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The make your own compost thread

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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    But, ooo, it would be so interesting to trial zoo-poo beds. Panda poo on the roses, elephants' on the dahlias, sloth on the clematis. Would giraffe poo make sunflowers grow very tall? :D
  • Fire said:
    But, ooo, it would be so interesting to trial zoo-poo beds. Panda poo on the roses, elephants' on the dahlias, sloth on the clematis. Would giraffe poo make sunflowers grow very tall? :D
    It would be good to train the animals to "use" the relevant beds. Some of the larger beasts would need someone walking in front with a flag to clear the way.
  • I struggle to get enough "brown" things for my bins - I have no plants generating twigs (that will change as the garden matures). Am i best just to put lots of cardboard/paper in instead? 
  • I don't think you've even bothered to read any of the thread at all. From the very first post:
    "All your waste cardboard and paper are brown. Throw it in whole, unless it's a book, magazine or too big to go in there is no need to shred. In fact, the more air pockets in there the better. If your cardboard has tape on it then either pull it off or put it in as it is, the cardboard will rot away and you can pull the tape out of the compost later. I tip our whole wastepaper bins in the compost, it's better for the environment and it's better for security, no-one can read our personal details."

    And mentioned multiple times after that.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Cardboard is fine for browns. I use a lot of brown cardboard packaging that internet shopping stuff gets delivered in, and at some times of year when there's not much pruning going on, that's the main source of browns.  I generally tear it up because it's too stiff to crumple easily. Shredded paper too (some people just crumple it but anything with personal details on I prefer to shred). I don't use glossy magazine-type paper or colour-printed cardboard, mostly because because I have enough without it. I don't think there's a problem with the ink these days.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Yes, @punkdoc ... people who are so rude should be banned from this site - I stopped using this site for a couple of years or so because of such rudeness ... and I doubt an apology will be forthcoming. ☹️
  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    edited September 2022

    Mike your initial post was very informative, I really appreciate it. I don't always have time to read multi page threads, so apologies if you felt my question had been answered. 

    Do twigs have to be dead/dried out to count as brown? I have just pruned back some shrubs ... can it all go straight in as is?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Yes, your twigs can go straight in, they don't need to be dried. They break down quicker if you shred them or cut them up a bit, but you don't have to.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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