Author Topic: Compost heaps (Read 4966 times)

Palustris · « **on:** October 18, 2003, 22:07:54 »

For the last few days we have been emptying one of the compost heaps on to the veg patch. We have 3 heaps Out, Pending and In. They are about 2m by 2m. Out is the ready stuff, all nicely rotted and crumbly. But DRY. Pending is then turned into Out and is ready for this time next year. In is turned into Pending and so on. Now we have been making compost this way for more years than I care to remember, but this is the first time that there has been so little decomposition in either Pending or In. Almost all of the material is still recognisable (except for the household stuff which is all that has rotted). I presume it is the lack of water. Now I could have turned the hose pipe on it, but water costs us money and since compost is supposed to be free, I am not allowed to do it. Very peculiar though. Oddly only one frog in the heap and next to no worms. If I was a beginner I would be very worried. Here's to a wet Winter.

Hugh_Jones · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2003, 23:06:21 »

I`m surprised at you Eric. Have you no imagination?. You have an unlimited source of free liquid available at regular intervals - all you need is an old plastic milk bottle in the shed for privacy and not only can you keep your bins nicely moist, but you add valuable nitrogen, the perfect activator.

Palustris · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2003, 12:48:19 »

Now, Hugh even me with my little prostate difficulty cannot produce the amount of liquid required to keep 16 cu metres of compost wet. Mind you I did try. ;D

cleo · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2003, 14:15:38 »

And guess what?-it`s yet another dry day in West Deeping.

Stephan.

Palustris · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2003, 15:38:20 »

What's rain?

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2003, 18:33:12 »

We have clouds and wind................but that's about it so far! :'( DP

allotment_chick · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2003, 12:55:07 »

Glad to hear it isn't just me - I have 8 compost heaps all about a yard square and work on the same principle as Eric. I turned my heaps twice this year adding water each time and nada - it is still sitting there quietly doing nothing.

This is frustrating as, heeding the global warming warning (that's easier to type than to say...) and therefore in expectation of drier summers, I am aiming for the 'no-dig and mulch everything' approach - but I can't seem to make enough organic matter to get there because the summer is too dry! Argggh....

I too raise my glass to a sufficiently wet winter to get things on the move, but not waterlog us all!

PS - Another beautiful crisp day here, with blue skies, a drying wind and not a spot of precipitation thus far...

ciderself · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2003, 13:18:31 »

I must be the only one who still uses loose tea then instead of tea bags? Sometimes 1/2 of my kitchen waste bucket contains more liquid from teapot which then has to be balanced with newspaper/cardboard etc to soak it up.
P'raps this is why heap has loads of flies everytime I open the lid?

Mrs Ava · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2003, 16:56:13 »

Hey Doris, you can get cream and tablets for that. ;D ;D ;D

cdchater · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2003, 16:59:48 »

Ciderself,

I use loose tea (taste loads better and seems to last longer than teabags!). I got my compost bin yesterday...ok, it's just a big wooden crate (with slates in) that my hubby got from work. Should do the job though!!...I'll be saving the remains from the teapot from now on, I've already got the ashes from the fire and some shreaded paper to start off the heap!! We've also had a bit of rain this morning so AC's glass raising seems to be doing the trick!

Regards,
Claire

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2003, 17:03:48 »

Emma Jane, if only they worked!! ;D DP

ciderself · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2003, 18:43:58 »

Anyone got ideas how to transport sloppy kitchen waste to allotment without getting it everywhere?
At mo am taking year old compost from garden but its bl***y heavy.
I do hope your condition clears up soon Doris - must be the garlic.

Palustris · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2003, 21:31:37 »

Anne has spent the last three days or so scarifying the grass (still half of it lef to do). The amount of moss etc it produces is phenominal (about 100 barrow loads). Though no rain (10 minutes at 5.50 pm) we have had very heavy dews so the moss is damp. They have been shredding fallen logs down the road so I will go and help myself to the shreddings and mix it with the moss and leaves. Be interesting to see what happens.
As for getting wet kitchen waste to the lottie, (not a problem for us) you can get various sized containers with very tight fitting lids which should do the trick.
Charcoal tablets are what I swear by.

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2003, 21:59:57 »

I use a bucket with a lid for my slops! my problem is improving with the aid of all your remedies, I thank you!!! :-* (actually, my family thanks you! ;D) DP

Colin_Bellamy-Wood · « **Reply #14 on:** October 21, 2003, 00:09:29 »

Doris, when you wrote slops, you reminded me of a fascinating true story.

The YHA Youth Hostel at Eyam, Derbyshire, of Black Death fame was set in the country, and I'm going back over 20 years ago.

The Warden was a very nice lady, but very strict about slops. There were, I think, three buckets for different things. One was for the Nanny Goat, and her Kid. The Nanny Goat was, locally, quite famous. The Warden had obtained her from the Police Sergeant at Hartington (of Hartington Stilton fame), before the Kid was born, and she was kept in a large paddock at the back of the Hostel, and at the side of the Paddock, was a large tin shed.

The Peak District gets a lot of visitors on bicycles from all over Britain, and even from Europe. Obviously their bikes were of some quality for the job for which they were required, and consequently, Hostelers on bikes, put their bikes into the big shed for safe keeping overnight. The Shed was securely locked overnight.

One particular night, in the early hours, there was a loud noise from the Paddock, and the din persisted so much the the Warden was woken, and went to investigate. She found a man pinned against the Shed wall by the Goat, and try though she might, the Warden could not get the Goat to release the man. She had to phone Hartington Police Station and ask for the Police Sergeant to come and help.

The Police Sergeant arrived to find that the man was still pinned to the Shed wall, the doors to the Shed forced open, and adjacent was a large van packed with bicycles owned by the Hostelers. They arrested a gang who had, for some time, being going round Youth Hostels, stealing bikes, packing them into 20ft containers, and shipping them off to Europe.

The Goat received a large bale of the very best hay, courtesy of Derbyshire Constabulary.

Having heard this story from the Warden, I (and others) decided not to venture into the Paddock to pet the Goat.

Mrs Ava · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2003, 01:12:35 »

hehehe, very good! :D Aren't Llamas used somewhere to protect sheep from foxes??? or am I thinking of something totally different.....? My mind goes a little wonkey :P after spending all morning digging and looking at my dry compost heap and wondering how many buckets of pee it would take to get it activated! YUCK! ;D

Hugh_Jones · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2003, 02:33:11 »

I`m glad you said it was 20 years ago Colin. Nowadays you would ring the Police and be told they were too busy to come just now, but they would send a P.C. round in a month`s time

Beer_Belly · « **Reply #17 on:** October 21, 2003, 14:33:09 »

EmmaJane - I'd heard that too but I can't remember where, apparently the llama "adopts" the herd of sheep as its amigos and will protect them against foxes - very effective given the size difference !

mellie · « **Reply #18 on:** October 21, 2003, 19:15:06 »

would you be able to put teabags on the compost heap or would the bag not rot down as well? ???

Palefire · « **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2003, 19:48:58 »

Just think of the amount of pee wee it would take for you to wash your clothes!! A programme on Pompeii last night told us of the fact that the people who used vomitoriums in between courses of food in order to eat more, also made their slaves trample their clothes clean in urine, or paid for the priviledge because the acid got rid of grease!! More like Pom-poooh! :P :P :P

The tea bags will rot down, I think, Mellie.

Love, Palefire

xxx

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Author Topic: Compost heaps (Read 4966 times)

Hugh_Jones

Colin_Bellamy-Wood

Hugh_Jones