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24-08-2003, 08:42 AM

Janet Baraclough wrote:

The message 1fzw3uu.f917ekqubocgN%00senetnospamtodayta@macunl imited.net
from (Jim W) contains these words:

True works well.. as a variation of this sheet composting also works..
Though you will need to bring in thicknesses of newspaper or cardboard
boxes to cover the raw material. Basically you layer your waste with a
little calcified seawead then cover the whole lot with a layer of card.
and leave till spring. You then plant through the mulch into the soil
beneath.

I put the card underneath evrything else, and hold it down with the
other material; prevents the cardboard blowing away/looking too
unsightly. It's a really good, fast way of reclaiming weedy/grassed land
for planting, and it attracts enormous numbers of worms as if by magic.

Atm I'm using card (packing boxes) under a 6" layer of fresh grass
clippings; the grass gets hot for a day or two. Within a week the grass
layer shrinks down, cools down and turns brown (so the whole thing looks
quite neat) and I can start planting.

Janet.

Indeed Janet, you can mix and match to suit. The 'waste
underneath/cardboard on top' is the 'classic' way described in most
books, and more suited to 'wetter' large amounts of waste (eg
greengrocers or shop/market waste) over larger areas. It tends to smell
otherwise. But with grass as cover and being visually pleasing to the
eye it sounds like it works a treat!-)

You're right about the fact that it really does wonders to weedy land
tho;-)

//
Jim