compost

[cwipnip]

other than perrenial weeds, potatoes and diseased plantd is there anything i definatly shouldn't put into the compost?

[gojiberry]

Woody material that would take to long to decompose. Unless you have access to a shredder. Examples are cabbage stalks and raspberry prunings.

Ian

[womble]

Sometimes I wonder what you are supposed to put into compost. If you listened you wouldn't put in.
Woody waste
Brought in Potato peelings
Any Brought in Allium waste, onions, leeks etc.
Perennial weeds
Sprout stalks
Anything that looks a bit dodgy.
Anything brassica wise
Anything tomato wise
Anything strawberry wise.

Sometimes I wonder what IS ok to go in there

[MaureenHall]

I'm on a gardening course and last week we did compost. The tutor said that it was really important to have some sticks/woody stuff at the bottom for aeration, then put everything (including weeds) that can decompose (not cooked stuff or meat or fish or dog/cat poo) in in layers - green stuff, brown stuff, manure - carry on until the bin is full then leave it for a year or so. To speed things up, turn the heap (she said she drags everything out onto a tarpaulin then chucks it all back in again). Obviously if you've got access to a shredder to chop tough stuff up then that's great, otherwise chop it up with a spade then chuck it in.

Hope I've got that right!

[windowsillqueen]

I was told not to put grass cuttings in mine - or certainly not too many as it just rots into slime. You can put a bit in but as MareenHall said, counteract with woody/dry leaves stuff.

Happy composting x

[blito]

i just chuck in everything i can find into mine, including kitchen leftovers and as much woody stuff as i can cut!
the end result is not like the stuff you buy in bags but it certainly works well as an additive for improving the soil in my beds

[Welsh Wizard]

I put all the things in there that they say not to: meat, fish bones, dairy, woody cuttings, pet ****, perennial weeds, junk mail, the lot. It all composts nicely down given time and a hot heap. I use mesh to keep out vermin, and turn the heap to get a good mix of "green" and "brown" components. I also like to on occasion piss on the heap. Sounds gross but speeds the process up naturally, and as I am only growing for myself and wash my produce there are no issues with food hygiene, especially compared to intense agrochemical use on supermarket produce.

[cwipnip]

what about egg shells?

[terrier]

what about egg shells?

Feed the eggshells back to the hens. I scrunch them up in a piece of kitchen tissue and add them to the compost heap.

[Gela]

Eggshells break down well in a compost heap - you can mash them up first with a pestle and mortar, but it's not necessary. I agree with Welsh Wizard - I put everything on my heap and I get well-rotted compost and lots of worms. I think there are two types of heap - one that has to get hot (usually huge and used by organic farmers) and a much smaller variety which are really worm-driven rather than heat-driven. Mine is the second type. Turning is beneficial - especially if has gone slimy or smelly. Incorporating egg boxes helps when this happens, or bits of cardboard or newspaper to absorb the moisture.

[cwipnip]

well mines been composting for atleast a year and i still have half egg shells in the bottom.

[jacob marley]

I was told not to put grass cuttings in mine - or certainly not too many as it just rots into slime. You can put a bit in but as MareenHall said, counteract with woody/dry leaves stuff.

Happy composting x

The majority of what i compost is grass cutting's we have a suply of cutting's from a grass cutting bod who sooner than pay £15 down the tip come's and tip's on site for us on your plot if you have room .
I alway's leave a strip 6 foot wide across the front of my plot just to make sure there is somewhere for him to tip he alway's tip's on my plot if nobody else request's a load .
A load consist's of about 30 80 litre dustbin full's and it make's good compost but i seal my compost bin's up and do not let the air in and that way it get's very hot and cook's well it is ready in 3 month's....jacob

[womble]

well mines been composting for atleast a year and i still have half egg shells in the bottom.

Glad someone else can't compost eggshells either, mine stay intact through 12 months at least.

[windowsillqueen]

The majority of what i compost is grass cutting's we have a suply of cutting's from a grass cutting bod who sooner than pay £15 down the tip come's and tip's on site for us on your plot if you have room .
I alway's leave a strip 6 foot wide across the front of my plot just to make sure there is somewhere for him to tip he alway's tip's on my plot if nobody else request's a load .
A load consist's of about 30 80 litre dustbin full's and it make's good compost but i seal my compost bin's up and do not let the air in and that way it get's very hot and cook's well it is ready in 3 month's....jacob

Wow - I'll start tipping grass on then. That will save me a lot of trips to the tip.

[womble]

jacob, do you just compost the grass with nothing else? How come when I try that, I end up with a smelly mess?