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#1
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
Today I became the proud owner of a paper shredder. I have been wanting one of those for ages. Free compost from my local newspaper baron! Oh joy. I have been fondly anticipating this day and have been saving up my waste deliberately for some time now. Bulks up a bit dunnit. So, we come to the nub of the problem. I figure I can pre-compost the small mountain of shreddings coming my way soon in a semi controlled environment prior to mixing with general compost material for a longer decompose. I plan to do this by adding an accelerant, some water, perhaps some worms and a handful or two of ready fermented compost and dirt to the council provided eminently biodegradable especially for the purpose plastic bag(s) they are going to be in. The questions a- How long before the bags crumble to dust? They may have to live in partial sunlight. How much water? I was thinking of 1:1 by weight but it is a guess. How many worms, Some or Lots and depending on the answer to the first question, do they need holes? How much dirt? 1:1 again. -- steve auvache A Bloo one with built in safety features |
#2
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
"steve auvache" wrote in message ... Today I became the proud owner of a paper shredder. I have been wanting one of those for ages. Free compost from my local newspaper baron! Oh joy. I have been fondly anticipating this day and have been saving up my waste deliberately for some time now. Bulks up a bit dunnit. So, we come to the nub of the problem. I figure I can pre-compost the small mountain of shreddings coming my way soon in a semi controlled environment prior to mixing with general compost material for a longer decompose. I plan to do this by adding an accelerant, some water, perhaps some worms and a handful or two of ready fermented compost and dirt to the council provided eminently biodegradable especially for the purpose plastic bag(s) they are going to be in. The questions a- How long before the bags crumble to dust? They may have to live in partial sunlight. How much water? I was thinking of 1:1 by weight but it is a guess. How many worms, Some or Lots and depending on the answer to the first question, do they need holes? How much dirt? 1:1 again. I just put it on the compost heap, not in very large quantities, but fairly evenly distributed with ordinary compost material and grass cuttings, I usually rely pon the rain to give me the water required, but in dry weather a little now and again. If your compost heap is straight on the ground you will not need to add worms, they will find their own way in. I wouldn't bother with putting it in plastic bags, just go straight to the compost heap. You could put some on the heap without shredding it, just as long as it is only a small amount at a time, might be better not left in sheets though, screw it up a bit. |
#3
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
Alan Holmes wrote:
"steve auvache" wrote in message ... Today I became the proud owner of a paper shredder. I have been wanting one of those for ages. Free compost from my local newspaper baron! Oh joy. I have been fondly anticipating this day and have been saving up my waste deliberately for some time now. Bulks up a bit dunnit. So, we come to the nub of the problem. I figure I can pre-compost the small mountain of shreddings coming my way soon in a semi controlled environment prior to mixing with general compost material for a longer decompose. I plan to do this by adding an accelerant, some water, perhaps some worms and a handful or two of ready fermented compost and dirt to the council provided eminently biodegradable especially for the purpose plastic bag(s) they are going to be in. The questions a- How long before the bags crumble to dust? They may have to live in partial sunlight. How much water? I was thinking of 1:1 by weight but it is a guess. How many worms, Some or Lots and depending on the answer to the first question, do they need holes? How much dirt? 1:1 again. I just put it on the compost heap, not in very large quantities, but fairly evenly distributed with ordinary compost material and grass cuttings, I usually rely pon the rain to give me the water required, but in dry weather a little now and again. If your compost heap is straight on the ground you will not need to add worms, they will find their own way in. I wouldn't bother with putting it in plastic bags, just go straight to the compost heap. You could put some on the heap without shredding it, just as long as it is only a small amount at a time, might be better not left in sheets though, screw it up a bit. Ah yes, I have a shredder. I also shred newspaper as well as everything with personal details on. Having a lot of grass cuttings I layer it in the compost heap with the grass, however experience has taught me that it is best to wet the shredded paper beforehand, seems to rot better that way. |
#4
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
In article , Alan Holmes
