Since the last post, I have been working steadily on the extension to the outer shell, or “mantle,” of the biomeiler. The mantle has the geometrical form of a ring with an inner radius of 3’, an outer radius of 6’, and a height of 28”. As such, it has a volume of 195 cubic feet.
I began the building the extension by filling in the sunken parts of the original mantle. Once level, I attached fence wire around the perimeter and lined it with weedblocking fabric. Fabric of this type stands up well to the elements and is an affordable means by which I can prevent the contents of the pile from pushing through the open spaces int he fence wire. The only drawback to its use is that, when used as the sole barrier, it stretches under pressure and gives the pile an unattractive, bulging surface. To better distribute the pressure of the shavings against the fabric, and maintain a more svelte profile to the pile, I line the inside with a layer of cardboard. In preparation for this task, my offspring and I consume pizza all year – the one part of my research efforts they enthusiastically support.
Wood shavings are purchased from Northland Wood and brought home in my utility trailer. Fortunately, my back yard is spacious enough to permit me driving around the house and parking the trailer a convenient distance from the biomeiler. Filling the volume of the mantle is as simple as carrying a tote bin from the trailer to the pile and back (many, many times). After a decent layer builds up, I climb onto the pile and trample it down in preparation for the next additions.
In the original mantle volume, the ventilation pipe coils around the pile at a radius of 4’. The inner side of the mantle was filled with compostable material. The outer two feet of radius was filled with wood shavings to insulate the pile from the cold winter air. The extra insulation is an indispensible adaptation for using a biomeiler in the arctic.
In the mantle extension, there is no ventilation pipe to contend with. Around the perimeter of the outer core, I still add compostable material, but not nearly as much. The coop has been depleted of used bedding and my pile of yard thatch has been reduced to less than half of its original volume. If it becomes necessary, I could rake leaves from the yard to add in, but I prefer to let them decompose in place over the winter to fertilize the lawn. Also, I don’t enjoy raking leaves.
At the time of this post, I have added one trailer-load of shavings to the pile and have a second load at hand. I suspect I will need a third load to completely fill the mantle and add a sloping cap to the pile.
The photo gives me pause for thought of the biomeiler extending against those trees in the background. How close did you build the outer core toward the pine trees?
It is wonderfully kind of your offspring to be of such sacrificial assistance as to consume multiple meals of pizza for the purpose of providing their father with enough cardboard for this experience!
The edge of the biomeiler is under some of the longer branches,
but the trunk of the nearest trees at least 6 feet away.
I’m sure there is no significant consequence to that positioning.