Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

Lotus-eater

gb57 wrote: »

I bought some composting worms (and quite expensive they were too), but they all seem to have b******d off somewhere else, 'cos they are not in the compost heap any more.

The eggshells never seem to completely disintegrate in my heap - any suggestions as to how to get them to do so, please?

OK, this comes from a book I was reading yesterday "The humanure handbook" not actual composting like we are doing, but it taught me alot.
Eggshells don't compost well. Up to you if you put them in or not, I don't anyway, as I think it attracts rats (which I think I have at last stopped getting into my bins, by putting strong fine mesh underneath and wrapped up round the side, with bricks around the bottom as well :rolleyes:)

When your compost goes through the hot stage, microorganisms do the "eating" of the material, worms stay away, when the hot period has passed, the worms will come back naturally, together with other insects, ants, woodlice etc. If your bin is on soil and you have worms in your garden, then you shouldn't need to buy them.
If you garden organically, you should have a large worm population anyway.

mumsy_2

:T An answer to the query on egg shells in the compost bin, you need to crush them first, then they'll break down more easily. Another tip is one I got from my daughter who lives in Oz, keep a plastic, lidded container in the fridge for the daily scraps, tea bags, egg shells (crushed) etc. then empty the box in the compost bin when it's full. Otherwise, all the tips posted seem to be very useful.

mumsy_2

An answer to the query on egg shells in the compost bin, you need to crush them first, then they'll break down more easily. Another tip is one I got from my daughter who lives in Oz, keep a plastic, lidded container in the fridge for the daily scraps, tea bags, egg shells (crushed) etc. then empty the box in the compost bin when it's full. Otherwise, all the tips posted seem to be very useful.

Redk_2

In answer to the egg shell question, I rinse them and give them a very quick (as they get mega hot and can crack plates) microwave to dry them, bag them up and when I have enough, either rolling pin them or blend them. This is as good as bone meal or if you use it rough on the surface of the soil around pot plants like hostas - slugs won't get to them. Otherwise add the grit to the compost and it will break down without attracting rats.

As for composting quicker, Alan Tichmarsh reckons you need to keep a 50 - 50 balance of green/wet stuff to paper/woodchip/dry stuff. He recommends forking it over regularly. I've heard the tumbler-type composters are really good and break the stuff down quicker. I'm sure to save money you could easily make one.

I can recommend a wormery but it takes ages to get lots of compost. As for the bokashi - I wouldn't recommend it. Despite the claims I've found only well chopped left overs break down. It claimed to breakdown everything in two weeks including meat bones but I've been waiting for three months for salad stuff to break down, and it's been no quicker than just leaving in a sealed container to rot. Plus the bran stuff stinks!

mickswife

Why buy worms? If you place your composter on the soil, or even partially on the soil, then they will come in and do the work, I have two composters - fill one and leave to make lovely compost and use the other one and so the cycle progresses. If you use lots of vegetables wrap the waste in newspaper before putting in the bin, that helps to balance the green and brown elements of your compost. Cut up thick stems - that will help it go more quickly but I have to agree with the others it is too cold at the moment for much to be happening. Just enjoy the snow and be patient.

Jake'sGran

noonesperfect wrote: »

Only male wee works

How could you know that? What sort of a trial did you do? Urine is urine isn't
it or do you think it's something to do with hormones and all that stuff?

Patience is the thing. We are about to remove the first third at the bottom of our wormery to mulch our good plants. Its really good stuff.

To the original poster I would say, go very light on the egg shells. In our experience they take much longer to break down - same goes for citrus peel.

gb57

Thanks folks - I do crush the egghells - perhaps I need to crush them smaller. I have never seen rats on the heap, but will start washing the eggshells just in case.

I bought the worms because a friend recommended them - I do see lots of worms in the heap at times, but not at others, and it never occured to me that they would go when the heap was too hot (or too cold, as it is at present??). Heap is on soil, so will keep an eye out for returning migrant worms.

I read somewhere that it is better not to put citrus peel on the compost heap at all - too acidic.

I have heard the male wee thing before - perhaps the idea is to get them to go out and wee on the heap directly, instead of weeing on the toilet rim :rotfl:

Farway

gb57 wrote: »

I have heard the male wee thing before - perhaps the idea is to get them to go out and wee on the heap directly, instead of weeing on the toilet rim :rotfl:

"Real men" can hit it from the upstairs window straight into the compost :rotfl:

C_Ronaldo

Im not sure if this is the right spot for this but move if its not, can i put the waste you get from melons in the compost bin, i always thought you couldnt but maybe im wrong, the seeds i think you can but its the skin

ps if it helps its the cantaloupe melon

weezl74

Hi,

Apparently the 'no female urine' thing is because women secrete an enzyme in their wee and the urine is stronger than male wee because we dehydrate more. If you have a female dog and they wee on the lawn, yellow patches appear, if you have a male dog, no such problem.

Hope that weird info is of use to someone!

Weezl x