Composting

ilovefreebies_2

Just got my compost bin today, its huge

maryb

composting gets obsessive, you'll soon fill it.
if you have access to a paper shredder, mix that in, especially with grass cuttings which go slimy if there's too much of them

buffers

robnye wrote:

pmsl..... :rotfl:


where's the bucket......

What is 'pmsl' robnye? Where can I learn this 'computer talk'????

squeaky

buffers wrote:

What is 'pmsl' robnye? Where can I learn this 'computer talk'????

Peeing My Self Laughing

apprentice_tycoon

Just a note about egg shells in the compost - a few years ago I was making around 50 cakes a weeks as a home business, this produced lots of egg shells plus there was the cardboard trays they came on, I was putting tham all in the compost but after a while I wondered if I was altering the chemical balance by adding lots of the same two materials.
I wrote to the Kitchen Garden magazine, they told me not to worry about the shells and so long as the egg trays were soaked all will be well.
The only down side about this is the egg shells don't break down, they are still showing in the compost years after they were put on the veg garden, plus you can still see torn and empty teabags! This is OK on the veg garden because it gives me a good Tom and Barbara feeling but in tubs and pots it looks untidy so I buy a small bag of bought compost to give a cosmetic layer over my free stuff.
Last word on eggs, I sometimes find whole eggs in the bins (I must have thrown them in as they got closer to the sell by date) I have 5 bins and they each take a year from closing up to being used (I'm in no hurry so don't use acelerators) these eggs have had lots of things thrown on top of them but they get right down to the bottom of the bins intact, this is amazing, as is the smell when I accidentaly break them digging them out!!!! :eek:
Nearly forgot - I have added cat litter too, the sort that is made from compressed wood flakes, the cat would be doing 1's and 2's in the garden anyway so I couldn't see the the difference in putting it in the compost.

Magentasue

If you have a food processor, try this for egg shells. Keep them separate and then when you use the processor for grating cheese, making breadcrumbs or making pastry (something dry) put the egg shells on a tray and put in the oven for a couple of minutes to dry out. Then whizz in the food processor. You could crumble with your finger or use a rolling pin. This way they mix through your compost and then your soil nicely adding all that calcium whatsit.

Debt_Free_Chick

Another good practical guide to composting here, from the Henry Doubleday Research Association, who promote organic gardening.

Debt_Free_Chick

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

Nearly forgot - I have added cat litter too, the sort that is made from compressed wood flakes, the cat would be doing 1's and 2's in the garden anyway so I couldn't see the the difference in putting it in the compost.

Are you saying that your cats don't use the litter at all? If so, then OK to compost. If not, don't compost cat or dog faeces, if you use the compost for the vegetable garden. Too big a risk of toxicara and other nasties, that can cause illness in humans.

Sorry if I've got it wrong - just want to be sure that others understand

Lucie_2

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

don't compost cat or dog faeces,

I too am of the understanding that you shouldn't compost faeces of meat eaters. I put the contents of my rabbit's litter tray in the compost bin, but as rabbits are vegetarian this is OK.
Is this right?

ET03

apprentice_tycoon wrote:

Just a note about egg shells in the compost - a few years ago I was making around 50 cakes a weeks as a home business, this produced lots of egg shells plus there was the cardboard trays they came on, I was putting tham all in the compost but after a while I wondered if I was altering the chemical balance by adding lots of the same two materials.
I wrote to the Kitchen Garden magazine, they told me not to worry about the shells and so long as the egg trays were soaked all will be well.
The only down side about this is the egg shells don't break down, they are still showing in the compost years after they were put on the veg garden, plus you can still see torn and empty teabags! This is OK on the veg garden because it gives me a good Tom and Barbara feeling but in tubs and pots it looks untidy so I buy a small bag of bought compost to give a cosmetic layer over my free stuff.
Last word on eggs, I sometimes find whole eggs in the bins (I must have thrown them in as they got closer to the sell by date) I have 5 bins and they each take a year from closing up to being used (I'm in no hurry so don't use acelerators) these eggs have had lots of things thrown on top of them but they get right down to the bottom of the bins intact, this is amazing, as is the smell when I accidentaly break them digging them out!!!! :eek:
Nearly forgot - I have added cat litter too, the sort that is made from compressed wood flakes, the cat would be doing 1's and 2's in the garden anyway so I couldn't see the the difference in putting it in the compost.

some great tips here thanks