writes "steve auvache" wrote in message ... Today I became the proud owner of a paper shredder. I have been wanting one of those for ages. Free compost from my local newspaper baron! Oh joy. I have been fondly anticipating this day and have been saving up my waste deliberately for some time now. Bulks up a bit dunnit. I just put it on the compost heap, not in very large quantities, but fairly evenly distributed with ordinary compost material and grass cuttings, I usually rely pon the rain to give me the water required, but in dry weather a little now and again. If your compost heap is straight on the ground you will not need to add worms, they will find their own way in. I wouldn't bother with putting it in plastic bags, just go straight to the compost heap. Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. You could put some on the heap without shredding it, and not play with my new toy, are you mad? -- steve auvache A Bloo one with built in safety features |
#5
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
On Fri, 25 May 2007 14:51:45 +0100, steve auvache
wrote: Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. You're not shredding newspaper are you? In my experience if you just tear it up roughly, and mix it with other compost it will rot down quickly. You will blunt the blades of your shredder too soon if you use newspaper. Personal letters etc are all you need to shred. If you are using an accelerator (urine is the cheapest!) don't add worms as well. Either have a worm bin or an ordinary compost bin/heap. Tearing newspaper is very therapeutic, once you find that broadsheets tear one way and tablloids tear the other. Tear it into strips 3 or 4 inches wide and you will have it done quicker than shredding! If you have lawn mowings, mix that in with the paper. Pam in Bristol |
#6
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
In article , Pam Moore
writes On Fri, 25 May 2007 14:51:45 +0100, steve auvache wrote: Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. You're not shredding newspaper are you? Not yet. Old training manuals at the moment, printed on marketing department friendly recycled bleach free paper. In my experience if you just tear it up roughly, and mix it with other compost it will rot down quickly. As I said I have been saving for this day and judging by the way it is bulking up I will soon have many times the volume of shredded than I have composting capacity with much more waiting in the wings, which is why I want to pre-process it. If you have lawn mowings, mix that in with the paper. I have long since turned the back garden into a veggie plot and am in the process of remaking the front into wild flowers so not a grass clipping in sight. Tbh I don't get that much waste out of it all these days and I view the paper as a real bonus. -- steve auvache A Bloo one with built in safety features |
#7
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
"steve auvache" wrote in message ... In article , Pam Moore writes On Fri, 25 May 2007 14:51:45 +0100, steve auvache wrote: Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. You're not shredding newspaper are you? Not yet. Old training manuals at the moment, printed on marketing department friendly recycled bleach free paper. In my experience if you just tear it up roughly, and mix it with other compost it will rot down quickly. As I said I have been saving for this day and judging by the way it is bulking up I will soon have many times the volume of shredded than I have composting capacity with much more waiting in the wings, which is why I want to pre-process it. If you have lawn mowings, mix that in with the paper. I have long since turned the back garden into a veggie plot and am in the process of remaking the front into wild flowers so not a grass clipping in sight. Tbh I don't get that much waste out of it all these days and I view the paper as a real bonus. Well what's wrong with just burying the stuff in the veg plot. Folk normally just bury unshredded newspaper but I do underasand your need to shred x10:-) -- steve auvache A Bloo one with built in safety features |
#8
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
On Fri, 25 May 2007 18:04:46 +0100, steve auvache
wrote: I have long since turned the back garden into a veggie plot and am in the process of remaking the front into wild flowers so not a grass clipping in sight. Tbh I don't get that much waste out of it all these days and I view the paper as a real bonus. Can you scrounge lawn-mowings from non-composting neighbours? The paper will not rot down easily and quickly unless it has moist nitrogenous material added. You will find it soon compacts down once wet, and you can add more shreddings to the heap/bin as it does so. Pam in Bristol |
#9
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
"steve auvache" wrote in message ... In article , Alan Holmes writes "steve auvache" wrote in message ... Today I became the proud owner of a paper shredder. I have been wanting one of those for ages. Free compost from my local newspaper baron! Oh joy. I have been fondly anticipating this day and have been saving up my waste deliberately for some time now. Bulks up a bit dunnit. I just put it on the compost heap, not in very large quantities, but fairly evenly distributed with ordinary compost material and grass cuttings, I usually rely pon the rain to give me the water required, but in dry weather a little now and again. If your compost heap is straight on the ground you will not need to add worms, they will find their own way in. I wouldn't bother with putting it in plastic bags, just go straight to the compost heap. Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. Just have some patience do it a bit at a time. You could put some on the heap without shredding it, and not play with my new toy, are you mad? Sorry, not thinking prperly, and of course you should use your new toy, but still use the results a little at a time! |
