Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

Kantankrus_Mare

well im hoping that if the weather is good on thursday.....hubby is gonna come and help me at the allotment so with a bit of luck he'll get caught short and the heap will get a treat!!:rotfl:

will keep u posted!!;)

bargainaddict

Can anyone help. I have what looks like fungus growing out of the air vents on my bin. I'm too squemish to lift the bin and look!

beer2006

bargainaddict, sounds like you've got dead rats in there!

Get a pair of BBQ tongs and lift them out, put them in plastic bags and call ratbusters. Quick!!












Only joking just open the lid and mix it up a bit, see if its too wet or dry.

pcyam

couple years back saw alan titchmarsh talking about composting, so I thought I would do some DIY compost for my mum.

I didnt catch the beginning only parts of what was said, so all I did was got a plastic bucket/bin, and started putting food waste, but only fruits and veggies, and poured water into it to speed things up, forgot about it for a few weeks and as soon as I took the lid off there were maggots, which scared me to death (maggots were never shown on tv:eek: ) and have never tried this again. but I just wanted to know are there suppose to be maggots (i understand when food decompose there are maggots) or was I doing something wrong???

We look back now and have a good laugh but I can still remember that day,:rotfl: ooh, it didnt half make me jump

headcovers

I don't think a bucket is the best way to compost.

I've been looking into this a lot recently and as Compost Awareness week was last week there is a lot of help around on the 'net including low cost compost bins delivered free in some counties.

Go here for advice http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/

It's great - it even has a little cartoon showing you how composting works and really explains well the 50-50 share of browns and greens that you have to compost. It also contains the link to the low cost compost bin (£4 with free delivery)

bargainaddict

I'm so glad I read the bottom of your post, my heart is still beating!!!!
It did get a bit dry so hopefully that's the problem.

i have been to a friend tonight who is really into her composting and she used to have about 5 plastic bins. She now uses 4 pallets tied together with carpet on top of the heap and reckons she gets far better results and quicker as well. She also said that male pee is better because it has more amonia!!!

i still haven't convinced my OH. He thinks I gone mad.

jaxxy00

Can you please tell me if we can put in our composter 'sticky weed', if you know what i mean? I dont know the proper name but the stuff that sticks to you. I have tried finding it out on the internet but cant find a straight forward answer.

Then i thought i know where to look! You cant beat MSE when you need answers to something cos theres always someone willing to help. Hope someone does soon though as were waiting to get rid of the weeds as been doing the gardening but dont know where to put them. Thanks

culpepper

its called cleavers ,goosegrass or sweetheart.
I think you can compost it if it hasnt got seeds on.

jaxxy00

Thanks culpepper, i knew i could rely on MSE.
Been waiting for someone to answer so now we can get on with it.

churchmouse_3

Its called sticky willy up here but if you know anyone with equines it is a very good feed stuff as it flushes out toxins, my ponies love itand so all i grow goes to thwm and they in turn make lovely compost...... If you can get hold of any comfrey that is the most excellent composter, you can find it in hedgerows. Also is a superb herb for making healing creams as its known as Knitbone, but there lies another tale.