Whats the best food compost?

[Sarahnimble]

Hi there!

Im new to this site and would love to hear your opinions on the best food waste for compost?

I found this interesting video on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G8UdbM1_iw

[4bordercollies]

There is an excellent Irish website www.raceagainstwaste.ie which covers all biological treatment of waste. In addition, they provide fact sheets on composting. It has worked out well for my 3 compost bins.

[Sarahnimble]

Thats an excellent site!

:)

[flies]

We here at the assembly use just about all vegetable, fruit waste. We DO NOT use any meat waste. Even wilted lettuce.

[MuddyWitch]

On the compost heap, anything vegatitive that was once alive is good. Avoid weeds with seed heads or roots if your heap is small as it won't reach high enough temperatures to kill these.

The trick is to alternate a 'wet' layer such as grass cuttings or kitchen waste with a 'dry' layer of straw or torn cardboard, you can add a little newspaper, ripped into strips as the 'dry' layer too.

Add a layer of garden soil about every fourth or fifth layer to bring the 'good bugs' in. Idealy the compost heap should be sat on the soil for the worms to access it.

The best 'activator' for the heap is urine. A discrete bottle may be the answer for an overlooked heap! ;)

MW

[Sarahnimble]

The best 'activator' for the heap is urine. A discrete bottle may be the answer for an overlooked heap! ;)

MW

I've never heard of that being used before? Where did you find information on this please? I have been researching some useful tips on,ine about garden care products as I am looking for start planting soon for spring, this www.Ireland website (http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/about1268.html) is great for advice, and www.groupon.ie (http://www.groupon.ie/vouchers/) is perfect for those seeking discounts on garden products!


thanks

[TickTock]

Not in front of the neighbours please! :-)

[Sarahnimble]

Not in front of the neighbours please! :-)

Maybe send me a message with the information I am interested!

[flies]

Thanks for the info! But how do you keep out the insects that you don't want in there like fly larvae, mosquitoes, beetles and such??

[MuddyWitch]

The use of urine as an activator is old family knowledge, but is often mentioned on gardening programmes. Using it (discreatly, of course!) as well as human hair trimmings is supposed to put rats off your heap too, but I don't know if this is true. I've never had rats in my compost though.

Most heaps don't attract flys so long as you don't put meat waste on them. Beetles, bugs, worms and even ants are a GOOD thing. They are the workers who break down your grass clippings & old cabbage leaves into black gold. Even a few slugs will do no harm, so long as you ensure that they & their eggs are not spread onto the garden.

MW

[Sarahnimble]

The use of urine as an activator is old family knowledge, but is often mentioned on gardening programmes. Using it (discreatly, of course!) as well as human hair trimmings is supposed to put rats off your heap too, but I don't know if this is true. I've never had rats in my compost though.


MW

I have had rats in my compost before thats why I was hestitate about using urine or abything along those lines. Any websites with information on this would be useful please!!

[flies]

We have talked about different kind of pest control. Here is a site that can help with how to get rid of flys (http://howtogetridofflies.sosblog.com/The-first-blog-b1/Fly-Control-Through-Organic-Methods-Successfully-Controlling-Flies-Around-Animals-b1-p1.htm
).

[Sarahnimble]

We have talked about different kind of pest control. Here is a site that can help with how to get rid of flys (http://howtogetridofflies.sosblog.com/The-first-blog-b1/Fly-Control-Through-Organic-Methods-Successfully-Controlling-Flies-Around-Animals-b1-p1.htm
).

This is an excellent site, I usually have an issue with fruit flies, does anyone else have this issue in the summer?

They always seem to breed anywhere! No matter what I try.

[palminnie2]

i moved to a place where a person was 'into' composting, its jammers to the brim.
using the compost it looks and seems glorious, but included in that bin are coat hangers, tin foil and it seems everything went in.
they ate a lot of eggs too, so do i tip it all out and start again or what?
i certainly can add nothing more.
there are megga roots too, and another bin is jammed too with grass cuttings, very little of that has rotted down, suggestions welcomed
p

[Colm G]

One way of helping to eliminate bad odours, fruit flies and rodents from a compost heap is to treat it first in a Food Waste Dehydrator.
More info at http://purchase.ie/eco-gift-ideas/loofen/

[flies]

Glad you liked the site Sarahnimble. I took a lokk at the site you recommended Colm G very interesting. Yes an easy way to reduce flies, fruit flies and the like from inside the home. Thanks.

[flies]

Sarahnimble, Have you tried apple cider vinegar and a drop of dish soap to get rid of fruit flies

[flies]

This may sound a little silly but apple cider vinegar and a drop of dish soap in a small bowl will help to get rid of flys.

[flies]

Palminnie, if you feel like sorting it out while you go then good. You don't want what you mentioned in the ground as a base. The grass would be good if you use it in between layers of waste. Have fun if you pick your way through it. Hopefully you wont see to many flies or their larvae,or anything else.

[flies]

Palminnie, what did you decide on the compost pile? If you did sort through it did you have to get rid of flys, or any other insect?

[greenorelse]

I recommend a book called The Humanure Handbook and it's available to download or, best of all, buy it from the author here. (http://humanurehandbook.com/) I have no connection with the author apart from being a fan of his.

This book should be on the school curriculum.

[flies]

greenorelse, I checked out the site you posted. Not bad. It's cheaper to download the book than buy it. Thanks for sharing. Do you have a problem with how to get rid of flies with human manure>

[molly99]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96fSXccQx9Q

[molly99]

bokashi starter
http://www.hawaiihealingtree.org/?p=163

[flies]

If you are still having trouble with how to get rid of flies (http://www.spalding-labs.com/flieshowtogetridof-flies-how-to-get-rid-of.aspx), here's a link that might help.

[jo90]

A compost heap should not smell if the correct waste is put in,the only smell sould be an earthy smell. You can compost all organinc matter,grass, weeds without seed heads, paper,cardboard, teabags, coffee grinds, egg shells, no cooked food,bread or meat of anykind. Many gardening books have good lists. Layering is imortant too much of one thing can stop or slow down composting. I've been composting for three years no rats, flies, smells just perfect rich compost.

For the jumbletowner that inherited bins' empty both, take out rubish , check for vermin, relayer bins usng the waste from one and layering with the grass from the other and any other organic waste you have collected. They should start to work soon after.

[Colm G]

Just added a product from Australia to the range at Purchase.ie Its an indoor kitchen composter kit for your food waste. Allows you to store your food waste indoors without creating bad odours and attracting fruit flies. You can produce your own plant food and nutrient rich compost with the remains. Not as pricey as the Loofen and doesn't add to your energy bill LOL. Check it out at
http://purchase.ie/indoor-composter-kit/

[flies]

My compost bin is behind the house. As long as you don't get it to moist, you won't have to worry about how to get rid of flys, mosquitoes, and such.

[donalo]

Hope you find this helpful:
www.stopfoodwaste.ie