communal 'compost'- is it safe?

[hamamelis]

The middle of my site has a large area which everyone seems to use as a dumping ground (despite the big sign saying please don't). Mostly, this is grass clippings and what appears to be perfectly good compostable material, with the odd plant pot and bit of junk thrown in.

The weeds on this heap are enormous- mostly nettles and comfrey (which I pick when I can reach it), and from what I can see, it looks like there's some really good compost formed in there. Given that there are some spectacular looking weeds growing out of it, with no signs of any deformity or anything, is it likely to be safe? Is there any way I can tell?

I'm not really making enough compost on my plot, and the soil was very poor when I took it on, so I really need a good source of extra humus and nutrients. I know no-one would mind if I took some, and I'm extremely short on money at the moment, so it's really quite tempting. Worth a shot, or daft idea- what do people think?

[Bigmallly]

Go for it hamamelis but take out any roots that you come across. Owt for free is a goer in my book.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Seeing as the thing you would most have to be worried about is latent weed killer and the weeds are thriving I would give it a go. Like BM says just remove any roots.

[Kristen]

You could do a Bean Test if you are worried about latent herbicide risk (Beans are very susceptible and grow quickly and thus exhibit side effects promptly, thereby making them good test candidates )

Longer term, if you were able to find specific plot holders who were using central-dumping, rather than making their own compost, perhaps you could encourage them to keep material for you, as you could then verify with them, periodically, what chemicals, if any, they had used. Dunno if that approach might be more trouble than it is worth? I know of some folk in my village who compost their neighbours' garden rubbish (and use that compost on their own gardens ) which saves the neighbours having to pay the council's fee for a Brown Wheelie Bin

[Snadger]

If its a communal dumping ground there will be diseased tissue in there! Do you want onion white rot or clubroot on your plot, to name but a few of the 'nasties' that could be there? Both of these conditions can take twelve years to get rid of and having lived with both I would be loathe to reintroduce them!

If you can guarantee that diseased material hasn't been dumped there then go for it!

[Greenleaves]

I remember my grandad cooking old compost ( steamed ) just curious if this practice still happens?

[Snadger]

I remember my grandad cooking old compost ( steamed ) just curious if this practice still happens?

Use a microwave these days Greenleaves!

[Aberdeenplotter]

I was all for microwaving to sterilise compost for some of my show stuff. However, I saw a report somewhere about experiments done with water. Flowers grew in ordinary water but died in water which had been microwaved. I didn't do it

[Alison]

Do people really microwave their compost, must take weeks to do a full heap. Not enough hours in the day.

[noviceveggrower]

Not been funny but can you guarantee what people have put in the pile isn't diseased. Also what chemicals people have used. Like Snadger has said you could be adding more to you plot than you bargained for.

[Veggielot]

If nettles and comfrey are growing well then probably okay as far as pesticides but you don't know what else might be in there. If you do take any then I would suggest sieving it to remove any non organic rubbish that will be in there.

[Snadger]

I was all for microwaving to sterilise compost for some of my show stuff. However, I saw a report somewhere about experiments done with water. Flowers grew in ordinary water but died in water which had been microwaved. I didn't do it

I often 'nuke' my coffee i it goes cold..........

[Kristen]

I often 'nuke' my coffee i it goes cold..........

Not to mention the amount of heating of food, soup, defrosting and other cooking that goes on in the microwave in our house ...

I can't see how Microwaving water can "alter" it so that flowers die in it but I'm all ears to hear what physical change microwaves could cause.

What about background microwaves and the water in the cells in my brain ... "Too Late" I hear you all say?

[Alison]

Not to mention the amount of heating of food, soup, defrosting and other cooking that goes on in the microwave in our house ...

I can't see how Microwaving water can "alter" it so that flowers die in it but I'm all ears to hear what physical change microwaves could cause.

What about background microwaves and the water in the cells in my brain ... "Too Late" I hear you all say?

I do find microwaves change the taste of most foods and not for the better. Always assumed that was the same thing as the differences between different types of cooking. We have one but never cook things in it, just a bit of warming up. That said it's very handy as a cupboard to put things in when defrosting away from any pets .

[Kristen]

We have one but never cook things in it, just a bit of warming up.

Actually I think we are Warmers and Defrosters too rather than Cookers too ... Sweetcorn ?