Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

Mrs_pbradley936

Organic waste turns into "compost" after a year or so.

If you want to make your own put layers of organic waste i.e. old plants, vegetable peelings, some but not too much grass cuttings and if you can get it the odd layer of manure from a vegetarian animal (a rabbit or hamster). Then just leave it alone and let nature take its course. In a year or two you will have decent compost to use in the garden.

arkonite_babe

cjalynch wrote:

Hi,
When we moved into our house two years ago, the previous owner left a compost bin at the back of the (small) garden.
Well, despite being a lurker on the OS boards for quite a while now, today is the first day I have plucked up the courage to open it- I have always feared it housed a large colony of rats or other unwelcome guests!
To my surprise it was 3/4 full of what looks like really good compost- but I am not totally sure what this should look like as I am basing my view on my dad's garden twenty-odd years ago.
It is like very fine topsoil with bits of mulchy looking twigs and "broken down" leaves etc. No liquid and it doesn't smell at all.

My question is this- did the previous owner leave it full of soil after having the garden done (some planting was done before we bought) or has my leaving the bin for nigh on two years left me with fabulous compost to start my garden off this summer?

Any opinions would be very welcome.
By the way, there are several ear-wig type creatures crawling around in there too......

Hi
As we currently have a thread running on the greenfingers board which is similar to yours, I've merged them together.

As the posts are listed in date order, you will need to read from the beginning to catch up.

Thanks
AB

conradmum

Not sure this is moneysaving (though it may well be if councils start charging for the amount of rubbish you produce) but I thought I would let people know that you can also compost cardboard waste as well as kitchen scraps. Not just plain cardboard such as empty toilet rolls, but also things like cereal boxes. Just make sure you remove any plastic from it and it can go in the compost. If your bin gets a bit wet and smelly this'll help alleviate the problem and if your bin is a bit dry you might want to leave the cardboard out until it gets wet with rain before putting it in.
I'dbeen putting plain cardboard in my bin for a few years, then read about a year ago that the Centre for Alternative Technology had tested the remains of cardboard that had printing ink on it, and the levels of chemicals were lower than in ordinary soil! The worms love the cardboard and break it down completely, adding extra bulk to the resulting compost.

LJM

thanks for the i did wonder if i could put it in least now i know

alanobrien

We also shred financial papers etc and put these in the compost along with egg boxes etc, its worked well over the years.

teapot2

conradmum wrote:

Not sure this is moneysaving (though it may well be if councils start charging for the amount of rubbish you produce) but I thought I would let people know that you can also compost cardboard waste as well as kitchen scraps. Not just plain cardboard such as empty toilet rolls, but also things like cereal boxes. Just make sure you remove any plastic from it and it can go in the compost. If your bin gets a bit wet and smelly this'll help alleviate the problem and if your bin is a bit dry you might want to leave the cardboard out until it gets wet with rain before putting it in.
I'dbeen putting plain cardboard in my bin for a few years, then read about a year ago that the Centre for Alternative Technology had tested the remains of cardboard that had printing ink on it, and the levels of chemicals were lower than in ordinary soil! The worms love the cardboard and break it down completely, adding extra bulk to the resulting compost.

Re toilet roll innards - they can also be used for germinating and starting off those plants that don't do well being disturbed as you just plant the whole thing!

comping_cat

Ive been putting my egg boxes in my compost bin, but didnt realise i could put the loo roll innards and cardboard in!!! Will def try that now.

angelavdavis

alanobrien wrote:

We also shred financial papers etc and put these in the compost along with egg boxes etc, its worked well over the years.

Its definitely the best place for ripped up tax, bank and credit card statements (once everyone has claimed back their charges!!!):rotfl:

consumermonkey

Egg shells are supposed to be good too!

stilernin

If you have space............. keep a sack of torn up cardboard and shredded paper ready to mix with your lawn mowings before putting in the heap/bin. This will compost more readily than just great lumps of mowings which won't have much air in it. (The compost heap needs bugs and bugs need air.)

If you find you have loads of mowings and cardboard......... mix together and then put in strong black sack. Tie up the top and make a few holes around the sides with a garden fork (for more air) then leave until the 'magic' works. Useful if you don't have room for several compost bins. I have often hidden these sacks in the 'wasted space' behind large shrubs around the garden.