Making Compost

Leif

iQueen wrote: »

Especially, we females! :rotfl:

Nah, just crouch over the compost heap and yodel. Your neighbours will appreciate it.

Yes, best done in a can. I have filled a watering can, and then applied it to the heap. The pile does get a bit smelly, and mine is next to the back fence, so I hope the neighbours do not notice.

Linda32

As Blossomhill said, the worms will find there own way in, no need to add any. They do a brilliant job.

I understand that male wee is better suited to the job than female.

emiff6

poppysarah wrote: »

The erm ... money saving bit ... we all make compost accelerator several times a day...

Geoff Hamilton used to swear by peeing on the compost heap although it might be more acceptable to pee indoors and take the pee out in a container.

Urine contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) plus other trace elements. These are the 3 biggest ingredients in just about any fertiliser you buy from the garden centre, so why not use your own occasionally? Plus you save water because you're not flushing.

Read all about it here

Gefjun

Earthworms are called earthworms because they like to live in the earth, so probably best to leave them there. The compost worms are skinny and red and find their own way there. If they're trying to get out of the bin i.e. they're all on the lid, then your compost is too acidic and needs some carbon like paper or wood.

Without getting too technical, you need roughly a 50/50 mix of 'green' composting material (such as grass and kitchen scraps) and 'brown' stuff (shredded paper, twiggy and woody bits) otherwise you're compost will be slimy and not lovely and brown and crumbly. Turn it over with a fork every now and then to get the air in and stop the layers compacting, and you should get some decent quality compost.

I don't pee in my compost...

iQueen

Leif wrote: »

Nah, just crouch over the compost heap and yodel. Your neighbours will appreciate it.

My compost is in two 340L bins, 4ft off the ground! :eek:

I'll stick to the watering can method! :rotfl:

Leif

iQueen wrote: »

My compost is in two 340L bins, 4ft off the ground! :eek:

I'll stick to the watering can method! :rotfl:

Very wise.

Leif

Just to add to this thread, I recently discovered that parts of my garden are infested with bindweed, and I have pulled out huge amounts of thick root. Yes, I have not lived here long.

Anyway, I don't think I would recommend a compost pile or bin directly on the ground, as it could become a breeding ground for bindweed. I caught mine in time, and moved it to a wooden compost frame on a concrete area. While recently digging a corner of the garden, discovered what must have been an old compost heap, and that area was the worst for bindweed, no doubt soaking up the nourishment.

I'm not sure if these plastic bins with lids would allow weeds to grow, though I suppose the root could grow into the bin, feeding the runners that emerge elsewhere, out of sight.

I'd certainly appreciate other people's thoughts on this.

cootambear

Linda32 wrote: »

As Blossomhill said, the worms will find there own way in, no need to add any. They do a brilliant job.

I understand that male wee is better suited to the job than female.

sometimes, slightly

sounds like women are trying to get out of their responsibilities again

bah, feminism

cootambear

there was some bird on gardeners question time about a year ago who said she p''''d in a bucket during summer

she got a mixed response from the audience

Leif

cootambear wrote: »

sometimes, slightly

sounds like women are trying to get out of their responsibilities again

bah, feminism

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: