New to Compost

[Mato]

I have a nice compost pile started up in my yard, in the back. I've heard you can put pretty much anything in the pile. Are there specific foods you should be cautious of attempting to compost?

[mrbadexample]

Only meat / fish / cooked stuff really. Not because it won't compost, but because it can attract vermin.

[taff]

oil and fat, don't do it

[Jason Cartwright]

Is pasta ok?

[Two_Sheds]

oil and fat, don't do it

I do. Meat, bones and dog poo too

Have a look at this Mato. Even if you're not into "extreme" composting, it's a very thorough read about composting in general - you might want to zip straight to the ch.8 pdf

[Bren In Pots]

Mato have a look at this link its a quick guide to composting :-

Make your own compost, a comprehensive guide from Garden Organic - the national charity for organic growing. Includes video guide

[Mato]

Thanks for the links! I don't think I would put the meat in there because I don't want any 'coons or pests hanging out around my compost pile.

[Two_Sheds]

raccoons? Where are you? (pop your location into your profile, then it'll show up on every post)

[Florence Fennel]

You said it as I was thinking it TS. Sounds like Mato is somewhere very interesting!
I always stick to the adage "nothing cooked" for my compost and alternate fresh waste with dry stuff like paper. Welcome to the Vine.

[donnakebab]

You can put cooked pasta out for birds. Well that's what it says in my RSPB book anyway.

[taff]

I put cooked stuff in, if it has a little bit of fat in it [aka mashed potatoes] I don't mind [no, it isn't me throwing good food out....], or pasta or rancid soup. It all goes on. I don't compost meaty stuff though, which is what i meant by oil and fat, think chicken skin, but I think I will start a burial chamber for it...

[rpt]

I have a bokashi bin (2 actually) for all the cooked stuff including meat plus cheese. All uncooked veg waste goes straight in the compost bin, everything else in the bokashi bin. It's then covered with special bran that is impregnated with microorganisms. Once one bin is full you start the other one. After at least two weeks you can empty the full bin into the compost bin. The bran innoculates the food waste so it can be put on the compost bin without attracting pests.

The only down side is the cost. I last spent £50 for a lot of bran which should last at least 2 years. This is for a family of 4.

These bins are sold as kitchen composters but I think bokashi is Japanese for ferment so the composting doesn't happen until you tip the contents into the compost bin.

[Mato]

That is great rpt, I think I'm going to look into getting a bokashi bin. I've only seen one raccoon. Did you know they were placed on the alert list in 2009 for species not native to Europe? They are invading, I tell you.

[rustylady]

So stop teasing us Mato, and tell us where you live please.

[binley100]

p'haps Mato is shy .....or something