How do you expand your coir blocks?

[jen1722terry]

We use peat moss in our 8-year-old Airhead. We add about 1/2 cup each time we use the head.

We did have gnats last summer after we were off the boat for a few weeks. Turned out to be a hole in the vent screen.

Hope this helps.

[lordgeoff]

Originally Posted by Atcowboy

Hi all,
I'm wondering if anyone has come up with a good quick way to expand their coir bricks/blocks for their composting head?

My best mechanical method is long and rather dirty/dusty. If I can, I do it ashore to keep the boat clean.
1: drill 1/2" holes in wide faces of brick from each side as closely spaced as I can.
2: use putty knife on thin long faces to separate the compressed layers.
3: use paint mixer on drill in a 5 gallon bucket to pulverize the chunks as best I can. They're light so they flick everywhere, and need to be broken up by hand as well.

I've also tried expanding the coir with water, like you would for growing. On the day I mechanically expanded a batch, I also used water for the next batch. I left this in a bucket which I stirred up multiple times a day to help it dry. Even after a week or two when it was needed, it wasn't very dry.

I think next I'll try highjacking the cabin heater as a blow dryer to speed the drying process after water expansion, but I'd like to know anyone else's process...

- AT

Get a holding tank and dump your waste caringly.