20-06-2004, 03:03 PM
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A compost question
David Ross
[snipped lengthy message that bascially asked: Should I add
bonemeal when composting?]
Sorry. I was feeling chatty. Too much wine, I guess. I'll rephrase. Do people
add bonemeal to compost when they have a soil that is acidic? I'm just curious
and trying to understand what other people do if they have acidic soil (which,
as I said, I do not have).
The best thing to add when composting is old compost. It has all
the necessary micro-organisms for turning leaves and clippings into
greate soil.
To speed things up, I add nitrogen. I use urea, a synthetic
organic. The micro-organisms proliferate with nitrogen. This is
especially good if your raw material is mostly dry leaves.
I have trouble getting enough brown, frankly. I've seen paper recommended as a
brown, but mostly paper towels, filters, etc., which I don't use. Does office
paper work? Or does it take too long to decompose?
The only things really needed are air and water. I use a spading
fork to turn my compost pile, which brings air into the center of
the pile. Then I wet it down (something I should do more often).
Me too. Thanks for the advice.
Dora
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