Palaisglide, many thanks for explanation, I love how low tech that system was; no cost, no fossil fuels. I have pig farming and horsey neighbours to supply fuel but don't have the space to set something loke that up.
Artjak, all things change, my Daughter was worried on Christmas day about keeping things warm, she needed the oven space. I said have you got a cold box, she had so I lined the bottom and sides with newspaper put the dishes in she wanted to keep warm then covered it with more paper and towel. I moved on for lunch with second daughter, first rang me to say it had worked perfectly. I learned how to use hay boxes in the army and a cooler can be that or a hay box, I often used one like that when cooking for the family. My Son has stables and horses but they do not use straw, wood chippings are not the same for heat generation, pig manure on its own is not good although mixed with horse it will work. I have heard of hot boxes using just compost though they would not reach the heat a proper box would. Rough double digging in Autumn let winter do the work raking and manuring early spring and let the worms do the work, sow two rows for yourself and one for the beasties, it all works, those gardening Dads knew what they were doing.
I didn't get to me heap today. Ended up out last night and was a little later in getting up today. Also have had a revolving door in the house as people have been coming and going all day lol. I did go down and had a look at it and feel that it may be a little large? Its 5 foot by 3 foot. I think I could actually get away with splitting it and making two as was suggested. So, that's tomorrows job as well as taking some of the leaves out and adding some soaked nettles to add a little more green. It seems to be a real skill in composting as well so need to investigate more I think There are gaps in the sides where I had placed a length of wood about an inch deep in between the planks when putting it together. I will hunt for some large cardboard boxes and line it at the same time to try and create more heat. Goodness, just shows you, I thought you just threw it all in and left it lol
Sam, I have applied to learn how to be a 'compost master', I don't yet know if I have got on to the course in April; places are limited. If I do get on to it I promise you all I will bore you to death with info about compost!
Sam, I have applied to learn how to be a 'compost master', I don't yet know if I have got on to the course in April; places are limited. If I do get on to it I promise you all I will bore you to death with info about compost!
Artjak...I will be your bestest friend if you do
Our own compost guru. Sounds great. I will hold you to that
Question????? How long does the composting course last? After telling you you need "Air Heat Some Moisture" then saying you can mix anything in apart from hard woods sawdust and perenial weeds but do not layer more than an inch or so at a time, mix it as you go and damp from a watering can as you fill, not a hose, What more can they say? Was once dragged to a Gardening class by BIL and did pricking out potting on and how to look after house plants for three months before packing it in, all things I had done as a lad with my Father, I was waiting for the new stuff that never came, went to cookery school instead. Some subjects are more common sense than learning so assuming it is not free I ask why?
Palais, the course lasts, I think,one or two days. The 'graduates' are then expected to be sort of 'compost ambassadors', i.e. being invited to gardening clubs and W.I. groups etc to give help and advice on composting. As we know from these forums there is quite a lot of misinformation and confusion about composting. The reason that I want to do it is because I am passionate about composting as a brilliant way to recycle.
Artjak, I agree with you on composting and recycling which I do religiously filling the appropriate boxes and bins also having a shed and garage full of stuff I may need one day. Can never find it when I want it though. Composting has always been one of my garden chores although over many years I have discovered some things work and others are best left to the Green Waste collectors, lawn grass being one of those things. I do put a thin layer on my compost, but there is too much of it normally. I have seen the Green Waste heaps, high as the JCB bucket will reach and steaming from the heat they reach because they are first shredded then turned on a regular basis. I did hear at one time they were taking butchers waste and laying it on the bottom although not now most is bagged up in quantity for potting compost as we cannot get Peat. I even recycle potting soil by riddling it then into an old micro wave before mixing with sand and fine grit as a seed mix, if you do not have an old micro wave put it into a bucket pour boiling water on it and then dry out. It will get seeds away though no good for potting on. I have discovered the best compost is made by turning the heap every few weeks, toss it into a barrow, stir it around and toss it back, better than a weekend in the Gym any day.
