I make my own compost from kitchen waste, garden waste, old newspapers and so on. I have never used anybody else's mix. I use my own mix because it's free and I know what has gone into it.
I'm reading this article in a bit of a hurry, will digest it all later in slower time but one of your observations quite leapt out from the page!
With several deaths in Scotland from Legionnares disease attributed to amateur gardeners using compost, it makes me wonder about the overall safety on reduced peat and no peat compost.
Please note - while there have been 6 cases in Scotland associated with compost - there have been NO DEATHS!!!
I have this horrible vision of gardeners in protective clothing, surgical gloves and masks for potting up a few geraniums.
I read that 4% of extracted peat is used for horticultural purposes. The Irish burn 95% in power stations. Me using a couple of sacks of peat a year is going to make no difference whatsover. Coir was considered a suitable substitute, but the cost of importing it (compost miles?) seemed to have stopped it being used. The recycled rubbish is just too much rubbish. I don't want to stand and sieve a sack of compost to remove plastic, bits of china, and the odd nail before using it.
The Daily Mail article says that the means of transmission of the new strain of Legionella isn't certain but that it may be airborne or via hand to mouth contact.
I wonder how many of the affected Scottish patients are smokers and perhaps ingested and/or inhaled the bacteria with their cigarettes. Their respiratory tracts would already be compromised to some extent by their tobacco smoking habit and maybe make them more vulnerable than non-smokers.
Waterbutts, how do you use your garden compost? Do you use it for seeds, cuttings, potting etc, or just on the garden? And if you do use in pots, etc, what do you mix it with? I am an avid compost maker, even gathering my neighbours' garden waste, and never seem to have enough for the garden, but would love to use it for all of my potting/growing needs, and import manure for the garden. There seems to be so much conflicting advice on this use of home-made compost.
Not getting into the debate. All compost seems to be crap these days, (other than that made at home, carefully, with the right 'crap' of all kinds!) no consistency from bag to bag and very variable results, sometimes smelly and mouldy, even from trusted brands.
I also would dearly like advice on sterilizing compost for greenhouse use.
Posts
I make my own compost from kitchen waste, garden waste, old newspapers and so on. I have never used anybody else's mix. I use my own mix because it's free and I know what has gone into it.
Blisters ...
I'm reading this article in a bit of a hurry, will digest it all later in slower time but one of your observations quite leapt out from the page!
With several deaths in Scotland from Legionnares disease attributed to amateur gardeners using compost, it makes me wonder about the overall safety on reduced peat and no peat compost.
Please note - while there have been 6 cases in Scotland associated with compost - there have been NO DEATHS!!!
An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing. " - Murphy's Law
todays paper
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2440183/Dangerous-bacteria-present-compost.html
I have this horrible vision of gardeners in protective clothing, surgical gloves and masks for potting up a few geraniums.
I read that 4% of extracted peat is used for horticultural purposes. The Irish burn 95% in power stations. Me using a couple of sacks of peat a year is going to make no difference whatsover. Coir was considered a suitable substitute, but the cost of importing it (compost miles?) seemed to have stopped it being used. The recycled rubbish is just too much rubbish. I don't want to stand and sieve a sack of compost to remove plastic, bits of china, and the odd nail before using it.
I'm going back to the peat based stuff.
The Daily Mail article says that the means of transmission of the new strain of Legionella isn't certain but that it may be airborne or via hand to mouth contact.
I wonder how many of the affected Scottish patients are smokers and perhaps ingested and/or inhaled the bacteria with their cigarettes. Their respiratory tracts would already be compromised to some extent by their tobacco smoking habit and maybe make them more vulnerable than non-smokers.
Certainly someone with COPD caused by smoking is more vulnerable to other lung infections.
Waterbutts, how do you use your garden compost? Do you use it for seeds, cuttings, potting etc, or just on the garden? And if you do use in pots, etc, what do you mix it with? I am an avid compost maker, even gathering my neighbours' garden waste, and never seem to have enough for the garden, but would love to use it for all of my potting/growing needs, and import manure for the garden. There seems to be so much conflicting advice on this use of home-made compost.
Not getting into the debate. All compost seems to be crap these days, (other than that made at home, carefully, with the right 'crap' of all kinds!) no consistency from bag to bag and very variable results, sometimes smelly and mouldy, even from trusted brands.
I also would dearly like advice on sterilizing compost for greenhouse use.
Did see this link yesterday, though
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PLASTIC-PLANT-POTS-50cm-40cm-35cm-30cm-25cm-21cm-17cm-15cm-13cm-12cm-11cm-9cm-/261231273204?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Garden_Plants_Pots_Window_Boxes_CV&var=&hash=item826eeac5d8.
Looks interesting, going to do more reading and checking, but is giving ideas fro my own mix.