compost/recycling structures?

[cinnaminnacat]

we will be building a new house in lower puna next year.

we need to build a good system for handling the household and garden waste.

while we are doing the site and house design we need to design the shed and whatever else we need for gardening and waste management. i expect it will need plumbing, electricity, rain/wind control, etc.

goals: keep slugs/snails/rats/ rat lungworms! out; recyclables sorted and dry; create quality garden compost; incinerate hazards efficiently; be efficient and unobtrusive maybe even look nice.

ideas?

[rainyjim]

well. off the cuff...

First, I would encourage you to think about security. If you have valuable equipment, like say a tractor or a weed-whacker you will want it to be locked up tight and out of view.

Second, you should be aware that in order to have pulling and electricity you will need permits or each and they must be installed by a county approved individual (i.e. not you)

Third, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by incinerate, but it isn't legal to burn your rubbish in Hawai'i.

Thoughts:

I do think having your compost pile covered would be smart, having a concrete floor and sidewalls would be nice to be able to control moisture content yourself and for keeping unwanted pathogens separate. If you have a slope on your property...I have seen some nice tiered compost systems that allow you to move the compost down into the next stage easily as it matures.

Probably the most important aspect is cost, most can't afford separate structures merely for their compost and recycling. many probably wouldn't take the time to permit such a structure. not recommending that but if thats the case it may make the structure more affordable.

So to close,

I think a concrete pad with cinderblock walls would be the best option for puna. the longest lasting material and most structurally sound to keep your valuables safe. This would also be one of the more expensive.

Alternatively you could make a post and pier structure and use wood framing and use corrugated metal panels for both your sidewalls and roofing.

Either way i'd probably recommend utilizing a single pitch roof to maximize ease and effectiveness of water collection for your catchment tank. (you do know that their is no water available in most parts of puna? you must catch your own off your roof - run a pipe from the gutter into a water catchment tank)

[cinnaminnacat]

were not rich, but we can can afford a bit extra to do something about this constant problem. also it would minimize property maintenance if you build in a good system first.

you and i are thinking similarly: concrete slab, pitch roof, etc. proper permits and constructed while house is being done. this slug/snail/rat lungworm thing is creepy.

what would be an easy setup for the recyclables to the transfer station? i have heard of putting bins on a utility trailer.

[rainyjim]

I would recommend heavy duty trashcans with hinged lids that seal well

a truck with a bed would be sufficient

if you get a utility trailer that would suffice and the utility is great = )

I recommend trying not to purchase things that need to be recycled

(though thats not to say purchasing non-recyclables in their place is acceptable, i'm thinking like brew your own beer or take a 'growler' for refill to the local brewery...obviously theres a limit to what individuals can do in this regard without going 'total caveman' but every little bit helps )

BUT if recycling it is very respectful to wash out all of your recyclables immediately after use / before depositing into your containers.

honestly I think rat lungworm is overblown by many - kinda hysterical - its definitely smart to be aware of it, the lifecycle, and its modes of transmission into human / pet hosts...but don't let it keep you up at night ... there are way scarier things... like say the traffic on HWY 130

aloha

[cinnaminnacat]

haha! "brew your own beer". good one, seriously!

Ive been thinking about investing in a sodastream type thing get rid of the pop cans.

i plan to build an outdoor baking oven for pizza and bread. no more pizza boxes and no more hot oven in the house.

this brings up the need for a *sanitary* water supply out there for washing hands, utensils, garden produce etc.

thanks to all for the input, please keep it coming.

[Carey]

FYI utility trailers now have very high yearly license fees, our fees got to be more than our trailer was worth for us, as we also had a pickup...bought a nice used lumber rack for almost the same $$ as the license fee for a year...

We did bring our aluminum tailgate rack over (as checked luggage!) when we moved here & that has been invaluable for transfer station trips, esp. with our car!

[cinnaminnacat]

wow! trailer lic. fees... would never have guessed it.

actually, i am having a hard time getting anything in/out of the back of the pickup, even groceries. my body is showing its age.

hmm... more ingenuity may be required.

[shave_ice]

I use plastic trash cans with lids for my recycling. One for glass, one for #1#2 plastics, one for cans, etc. Easy enough to throw in the back of the truck when one is full. I also reuse all my corrugated cardboard for sheet mulch to keep the weeds down. I try to compost all my paper and paperboard along with food scraps. I might invest in simple paper shredder, which would make it a lot easy for composting paper. I usually just tear up the paper, but that is time consuming and I can't shred into tiny pieces like a machine can.

[cinnaminnacat]

how fast does the cardboard biodegrade in lower puna when you lay it out on the ground?

do you have any problem with it harboring pests?

thanks for all the good ideas. please keep sending input.

[shave_ice]

My cardboard sheet mulch idea is part of a larger plan. What I have been doing is collecting cardboard until I have enough to cover a large enough area. I lay that down, then mulch on top of the cardboard and then plant perennial peanut as a ground cover. I haven't had any problems with pests, but then again I guess I'm not really looking under the cardboard once I place it down and cover it up.