Posts
Palaisglide, many thanks for explanation, I love how low tech that system was; no cost, no fossil fuels. I have pig farming and horsey neighbours to supply fuel but don't have the space to set something loke that up.
Artjak, all things change, my Daughter was worried on Christmas day about keeping things warm, she needed the oven space. I said have you got a cold box, she had so I lined the bottom and sides with newspaper put the dishes in she wanted to keep warm then covered it with more paper and towel. I moved on for lunch with second daughter, first rang me to say it had worked perfectly. I learned how to use hay boxes in the army and a cooler can be that or a hay box, I often used one like that when cooking for the family.
My Son has stables and horses but they do not use straw, wood chippings are not the same for heat generation, pig manure on its own is not good although mixed with horse it will work. I have heard of hot boxes using just compost though they would not reach the heat a proper box would.
Rough double digging in Autumn let winter do the work raking and manuring early spring and let the worms do the work, sow two rows for yourself and one for the beasties, it all works, those gardening Dads knew what they were doing.
Frank.
Hi Gardengirl,
I didn't get to me heap today. Ended up out last night and was a little later in getting up today. Also have had a revolving door in the house as people have been coming and going all day lol. I did go down and had a look at it and feel that it may be a little large? Its 5 foot by 3 foot. I think I could actually get away with splitting it and making two as was suggested. So, that's tomorrows job as well as taking some of the leaves out and adding some soaked nettles to add a little more green. It seems to be a real skill in composting as well so need to investigate more I think
There are gaps in the sides where I had placed a length of wood about an inch deep in between the planks when putting it together. I will hunt for some large cardboard boxes and line it at the same time to try and create more heat. Goodness, just shows you, I thought you just threw it all in and left it lol 
Sam, I have applied to learn how to be a 'compost master', I don't yet know if I have got on to the course in April; places are limited. If I do get on to it I promise you all I will bore you to death with info about compost!
Artjak...I will be your bestest friend if you do
Our own compost guru. Sounds great. I will hold you to that
Hi Artjak - is this one of the courses run by/in conjuncton with Norfolk County Council?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Yes it is Dove. Have you been on one of them?
Question?????
How long does the composting course last?
After telling you you need "Air Heat Some Moisture" then saying you can mix anything in apart from hard woods sawdust and perenial weeds but do not layer more than an inch or so at a time, mix it as you go and damp from a watering can as you fill, not a hose, What more can they say?
Was once dragged to a Gardening class by BIL and did pricking out potting on and how to look after house plants for three months before packing it in, all things I had done as a lad with my Father, I was waiting for the new stuff that never came, went to cookery school instead.
Some subjects are more common sense than learning so assuming it is not free I ask why?
Frank.
Palais, the course lasts, I think,one or two days. The 'graduates' are then expected to be sort of 'compost ambassadors', i.e. being invited to gardening clubs and W.I. groups etc to give help and advice on composting. As we know from these forums there is quite a lot of misinformation and confusion about composting. The reason that I want to do it is because I am passionate about composting as a brilliant way to recycle.
Artjak, I agree with you on composting and recycling which I do religiously filling the appropriate boxes and bins also having a shed and garage full of stuff I may need one day. Can never find it when I want it though.
Composting has always been one of my garden chores although over many years I have discovered some things work and others are best left to the Green Waste collectors, lawn grass being one of those things. I do put a thin layer on my compost, but there is too much of it normally.
I have seen the Green Waste heaps, high as the JCB bucket will reach and steaming from the heat they reach because they are first shredded then turned on a regular basis. I did hear at one time they were taking butchers waste and laying it on the bottom although not now most is bagged up in quantity for potting compost as we cannot get Peat.
I even recycle potting soil by riddling it then into an old micro wave before mixing with sand and fine grit as a seed mix, if you do not have an old micro wave put it into a bucket pour boiling water on it and then dry out. It will get seeds away though no good for potting on.
I have discovered the best compost is made by turning the heap every few weeks, toss it into a barrow, stir it around and toss it back, better than a weekend in the Gym any day.
Frank.