Composting

[Ladygardener]

I've been busy taking the stones out of the clay at the allotment, I don't want to be putting any back in Barbara. I'm hoping to get some manure now that autumn is here and I intend spreading leaves over some of the beds and will let the worms do some work this winter.

[jean]

I wouldn't add any cooked food to the compost heap, there are soak aways that can be dug into the soil for that kind of waste rats really don't need any more encouragement to take up home in your compost heap A good mix of green and dry material chopped up/bruised or shredded is the best mix, followed by a couple of turn overs into another heap and it should be ready in 6 - 9 months depending on how fine you want it. Mine goes on the veggie/flower beds as a mulch and the worms finish it off over winter

[Chuckles]

How everyones composting doing, mine bins are full but I haven't found the time or the energy to empty them I did have a look at mine last week and there were signs of mice runs in the top, little 's

[Ladygardener]

Well I lifted out some pretty well rotted stuff from the composting area I've made at the allotment and dug it into a trench where I'm going to grow my beans this year. I had a look at where I'd spread the leaves over some of the beds and they've been pretty much pulled through so I must have worms in there helping alright. I've 2 bags of leaves that I'm allowing to rot down for leaf mould next year and they're coming on fine.
My compost bin here at home is about half full and I'd reckon in another month or so I'll tip it out and see what I have at the bottom. I never did get any manure.

[Geranium]

Jan 28, 2011 16:58:04 GMT Chuckles said:

How everyones composting doing, mine bins are full but I haven't found the time or the energy to empty them I did have a look at mine last week and there were signs of mice runs in the top, little 's

We've got rats in ours - again! I'll have to get OH to bait the trap, because they get brave and come and sit on the bird table - and eat every scrap! I hate rats.

[Missredhead]

I think that I would leave home if I had rats...the mice in the compost bin last year were bad enough..my neighbour had to bait and trap them and then dispose of them afterwards...

[Geranium]

We dealt with three - I mean OH did! Although I bought the trap and the bait. He hasn't set it yet - I feel a nag coming on!

[Missredhead]

I always thought that I would be ok with mice.....but I have to admit I freaked when I saw them in the garden..they didnt look like field mice either they looked like house mice..I didnt dare leave my back door open in case they came in...I even moved the bird feeder from the flower beds to the open ground in case they were eating the dropped seeds......at least being out in the open next door but ones cat will see them cos he lays on my shed roof most days...

[Geranium]

We do get little mice in the garden - I suppose they're fieldmice? I don't mind them. We had one indoors once - I went ballistic!

Those rats just have to go, though.

[Missredhead]

If I saw a rat in my compost bin then it would have to go..rat & compost bin!!

[Geranium]

I admit I'm scared to open the lid!

[Missredhead]

I was like that with just mice...

[Geranium]

This is making me determined to get the trap set up!

[Missredhead]

Is it done yet?

[Dutchy]

Mice. Where man is mouse is. Not much you can do about it apart from not leaving bits about and blocking all entrances, and once Spring arrives most will take to the nice outdoor food sources again.
I have mice ( so far managed to keep them outside and yes I do put poison inside when they do show ) and as we have a ditch also different varieties of rats.

I remember as a kid living on the 4th floor. We had mice that came up through the pipes.
You just rattle things and give them space to escape they will be out before you can scream.. sort off ;D.
Same with rats they resided in the downstairs bike stand. Open door with lot of noise, kick bike, stand back and wait. Any rat there had done a runner by then.
There are more rats that people in Amsterdam. But then again there were more pigeons than rats. Hm that is why we call them flying rat ;D

These rodents like things sloppy so keep things prim and you might not have a lot of rats.
You can't really stop them. Kill one and it's nephews will come to the funeral and take up residence.
As long as you know they are there you can keep it into account and make a big fuss before carefully opening the compost bin.

Anyhow good luck you might succeed in getting rid of the vermin.

