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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Mrs Ava on November 24, 2003, 17:54:35

Title: Shells......?
Post by: Mrs Ava on November 24, 2003, 17:54:35

Can you compost them is what I am wondering   ???  I have a fetish - yes another - for shellfish, especially greenlip mussels.  I have a load of shells left from the weekend and I have kept them to bung on the compost heap.  I shall probably try and break them up a bit before bunging on, but what do you think...?  Good  :D or bad  :-/ ?  

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Hugh_Jones on November 24, 2003, 19:43:16

I may be wildly wrong, but I thought that the main constituent of sea shells was calcium, in which case they`d hardly be worth composting.

However, I believe that there is some fiendishly expensive (aren`t they all?) herbal remedy made from the shells of greenlip mussels, so perhaps a little investigation may be worth while.

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Ragged Robin on November 24, 2003, 22:29:46

.......or you can crush them and use them as a mulch to deter slugs......
 

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: tim on November 24, 2003, 22:56:43

- yes, you can put them on the compost - but in 10 years time they'll still be shells!!

Speaking for years of common mussel shells. - Tim

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Mrs Ava on November 25, 2003, 01:05:53

Pah!  Oh well, in the bin they go I guess.  Seems such a shame!  The kids have used them for alsorts - after they have been through the dishwasher of course, but even they are bored of them now!   ;D

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Mimi on January 14, 2004, 19:32:42

Hi E J  :) :)just sifting through some old threads. Dont know what a green lipped shell looks like(arart from the obvious) are they pretty enough to be sprinkled around plants in containers as a mulch.  I know that you can get shells in bags from B&Q to use as mulch.  Dont need them myself as so near to the sea can just collect off the beach. cheers. :)

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: tim on January 14, 2004, 19:40:49

Quite pretty, if you are into that sort of thing.

Just realised, looking back, that I didn't say that crushed eggshells always go onto the heap. They do integrate eventually. = Tim

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Muddy_Boots on January 14, 2004, 19:51:26

EJ, so glad to hear you put them through the dishwasher.  Down here, the local fishermen used to use winkle shells to fill in mud pockets in car parking area near where boats are launched.  Stank to high heaven! :(

Confession, can't stand NZ green lip mussels, give me the black common or garden variety anyday ;D

Kate

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: cleo on January 14, 2004, 19:52:09

Yes EJ-put them in the rubbish. I was fool enough to put a load of mussel shells through my shredder once and ended up with bits as sharp as glass.

Stephan.

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Muddy_Boots on January 14, 2004, 19:55:45

Trust you, Steph!!!  ;D ;D ;D

Kate

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: tim on January 14, 2004, 20:29:25

- to give good advice - or to be adventurous??

Agree though - hate the fancy ones! = Tim

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Mrs Ava on January 16, 2004, 01:43:17

Well mimi, the green lips mussels have great big shells.  I didn't bung them on the compost heap, the kids used them for glueing.  I did have a good thought the - a top tip moment, I could use them as crocks in the bottom of my pots!  Good idea huh!!! ;D

And I love big and small mussels  :o, but the big ones are yummy gently grilled with bread crumbs and parmasan sprinkled on!  (.....are they an aphrodisiac  ::))

Title: Re: Shells......?
Post by: Muddy_Boots on January 16, 2004, 01:47:59

You could make a shell grotto, as per Italians, EJ! ;D ;D ;D

Kate