Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Paper shred
"0tterbot" wrote in message ... "Staycalm" wrote in message u... Is it useful to put shredded paper in compost bins? My compost is too green and wet. I need to add more into it but don't have sawdust. What else could I use? shredded paper is good. dried-out plants/trimmings are good too - i leave mine lying around on the ground (out of the way, naturally) until they're all dried out & then break them up a bit (if necessary) & put them in in a layer in the bin. you can also use dried-out leaves (esp in autumn!) and/or dried-out grass clippings, etc. any dried-out plant material you trust not to be weedy & isn't too big, basically. my compost was like yours, a bit smelly & rank & i used to need to lime it quite a bit, but with adding layers of torn paper or dried out garden trimmings interspersed with the layers of "soft" composting material, i find i am not needing to lime any more & it's just breaking down quicker & more nicely. apparently the dried-out materials will add carbon for better balance, as well as breaking up the continual addition of "soft" layers, so there's better aeration as well, which aids the process. i squirt a bit of water on if it's very dry, to get it going. kylie cardboard is another very good additive to your compost. I tear up the odd box, toilet roll inner etc and throw it in the compost. Do not add anything that has a plastic coating unless you are prepared to fish through the finished compost for the plastic remains. Essentially anything brown and dry will add carbon to your compost, try straw or hay, this balances up the nitrogen from green items such as grass clippings and kitchen waste. Layering carbons and nitrogens will allow them to balance each other out. Also chuck on tea bags, used coffee grounds, sea weed if you can get it. They are all very good. rob |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Paper shred
Is it useful to put shredded paper in compost bins? My compost is too green
and wet. I need to add more into it but don't have sawdust. What else could I use? Liz |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Paper shred
"Staycalm" wrote in message
u... Is it useful to put shredded paper in compost bins? My compost is too green and wet. I need to add more into it but don't have sawdust. What else could I use? shredded paper is good. dried-out plants/trimmings are good too - i leave mine lying around on the ground (out of the way, naturally) until they're all dried out & then break them up a bit (if necessary) & put them in in a layer in the bin. you can also use dried-out leaves (esp in autumn!) and/or dried-out grass clippings, etc. any dried-out plant material you trust not to be weedy & isn't too big, basically. my compost was like yours, a bit smelly & rank & i used to need to lime it quite a bit, but with adding layers of torn paper or dried out garden trimmings interspersed with the layers of "soft" composting material, i find i am not needing to lime any more & it's just breaking down quicker & more nicely. apparently the dried-out materials will add carbon for better balance, as well as breaking up the continual addition of "soft" layers, so there's better aeration as well, which aids the process. i squirt a bit of water on if it's very dry, to get it going. kylie |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Paper shred
Staycalm wrote:
Is it useful to put shredded paper in compost bins? My compost is too green and wet. I need to add more into it but don't have sawdust. What else could Add in small batches, unless you can mix it in to other stuff you are adding, then water in the bin. Wet paper can clump together so bad that it breaks down like sticks {:-(. So this is why is needs to be spread and mixed. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Paper shred
In article ,
"Staycalm" wrote: Is it useful to put shredded paper in compost bins? My compost is too green and wet. I need to add more into it but don't have sawdust. What else could I use? The paper would be perfect. -- Chookie -- Sydney, Australia (Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply) "Parenthood is like the modern stone washing process for denim jeans. You may start out crisp, neat and tough, but you end up pale, limp and wrinkled." Kerry Cue |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Paper shred
I deliberately make slimy green compost from wet grass clippings (smells
really bad when you dig it out. Once the heat has gone out of it, I bury it in the garden (as opposed to digging it through) - the worms absolutely love it. By the time the crop planted over it is finished, there is just a nice layer of worm caste left to be dug over ready for the next batch of slime to be buried. Interestingly I don't often need to add lime to balance the soil. I also run a bottomless worm farm, to which I add shredded paper when it starts to get a but wet or smelly. I also have the traditional slow - everything-in compost. Geoff "0tterbot" wrote in message ... "Staycalm" wrote in message u... Is it useful to put shredded paper in compost bins? My compost is too green and wet. I need to add more into it but don't have sawdust. What else could I use? shredded paper is good. dried-out plants/trimmings are good too - i leave mine lying around on the ground (out of the way, naturally) until they're all dried out & then break them up a bit (if necessary) & put them in in a layer in the bin. you can also use dried-out leaves (esp in autumn!) and/or dried-out grass clippings, etc. any dried-out plant material you trust not to be weedy & isn't too big, basically. my compost was like yours, a bit smelly & rank & i used to need to lime it quite a bit, but with adding layers of torn paper or dried out garden trimmings interspersed with the layers of "soft" composting material, i find i am not needing to lime any more & it's just breaking down quicker & more nicely. apparently the dried-out materials will add carbon for better balance, as well as breaking up the continual addition of "soft" layers, so there's better aeration as well, which aids the process. i squirt a bit of water on if it's very dry, to get it going. kylie |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Paper shred
Geoff & Heather wrote:
I deliberately make slimy green compost from wet grass clippings (smells really bad when you dig it out. Once the heat has gone out of it, I bury it in the garden (as opposed to digging it through) - the worms absolutely love it. By the time the crop planted over it is finished, there is just a nice layer of worm caste left to be dug over ready for the next batch of slime to be buried. Interestingly I don't often need to add lime to balance the soil. I also run a bottomless worm farm, to which I add shredded paper when it starts to get a but wet or smelly. I also have the traditional slow - everything-in compost. Geoff "0tterbot" wrote in message ... "Staycalm" wrote in message .au... Is it useful to put shredded paper in compost bins? My compost is too green and wet. I need to add more into it but don't have sawdust. What else could I use? shredded paper is good. dried-out plants/trimmings are good too - i leave mine lying around on the ground (out of the way, naturally) until they're all dried out & then break them up a bit (if necessary) & put them in in a layer in the bin. you can also use dried-out leaves (esp in autumn!) and/or dried-out grass clippings, etc. any dried-out plant material you trust not to be weedy & isn't too big, basically. my compost was like yours, a bit smelly & rank & i used to need to lime it quite a bit, but with adding layers of torn paper or dried out garden trimmings interspersed with the layers of "soft" composting material, i find i am not needing to lime any more & it's just breaking down quicker & more nicely. apparently the dried-out materials will add carbon for better balance, as well as breaking up the continual addition of "soft" layers, so there's better aeration as well, which aids the process. i squirt a bit of water on if it's very dry, to get it going. kylie Wow Love those worms!! |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Single-shred mulch | Texas | |||
Shred this | United Kingdom | |||
Paper or Plastic | Edible Gardening | |||
graph paper | Edible Gardening | |||
questions about paper companies | alt.forestry |