but I found that I could brace the handle on my thigh and that allowed me to push with my leg rather than my injured back. Then it was easy!

The hardest thing to deal was not the show shovel itself, but the 100 feet of electric cord, which was heavy, unwieldy and became almost unmanageable to coil back, especially when it became cold and covered with snow. The electric caddy was not much help, it was hard to control and required me to bend. Putting back the cord tired me out more than shoveling itself.

However I came up with a solution which works beautifully for me. Below is the description of what I came up with two photos to illustrate the solution. 

I used a small water hose caddy to coil the electric cord. I put the electric caddy on a chair, which meant I did not have to bend to coil the cord. One leg of the caddy support is on the chair seat, the second leg of the caddy support is on the back of the chair. The chair provides not only the lift to a convenient height but stability so the caddy does not wiggle when you crank the handle.

I found that the Toro power shovel was stable without having to lean it against a wall when I put it a big plastic storage bin. This way when I bring the shovel in and the snow melts into the bucket I did not have to worry about a puddles on the floor. The caddy with the electrical cord fit nicely on top of the shovel in the storage bin.

The shovel is build for a right-handed person.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★