fence posts safe for compost bin?

[David]

I have a number of partial fence posts (thanks to the hurricanes this year) and I'm wondering what you folks think about using them as the anchors for a compost bin. I wouldn't use them if they were new as they were treated, but these are around 10 years old (old enough so that they weakened at the ground line and snapped in the 100 mph winds of Charlie). So, what do you think, are they safe to use to build a compost pile bin?

David

[Jan Flora]

Are you asking us if the fence posts have quit leaching poisons? In your climate, that's probably a pretty good bet, since it's so wet down there.

We're glad to hear that you survived your series of hurricanes, even if your fenceposts didn't!!!

Consider either buying a tarp or building some sort of cover for your compost pile, due to your high precip. levels down there in the tropics. If compost gets too much rain, it'll slow down the cooking process.

I have to cover my compost up here in the Frozen North during haying season, as we get LOADS of rain here in July, August & Sept. (I'm on the coast.)

There's a website on how to build & what to add to a compost pile. How to figure your C/N ratios. I lost the link when my old computer died.

I'll bet some kind soul here could give us the link, or you could find it in a Google search. I'm able to cook compost in 6 weeks during the summer in Alaska, from raw materials to finished product. (!)

Jan, in Alaska

[David]

Thanks for the response, Jan. I have a small compost pile now, but I want to expand and these posts would be ideal as anchors. I haven't had too much problem with the wetness, but perhaps that is because I'm working on such a small scale. If I go to a larger bin I will certainly have to do some research to get better at it.

David