Weeds only slumber if you suffocate them. (you can read this two ways!)
George will be back on the North side of the newly planned raised bed that will replace the current "hill". I am planning something that is organised on the crop rotation system rather than my current "chuck it in where there's a space" system.
I'm excited at the prospect of an organised system but less excited by the prospect of the work involved getting to veg Nirvana.
Enjoying some lovely potatoes from the current mess though!
Ooer! That all sounds a bit fancy. Crop rotation you say..... Blimey!
I built three giant compost bins last year with a view to rotation. I filled them all. The contents have shrunk and if the rain continues at this rate I'll have to put SCUBA gear on to move "2" into "1" and "3". Either that or they can just sit there.
I do compost daleks - I have 6. Best to have them in 2 rows of 3 opposite each other I've found, otherwise you can end up refilling #6 with #1 if they're all in a row and that's just hard work!!
They reek of ammonia at the moment and steam when I take the lid off but that's a good thing overall.
I am forced to turn them when I can smell egg.
I shred unwanted post, old bills, toilet roll innards and so on and add that as "brown" when I smell rotten egg, otherwise most of it is lawn clippings (we're heavy on the lawn clippings here).
I would be an avid composter but I don't think I'm very good at it. I have far too much grass to put in so it's mostly weeds, deadheading and lots of shredded tree! It's going to take a lifetime to break down.
I clambered up and gave it a stir the week before last and the next day it was roasting so something's happening. I screwed my auger down in and then pulled and hauled (at risk to life and limb I have to say) the stuff up from the bottom. I'll maybe give it another go if the rain ever ceases. It was ten mins on, ten mins off all day today.
I once kept shredded tree in a separate bin for years (because I forgot about it behind the shed) then I threw it on the heap and it broke down lovely but if you've got tons of it then that's not practical of course.
I throw any, any at all, weeds in the green bin for the Council to deal with.
Clippings of my ornamental stuff go in, sometimes dried first to keep down the green level - it's a balance between green & brown.
Heat is good - you oxygenated it and set off the bacteria. That's why I like the daleks - easy to turn and hence oxygenate.
Not sure why but the heap in my last garden used to writhe with worms but they don't here. Must investigate that. I used to use it when the worm activity had ceased but now I don't have that indicator.
Mine's on hard standing so I don't have the luxury of worms. I was surprised when I "turned it" (slight exaggeration there) how much the woody shreddings had broken down in 9 months or so. The long straggly bits do my head in a. because they're annoying and b. because they're only there due to laziness!
I can't wait to use my first lot. I'll really feel as if I've arrived in gardening land!
At least a hundred years ago Alan Titchmarsh did an interview with Susan Hampshire. She was wearing a shell pink cardie over a white blouse sitting in her beautiful garden. THEN... she decided to show him her compost. He was having a fit and she was up to her elbows in it sniffing it! People can become a little peculiar over their compost.
I have an old Bosch Shredder (chipper actually) that is fab at chopping stuff into manageable chunks ready for the heap - makes it easier to turn and it composts down faster.
It's one of these, but like everything these days, if it's good they stop making it so you can't get them anymore
This one looks the same as mine! I could not live without it in the garden. I used it a lot in my other garden but in this one I just couldn't manage. There are so many trees and shrubs and I'm always hacking bits off. I have a chain saw and anything big enough is kept for the stove, the rest goes through the shredder. Marvellous machine and very therapeutic! I tend to want to salute as big branches are drawn down into it. ;-)
I've got a chain saw too but no helmet and face-guard yet so unused so far (was going cheap from a guy at work so snapped it up).
Wood burning stove is planned and large enough bits of wood are being stored / identified.
Methinks I'm not as slovenly as I seem, it just takes time for all the plans to come together so what looks like nonsense and baloney is actually an idea in progress.
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Well I for one look forward to seeing him refreshed and in his clean duds.
I wish my weeds would slumber!
Weeds only slumber if you suffocate them. (you can read this two ways!)
