"Jaques d'Altrades" wrote in message
...
The message
from "Mary Fisher" contains these words:

I have composted small amounts of clippings in the past with the
other
compostable material, but I don't whether such a large amount of ivy
composted by itself would prove toxic to the soil.

Why on earth should it? If it did, every time an old tree fell down
in the UK, there would be a sterile patch ....

We've composted and used ivy (shredded) for years and it's never done
any
harm. In fact we've even used the shreddings stright on the soil with no
problems. It gets scattered, turned and, er, fertilised by the hens
which
I'm sure helps.

Ivy can't be *THAT* poisonous, if at all: it's a recognised tonic for
sick goats and sheep. If they won't eat ivy, there's not much hope for
them.

I understand that 'poison ivy' is an American plant and unrelated to our
hedera.

Healthy goats and sheep will eat it voluntarily, given a chance, in my
experience. And they've stayed healthy ...

Mary

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