[Dutchy]

I discovered I do not need a trap.
One of the allotment cats was reported to stand mowing in Foliate by the gate so his owner would open my gate and let it out.
It could not jump the fence as it was carrying a whopping bit tail less dead rat.
Whohee that is the vermin sorted

[Ladygardener]

;D That made me smile this morning. Glad you've gotten your problem sorted out Dutchy.

[Dutchy]

Thing is the cat has to do more than just my lottie so it might get tired
Hm nah it is a ferocious one ;D

[Geranium]

So they do have ther uses, then! i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif

[sharon]

hi, have started a compost heap and have read blokes need to wee in it to warm it up. I have a football team with 14 lads all quite willing, how often do i get them to do this, ie 1 bloke a week 1 a month or all 14 peeing in it!, how do i know when it's had enough.also i have loads of trees around, do i just put leaves in a bag and leave them for a while, or do i have to add anything to it.

[Chuckles]

Not really sure on the answer as to how much wee Sharon ;D Its just to get the rotting process started so I'd add some and keep an eye on it ;D

Yes, just bag up the leaves and leave them Sharon. I make a couple of holes in the bags and usually try and squeaze some of the air out, compacts it down a bit and then I store them at the side or back of the shed and forget about them. They do take a while to rot down though, give them 12 months ish.

All 3 of my dalek bins are full, not used them this year yet. One had not quit got going properly, bit dry, gave it a wetting with the hose, pity your 14 lads don't live nearer Sharon they could have all peed on it for me .

I've used most of my store of bagged shreddings this year it made a lovely mulch for some of my pots and some went on the borders.

[Ladygardener]

I got some good compost from my Dalek bin this year Chuckles. I've been adding a bit more of the cereal boxes and paper and it seems to have worked. The compost area at the lottie is coming on fine, I added some farmyard manure that I was able to get. It was full of worms. I'm seriously thinking of growing my pumpkin in there this year.

[Dutchy]

Mar 9, 2011 14:43:30 GMT sharon said:

hi, have started a compost heap and have read blokes need to wee in it to warm it up. I have a football team with 14 lads all quite willing, how often do i get them to do this, ie 1 bloke a week 1 a month or all 14 peeing in it!, how do i know when it's had enough.also i have loads of trees around, do i just put leaves in a bag and leave them for a while, or do i have to add anything to it.

i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif I missed this one.
I noticed my lottie neighbour weeing in his once a week.
Leaves need nothing added as far as I know but you do them in Autumn usually

[totp]

I shred my leaves with the lawn mower in autumn and then again in about February, plus keep them wet with pee and / or water. By September they've rotted down into lovely crumbly compost. Bit of a faff but it works.

[Geranium]

You do need to dampen them with 'water' occasionally, or they won't rot down.

[Chuckles]

Good points Totp and Geranium We do sometimes forget these little tips, take it for granted that folk know

I've mowed my leaves up after sweaping them up, also done it with soft stuff I've trimmed from the garden too.

As for peeing ;D I confess to a bucket in the shed for those desperate occasions when you can't make it back to the house ;D

[Dutchy]

;D ;D ;D Me too but they say it has to be a man wee. I don't know exactly why but I can guess hormones are involved.

[Chuckles]

I'm expecting some good stuff from my 3 dalek bins, they were all full in april 2011 and I haven't emptied them yet. My back is aching thinking about emptying them

[Ladygardener]

It's a hard job Chuckles but well worth the effort. I emptied mine late autumn as far as I remember and although I have a good bit in it at the moment, with it being winter it has'nt rotted down that much. I'm happy enough with it 'tho.

[Jasmine]

I did our 2 bins yesterday. Have to say each year it seems to get harder but this morning my shoulders only slightly ache. When I start the job of turning the full bin into the empty bin I really have to make myself get going as the job seems to look like it'll take forever. It's worth it for the 5 huge bags of compost a year though. And, next year, all being well, I shall have compost that can be turned out on any bed in the garden!