compost heap

PIPIE


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
06/12/2008 18:29

We have had a suggestion on our complex that a compost heap could be placed in order for it to help impovrish soil . Now i am no expert on this , and wondered if any one has a compost heap and what are the positives , negatives or implications on having one placed on a complex , any suggestions please ?

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
06/12/2008 18:36

Hi PIPIE,

No experience of compost heaps here.

But the 1st thing that springs to mind

is rats, flies & smell etc

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
06/12/2008 19:10

I made compoct heaps in U.K. and I do the same here. It os very easy but you need to do it right.



There is so much garden waste here thet it's a crime not to use it and I have had no problems with flies, rats or any other unwanted creatures as you need to keep it covered.

I have three large wooden bins that originally contained paving slabs( about 4foot x 3 foot) Cover the bottom and sides with ground cover membrane and then simply fill up with waste. You can use kitchen waste (but not cooked food raw meat) such as tea bags peelings etc plus shredded newspapers. Add pretty much all garden waste ( clippings prunings old plants etc) and try to keep it moist ;ie uncover it when rain, cover with membrane when no rain. Turn it with a fork every couple of weeks and that's it. Perfect compost in no time which I add to base of plants as a mulch and to feed the soil where the plants are.



Takes about a year for bins my size whereas in U.K.took 2 years ( due to the heat here)

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
06/12/2008 20:33

PIPIE



Also meant to say the best way to improve your soil overall is the addition of lot's of sheep shit( sorry no other way to say it). Have a word with your local shepherd and he should have lot's. I put 15 large sacks every year into my garden ( i Donum) and it's only 4 ytl a sack. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.

Turkish for sheep s--- is kuzu boku!! and it help's your soil retain every bit of rain that drops

PIPIE


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 09:26

Navek, Gibson 335 . Thankyou .



gibson 335 ,could i ask if a compost heap was placed on a complex , what things have to be put in place , to avoid , smell , vermin ? and any other unpleasent things . realy good post by the way . I just need to gather as much information in order for me to cascade to owners .

As any one else got any suggestions please ?

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 09:34

Snakes love compost heaps because of the raised temperature within the heap..particulalry when the weather turns cooler...



You can do something about this... bury it in the ground. After each load is added cover it with a spade full of earth..



When approaching the heap be mindful of the possibilty of snakes so that you are not surprised...



Goats will try and get into the complex if they roam around the area, they can smell discarded vegetable matter at 100 paces!

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 09:42

PIPIE



My garden is completely enclosed and the compost bins are at the bottom away from the house. However there is no smell at all even when you are close to it. On a complex I would suggest put in a cornere of the development so it isn't too close to a house. I have been told about the possibility of snakes but have never had any in the compost but I have had them in the garden which doesn't bother me. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. I do also have a couple of cats so maybe they help.

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 09:55

I can only see an advantage in having a compost heap if you are growning

fruit trees, or vegetables.

My experience here in sunny Cyprus is, you can stick a pencil in the

ground and it will grow, the soil is so good.

Last year, I just broke some pieces of geranium off, stuck them in the

ground, hey presto, a few months later, we had bushes.

As Groucho mentioned goats, if they get in, they'll eat all your plants anyway.

Why risk all the aggro. if it isn't necessary.????

ps., you can buy flower food in the shops, just water it in.

bigears


Joined: 14/03/2008
Posts: 62

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 11:06

the only problem we have come across with the heaps is that the fruit flies like the rotting citrus if you put too many on, so we have almost eliminated all the citrus, if we put some on we cover them with other degradable stuff, or shredded newspaper.

Ours are 1 meter square using pallets. we have three, this is what we have done for the last 5 years. We have them in a row, the first is the using stocking one, when this gets to full we turn onto the middle one and start again, wghen the first is full again we turn the second to the thirs, the first to the second then the first then becomes the new one. When the first is full the third shoul.d be ready to put onto the garden. Another good thing to add is sea weed. not too much but makes a great additive. All covered with old carpet and membrane sheeting. My grandad used to save his urine (seems disgusting) but its addition helps the process to speed up. OR get some garrota from Uk or Super home centre Spouth. Sue

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 13:54

Flowerfairy



Maybe you and I are lucky with our soil as most people have rubbish. Even with flowers feeding them and mulching them with compost helps them flower better and need less water. You are right as regards veg and fruit both of which I grow a lot of. Using your garden waste also means you don't have to dumo it at the side of the road like everybody else seems to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 15:43

Gibson...



The problem with snakes is if you go to the heap to turn it over with a garden fork and don't notice one asleep under the top layer you are going to give the snake the impression that it is under attack...



I throw my kitchen waste over the wall for the goats... it lasts no longer than a couple of hours before they arrive and demolish it... They leave their droppings which adds organic matter to the surrounding scrub land and over time a whole new undergrowth is appearing which his nicer than bare earth.

keith


Joined: 03/04/2007
Posts: 272

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 17:15

Will it work if 90% of what you put in is grass and not much of anything else aprt from dead flowers and weeds

bigears


Joined: 14/03/2008
Posts: 62

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 17:20

you realy need a good mixture of different organic matters...... tea bags, veg peelings, torn up newspaper, a little saw dust, leaves, grass clippings, (NOT PRIVET IF IN UK) sea weed. NOTHING THAT IS COOKED OR MEAT PRODUCTS. Sue Try putting in a search on the net it gives very good advice.

Stewart


Joined: 19/07/2008
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 17:23

Yes it will work, It needs air from all sides...any worms available?, these will help the breakdown of the matter, quicker.....

Try doing two heaps, about 3 / 4 months apart, otherwise you will have to keep digging out the bottom layers.

When filling, do not compact, in summer put some water on it to boost the process ( ie some bath water )

( worms will soon multiply and can be used around the garden. )

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 18:18

Groucho,

"...I throw my kitchen waste over the wall..."

I KNEW you were 'going native' - you'll be wearing a grass skirt next...

You and that Vaughan will be able to do a cabaret act!



flowerfairy

Can I have some of your soil please?

Mine's Rubbish! (mainly Builder's rubbish, actually...)



Keith.

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 18:46

Keith



Noit won't as grass clipping's contain too much Nitrogen and if you keep it wet it will just be sludge. You really need mix with other waste as per Big Ears.

It also helps if you have a shredder as it is best to add small things ( no not Pike!!!) as large waste takes a lot longer to break down and don't put weed seeds in to it otherwise you will have compost full of weeds.

flowerfairy


Joined: 17/09/2008
Posts: 1277

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 18:54

Hi Keith, yes I did forget to mention the time i've taken digging

up all the builders waste.Even so, now everything's looking rosy.

Well at least about a foot down anyway, lol

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 19:27

there was a good article in Cyprus Today about 1 month ago,it should be 2/3rds brown rubbish,leaves etc,1/3green product,weeds,pea/bean bits.

including paper shred etc.And,I remember and do,secretly,the best accelerant is human urine.Ladies are exempt!!

Monty Don on a gardening program

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 19:42

Sure it wasn't 'Mighty Dung'?



Put a thin layer of soil on the heap from time to time... it contains all the bacteria needed to break down the vegetation.. including grass and will stop it going sludgy..



They use soil in dry closets as the fastest way to break down human waste... it works in minutes...



I knew all those days spent digging 'lats' would come in handy one day... dib dib dib...

stewy


Joined: 18/10/2008
Posts: 279

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 19:51

Is human poo any good? If so I will donate free. 4 YTL for a sack of sh*t seems expensive.

punk rocker


Joined: 24/07/2008
Posts: 152

Message Posted:
07/12/2008 20:23

most on here is free lol