I am about to go on a one day course, arranged by our local council in North Yorkshire, to hopefully become a North Yorkshire Rotter! In essence, I will be learning a lot about composting, and will hopefully act as a composting mentor to people! The council pay expenses for the training, but then I will answer any questions people have by phone, e-mail or by a personal visit. I wondered if anyone else knows if there is something similar set up elsewhere, and how it has gone? Not sure how all this will go, but if nothing else I should learn a lot myself!
Sounds very intresting ...
How did you get to know about this project ?
I think a lot of people would be intrested to know how it goes and would attend one if they new about them.
Can i ask the first question from you in advance. Cmposting rhubarb leaves Yes or No :-\ as opinion is divided ;)
Quote from: Travman on June 26, 2006, 20:27:43
Cmposting rhubarb leaves Yes or No :-\ as opinion is divided ;)
Watch allotment life on BBC2 tonight hosted by Monty Don, one of the allotment holders was growing rhubarb as a green compost, purely to put the leaves on the compost heap. MD thought it was a great idea. :o :o
I always compost mine, and there's never been any problem with it.
I was a compost "Guru" before I moved to Yorkshire. South Ribble (Preston area) set up the scheme and used us to talk and demonstrate to schools, scouts and at local country shows etc. They also started a scheme to encourage people who felt the could not use a compost bin to keep worms and had worm gurus. the council gave away up to 3 large compost bins per household and also had days when wagon loads of compost were delivered to a car park for people to take away.
It was all very successful with over 50 gurus when I left and events most weeks. It sounds very much like the one you are embarking upon but we didn't get involved personally in the first place - the council contacted us to set up a meeting if anyone had a problem.
I enjoyed the time with them - good luck.
I'd compost my rhubarb if only I could find it under the jungle that's errupted over the last few weeks
Travman, found out about it after our council ran a special offer on compost bins, for only £6 each, so I ordered 3 to add to the 3 I already had. The council then sent me a mailshot asking as I had ordered several bins, would I like to go to a meeting, which I did. Training (first day of 2) is 3/7/06. Watch this space! Would advise anyone else to contact local council to see if anything similar in the pipeline.
I have also been composting rhubarb leaves for years, with no problems. Apparently although the leaves are poisonous to us, it's not the same with the plants.
Digger, thanks for that info, it does sound very similar, may ring them to see if they have any info still on file, any useful hints and tips that received etc.
Will pass on any other useful hints and tips I receive next week.
Thanks for the positive comments.
Hi Skippy
I too am a Rotter :-) but in the York area. I did the training back in January and found it very interesting. I've so far given a presentation to an allotment association and helped out on a composting roadshow stand. The training has also helped me answer questions from friends and colleagues. I am in no way a composting expert yet, but I know enough to at least point people in the right direction.
Hope you find the training as informative as I did
Sweet-Pea
Rhubarb leaves:
Compost bin = yes
Water butt as liquid fert = No, No, No (and same with potato leaves)
Quote from: Pigface51 on July 03, 2006, 14:03:39
Rhubarb leaves:
Water butt as liquid fert = No, No, No (and same with potato leaves)
I saw on TV last sunday "The Big Dig" a Guy mixing a concoction of Rhubarb leaves with water and using it as an organic pesticide ???
Is this a Yes Yes or a No No ??? ;D
Similar scheme in the midlands. WRAP deliver bins and kaddies(free) for schools and will come in and give talks to pupils. They havent actually delivered ours yet, so have made a traditional lotty version out of pallets. Looks lovely alongside the small plot the pupils have been helping me dig this past 2 weeks! Hve got beens, beetroot and sweetcorn in already!
Ann-Louise
Composting training has been postponed due to illness, but now re-arranged for August. Thanks for useful comments, especially Sweetpea, good to know all went well on the training for you! Will probably be same people who stated this off in York who will do ours, so looking forward to it. Will let everyone have main points as and when I have completed training, if anyone is interested.