compostng question

Leif

newbie8 wrote: »

Can I ask the golden shower, is this basically pee in the bin, (Not literally directly into the bin-might get odd stares from the neighbours hahaha) if so I did see a video of this on youtube and thought brilliant idea, and also onto the soil was a good idea too. Does it matter how many times it gets a shower or is it the more the better?

I think you just pour it on as and when it is available, but the heap can get a wee bit smelly, sorry about the pun.

newbie8 wrote: »

Also, another question, I read that if we put grass directly into the ground to compose the grass will actually 'eat' the nutrients from the soil and so keep to a side to compose down, but will it 'eat' the nutrients from the compost bin whilst its rotting down? Does that make sense to everyone?

You have already had the correct answer, but I believe that in the heap you get a different mix of organisms breaking down the matter due to the lack of nitrogen. These organisms would not survive if the matter was mixed into the soil, as others would dominate, and eat the nutrients in the soil. But, it is alright to place matter on top of the soil - mulching - as it breaks down then sinks into the soil. I don't know how muching and composting compare in terms of getting nutrients into the soil.

TheMoneySpider

I've always put my tea bags in and I hardly ever see a trace of them when it comes to digging out time.

The only thing I've ever really seen coming all the way through were peach stones and anything woody. I usually avoid putting grass cuttings in but some people do puts lots of that in.

I've always avoided meat of any description ever though ours is pretty heavy and secure.

macma

re grass cuttings we tear up brown cardboard and mix it with grass,I think it helps to aerate it so it rots better.

Soot2006

Finished loo rolls are perfect in with grass cuttings
I put in paper as well, the worms seem to love it and it disintegrates quickly. Actually I put in everything without much thought and it composts down very quickly. Anything that is too woody when it comes out the bottom after a few weeks gets chucked behind the shed on my very special slow-worm friendly wood pile ... eventually my shed will rot away, I'm sure. I don't care!

nanamags

I was at the Malvern Show on Sunday and a very experienced allotmenter gave a talk about composting. He uses the plastic bins supplied by local councils. His method produced good compost within weeks. He chopped everything up small, veg/garden waste, cardboard, shredded paper [nothing with coloured print], tea leaves [not the bags] coffee grounds. He also recommended dried sea weed [or sea weed tablets 1/2 a tablet]. He used
worms bought from a fishing tackle shop [these are suitable for a wormery and are much cheaper] his theory was that the worms do all the work.
HTH
Mags
work.

redpete

newbie8 wrote: »

council has started charging so we thought we may as well use it to our advantage as they havent asked for the bin back, and just keep stuff that take ages is there.

A closed plastic container with no air holes, no access for easily removing the compost, a top that stops rain getting in, no way for liquid to escape but jut just pool at the bottom, no way for insects / worms etc to get in ... sounds like a recipe for the worst compost container possible.

will grass 'eat' the nutrients from the compost bin whilst its rotting down? Does that make sense to everyone?

Never heard that. Not using grass cuttings (mixed well with 'brown' material) would be such a waste of one of the most plentiful sources for home composting.

newbie8

Is composting in the ground a good idea?? What I mean is basically dig a hole in the soil chuck that days waste in and cover up with soil? And then eventually get a spade/fork and mix it all up.

As for the grass cutting, I read it was not a good idea to compost in the ground, but it was better to chuck in the compost bin, but i wasnt sure if it was a good idea to mix it with food.

xx

TheMoneySpider

I think the summer heat is a big part of the composting process and if you bury your waste you aren't going to get that