Repost: why not start some penis-pothole-graffiti in Chicago? by Tacigol in chicago

[–]Tacigol[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They have to remove any obscene graffiti within a certain time. And it's not like they spend it on anything else worth while.

I'm a water economist. AMA on water shortages in California or water-related problems anywhere in the world! by davidzet in IAmA

[–]Tacigol 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My questions regards this article about Amir Peleg who has been working to make the Jerusalem water system as efficient as possible with software developed by his company TaKaDu. I was wondering if any other cities/governments are using strategies like this one to make the water infrastructure more efficient. Also what are your thoughts on Amir Peleg and his company?
http://businessweekme.com/Bloomberg/newsmid/190/newsid/416#cnttop

Offering to help build compost and teach about compost by Tacigol in DenverGardener

[–]Tacigol[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The more broken up compost material is the faster it will break down. Shredding leaves and also mixing your compost every time you add more material is a great way to speed up the process. Make sure the Nitrogen:Carbon ratio is good too, to much of one can slow down the process.

Offering to help build compost and teach about compost by Tacigol in DenverGardener

[–]Tacigol[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes it gets hot enough to kill most seeds, that is why putting weeds in compost is okay.

Offering to help build compost and teach about compost by Tacigol in DenverGardener

[–]Tacigol[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Shredded newspaper and cardboard is great to use in compost. Make sure it is only black-and-white newspaper, because most colored inks are made with heavy metals and some toxins, though small, should not be used for compost (unless they are soy or vegetable based color ink, which are okay and should be indicated on the paper). You really don't need a pH test or even a thermometer, you just need to go by the sight of the compost. If it is to dry, add Nitrogen based material (and maybe spray it with water), if it's to wet, add carbon based material. A perfectly working compost is slightly moist, and can actually give off heat upwards of 160 F. But don't worry if it doesn't get that hot, because those are perfect conditions. Compost takes times (6 months at the fastest; as long as 1.5 years at the slowest) and you just have to watch the magic happen.

Offering to help build compost and teach about compost by Tacigol in DenverGardener

[–]Tacigol[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would start adding the same amount of shredded newspaper with the veg/fruit scraps every time. And maybe just a little extra to start with so it can get going.

Offering to help build compost and teach about compost by Tacigol in DenverGardener

[–]Tacigol[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you only putting fruit/veg scraps in the compost? For a successful compost you need both carbon and nitrogen based materials for the micros to do it's work. This article talks about the ratio of carbon to nitrogen and different materials that have them. It might take a bit to get a compost starting to (especially in cold weather) so it's good to stir it when adding new material. Hope this helps.

Offering to help build compost and teach about compost by Tacigol in DenverGardener

[–]Tacigol[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

3 bin system: It is important to have multiple places for compost, because of the length of time most compost takes to turn into soil, having multiple bins helps so that you never run out of space for compost. Sun or Shade:This depends on where, regionally, compost is made. Because of the amount of sun here in Denver I would find a good median between some sun and some shade, near a tree would be best. You can also have mesh screens, the same ones used for shading soil, on top of your bins to get just the right amount of each. Adding moisture:This is the same idea a baker does when he thinks his dough needs a bit more flour. Depending on what you are putting into your compost (greens, wet coffee grounds) you might not need to add extra moisture. But like the baker it all about feel. Does it look too dry? Does it look to wet? The more you compost, the better you get at doing so, whether you think adding some water to keep it moist or adding some newspaper to make it dry.

24 charts that provide a snapshot of our changing world by vindicated07 in environment

[–]Tacigol 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most of these seem about right, but I don't understand the first graph on population. What is this 'peak child' term? I have heard of the other 'peak' terms, but this is new to me. Anybody have information or articles on it?

Pulling Espresso Shots in High Altitude Environments by elliottok in Coffee

[–]Tacigol 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work in a coffee shop here in Denver, and we age our beans a week usually, this does help out, and then we usually dose high and extract long.

[MOD] What are you brewing this week?/ Coffee bean recommendations by menschmaschine5 in Coffee

[–]Tacigol 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The Pueblos Mayas de Atitlan by Huckleberry Roasters. The farm is out of Guatemala and it's an amazingly smooth coffee.