I like Steve's suggestion for crushing with a roller. I did a bit of that
when i had access to a clean concrete slab for a while. My 5' roller, filled
with water weighs about 1200lbs.,and worked well, except for some of the
larger woody turnips which wouldnt get squeezed in front of the roller's
grip. It was hard work by hand when the material built up, and i slipped
into it on occasion, getting a run on it. That's as far as i got before
thinking of making a long handle extension to the tractor hitch for going
back and forth totally clear of the slab with the tractor.
Of course this required shovelling up into wheelbarrows/wagon, spreading
straw and min.soil in between layers, and sawdust around the edges of the
slab to soak up the valuable juices. Volume is a factor. Obviously it would
be ideal to just fling the mix into an established heap on one side ot the
slab.
I have also used an old electric lawnmower,with a mulching blade, suspended
upside down on a 45degree angle, and with the lower part of the shroud-rim
cut away. I used an old piece of furnace duct/plenum as a chute above it,
and had a small enclosed wagon underneath....(.less shovelling). The
cuttings were randomly adequate with different materials, but it all helped
the disint. process.
For loose straw,spread out, i always drove back and forth over it with the
riding mower set high, till the lengths were suitable.
I am definitely saving for a strawbale chopper, commonly used for
short-piece poultry bedding, etc.
I plan to use the short material as a consistent mulch for some plants. It's
so easy to move around the stems.
I have also combined saved bags of (dry) tree leaves spread out, with long
green lengths of scythe-cut rye and clover strewn over them...and drove over
it with the tractor/rotary mower. This mixed very well, and was relatively
easy to scoop with a manurefork. This is done on my main grassed drive-
paths- as- a -work -area. They are cut often enough that i dont worry about
many weed seeds coming along in the mix.
I've mentioned this before as my favorite procedure for fine tuning a
compost mix:
If you have a manure wagon, adding an inverted U-shaped hood over/behind the
beater bar,(to contain/deflect the flailing goodies) you can mix into it all
the ingredients in any combination, or as it's available, in appropriate
layers, wetting as/if needed, adding 500 or BC ,and then PTO-flail it out
into one heap , no turning afterwards.....just insert preps and cover with
straw/soil.
If it seems too warm, attach a long multi- hole-drilled pipe to an
aircompressor, and inject at different places.
That said and done, i wouldn't do any turning,chopping if not necessary,
.....and time is on your side.
..manfred
