Composty questions
- Flo
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Re: Composty questions
Your number 1 bin was too dry. Woodlice arrive when the heap is dry. Number 2 bin on a patio has a problem with being on a patio - the base is wrong. No drainage for a start.
You need to ensure that the heaps are placed on soil, kept warm and moist but not soaking. And you need to take all the contents out and turn them at least once a year.
You need to ensure that the heaps are placed on soil, kept warm and moist but not soaking. And you need to take all the contents out and turn them at least once a year.
- PurpleMcGowan
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Re: Composty questions
90% of my garden is potted as its mostly patio, but I might be able to put bin 2 on soil if I remove some flags in the front, the back patio is raised by 10ft due to the hill.
Thanks for the advice :)
Thanks for the advice :)
Its Better To Be Mad Than Boring
- Weedo
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Re: Composty questions
I have about 2 tonne of scorched, water and smoke dammaged wheat hay in a pile courtesy of spontanious combustion in the haystack. The livestock won't eat it so I guess it will become "re-purposed". Any ideas on the suitability of this stuff going into compost or should I just use it as mulch? It is a lot of material to get rid of and I really can't source enough other material to mix with it.
Don't let your vision cloud your sight
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Re: Composty questions
Applying urine might help with the composting.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Green Aura
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Re: Composty questions
Maybe you could complete the burning of some of it for potash. I wonder if wheatstraw ashes would make lye? Hmm, haystack soap.
Otherwise compost it and/or use some as mulch, as you've already said.
Otherwise compost it and/or use some as mulch, as you've already said.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
- Weedo
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Re: Composty questions
Urine probably would help but I can't get the cows to cooperate - perhaps just add some granular urea. No much straw involved GA - mostly leaf - so very little ash; the variety is semi prostrate and grown for grazing & hay rather than grain. I think I will try it in pit compost.
Don't let your vision cloud your sight
- Green Aura
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Re: Composty questions
I think ina might have been referring to you, weedo.
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
- Weedo
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Re: Composty questions
Yay- more beer! for a good cause only of course
Don't let your vision cloud your sight
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Re: Composty questions
Correct! Much easier than getting cows to pee in a particular spot.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Weedo
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Re: Composty questions
Any ideas about substitutes for the green when making compost? Green is becoming very very scarce around here and the tiny lawn area still being watered yields little.
Don't let your vision cloud your sight
- Green Aura
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Re: Composty questions
Vegetable scraps?
Maggie
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin
- Weedo
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Re: Composty questions
Mrs Weedo has been reading innumerable websites etc. looking for the answer to this - the best answer was a research report that looked at the actual composition (carbon / nitrogen) of a range of materials as to their levels of brown vs green. So the short answer is that the browns are not all brown and the greens are not all green (I guess you folks knew that) Straw is browner than hay, cardboard is greener than straw, grass clippings are roughly neutral - greener than vegie scraps but not as brown (N.P.I) as animal manure.
So, I don't have to look for green substitutes during this drought, just for greener brown - yay!
So, I don't have to look for green substitutes during this drought, just for greener brown - yay!
Don't let your vision cloud your sight
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Re: Composty questions
There are the known greens, the unknown greens, and those greens that don't know they really are brown...
Or something like it.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
- Weedo
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Re: Composty questions
yes, I found out that bread is a green also
Don't let your vision cloud your sight
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Re: Composty questions
It is, if you leave it around for long enough!
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)