George will be back on the North side of the newly planned raised bed that will replace the current "hill". I am planning something that is organised on the crop rotation system rather than my current "chuck it in where there's a space" system.
I'm excited at the prospect of an organised system but less excited by the prospect of the work involved getting to veg Nirvana.
Enjoying some lovely potatoes from the current mess though!
Ooer! That all sounds a bit fancy. Crop rotation you say.....
Blimey!
I built three giant compost bins last year with a view to rotation. I filled them all.
The contents have shrunk and if the rain continues at this rate I'll have to put SCUBA gear on to move "2" into "1" and "3". Either that or they can just sit there.
When's all this activity going to start?
I do compost daleks - I have 6. Best to have them in 2 rows of 3 opposite each other I've found, otherwise you can end up refilling #6 with #1 if they're all in a row and that's just hard work!!
They reek of ammonia at the moment and steam when I take the lid off but that's a good thing overall.
I am forced to turn them when I can smell egg.
I shred unwanted post, old bills, toilet roll innards and so on and add that as "brown" when I smell rotten egg, otherwise most of it is lawn clippings (we're heavy on the lawn clippings here).
I'm quite an avid composter - love the stuff.
I would be an avid composter but I don't think I'm very good at it. I have far too much grass to put in so it's mostly weeds, deadheading and lots of shredded tree! It's going to take a lifetime to break down.
I clambered up and gave it a stir the week before last and the next day it was roasting so something's happening. I screwed my auger down in and then pulled and hauled (at risk to life and limb I have to say) the stuff up from the bottom. I'll maybe give it another go if the rain ever ceases. It was ten mins on, ten mins off all day today.
I once kept shredded tree in a separate bin for years (because I forgot about it behind the shed) then I threw it on the heap and it broke down lovely but if you've got tons of it then that's not practical of course.
I throw any, any at all, weeds in the green bin for the Council to deal with.
Clippings of my ornamental stuff go in, sometimes dried first to keep down the green level - it's a balance between green & brown.
Heat is good - you oxygenated it and set off the bacteria. That's why I like the daleks - easy to turn and hence oxygenate.
Not sure why but the heap in my last garden used to writhe with worms but they don't here. Must investigate that. I used to use it when the worm activity had ceased but now I don't have that indicator.
Mine's on hard standing so I don't have the luxury of worms. I was surprised when I "turned it" (slight exaggeration there) how much the woody shreddings had broken down in 9 months or so. The long straggly bits do my head in a. because they're annoying and b. because they're only there due to laziness!
I can't wait to use my first lot. I'll really feel as if I've arrived in gardening land!
At least a hundred years ago Alan Titchmarsh did an interview with Susan Hampshire. She was wearing a shell pink cardie over a white blouse sitting in her beautiful garden. THEN... she decided to show him her compost. He was having a fit and she was up to her elbows in it sniffing it!
People can become a little peculiar over their compost.
Ha ha Good lass Susan Hampshire!
I have an old Bosch Shredder (chipper actually) that is fab at chopping stuff into manageable chunks ready for the heap - makes it easier to turn and it composts down faster.
It's one of these, but like everything these days, if it's good they stop making it so you can't get them anymore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy4hncyqfvo
This one looks the same as mine! I could not live without it in the garden. I used it a lot in my other garden but in this one I just couldn't manage. There are so many trees and shrubs and I'm always hacking bits off. I have a chain saw and anything big enough is kept for the stove, the rest goes through the shredder. Marvellous machine and very therapeutic! I tend to want to salute as big branches are drawn down into it. ;-)
It keeps doing giant pictures! B***y forum!
Last edited: 04 July 2016 22:05:25
I've got a chain saw too but no helmet and face-guard yet so unused so far (was going cheap from a guy at work so snapped it up).
Wood burning stove is planned and large enough bits of wood are being stored / identified.
Methinks I'm not as slovenly as I seem, it just takes time for all the plans to come together so what looks like nonsense and baloney is actually an idea in progress.
Sounds like a good excuse anyway!