#10
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
steve auvache writes
Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. I put all our cardboard bags as well as all our paper waste on to the compost heap. In winter, the heap is nearly all paper, most of it unshredded. It copes. The worms seem to be particularly fond of thick soggy layers of paper. Can you put a six inch layer of shreddings then find some sort of waste greenery, enough for a six inch layer, or instead about 2 inches of top soil, then another 6 inches of shreddings, and so on? -- Kay |
#11
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
In article , K
writes steve auvache writes Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. I put all our cardboard bags as well as all our paper waste on to the compost heap. In winter, the heap is nearly all paper, most of it unshredded. It copes. The worms seem to be particularly fond of thick soggy layers of paper. Can you put a six inch layer of shreddings then find some sort of waste greenery, enough for a six inch layer, or instead about 2 inches of top soil, then another 6 inches of shreddings, and so on? I can put 6 inch layers on the top time and time again. I have enough coming for many 6 inch layers, probably as many as 40 or 50 six inch layers and nowhere near enough of other stuff to mix with it. -- steve auvache A Bloo one with built in safety features |
#12
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
steve auvache writes
In article , K writes steve auvache writes Problem is that I have a rather large quantity of paper stored ready to shred. Were it a normal week's collection of junk it would not be a problem but the sheer mass of it all calls for special treatment as a one off exercise. I put all our cardboard bags as well as all our paper waste on to the compost heap. In winter, the heap is nearly all paper, most of it unshredded. It copes. The worms seem to be particularly fond of thick soggy layers of paper. Can you put a six inch layer of shreddings then find some sort of waste greenery, enough for a six inch layer, or instead about 2 inches of top soil, then another 6 inches of shreddings, and so on? I can put 6 inch layers on the top time and time again. I have enough coming for many 6 inch layers, probably as many as 40 or 50 six inch layers and nowhere near enough of other stuff to mix with it. OK - go for 20-25 12 inch layers then ;-) I see the size of your problem. Scrounging from neighbours sound like a good idea. Or do you have a community nature area near you? - they might be very glad for you to relieve them of a few bags of nettles or whatever that they've strimmed off. I can see why your want to pre-digest, but id you did this, I think you migh end up with a squalchy mess that was really horrible to work with. -- Kay |
#13
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
In article , Anne Jackson
writes Mind you, you're such a crotchetty old bugger, your neighbours probably don't speak to you... G Oddly enough and here is one for the budding psychologists among you: since all the fences blew down in that last wind, we have all become very buddy buddy and friendly whereas before it was a nod and a grunt on the way to the car in the morning if you were lucky. I approve of my new fenceless environment, and so do my apples. Enough in fact that I was talking to him next door (who is SSW by S of me) the other day and suggested; as/if supplies become available again, if he replaced his fence with something 4 foot shorter I would train my apples along the top in such a way as some would hang over his side which he would be more than welcome to. As proof of concept I showed him the enormous (exceptional in fact) amount of potential fruit hanging from them this year. He seemed like he might be compliant. -- steve auvache A Bloo one with built in safety features |
#14
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
In article , Anne Jackson
writes The message from steve auvache contains these words: How much water? I was thinking of 1:1 by weight but it is a guess. Never mind 'water', pee on the compost. That's the best accelerant there is... Even at my age, with all it implies for quantity and quality of product, there is a limit and at the rate I am stockpiling the shreddings, I shall have a pot to **** in for quite some time to come. Realistically, commercial compost accelerants is the only way for me to go. Although I shall be conducting some comparative tests, just because I can. -- steve auvache A Bloo one with built in safety features |
#15
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Pre Composting Shredded Paper.
On 25/5/07 20:49, in article , "steve
auvache" wrote: In article , Anne Jackson writes The message from steve auvache contains these words: How much water? I was thinking of 1:1 by weight but it is a guess. Never mind 'water', pee on the compost. That's the best accelerant there is... Even at my age, with all it implies for quantity and quality of product, there is a limit and at the rate I am stockpiling the shreddings, I shall have a pot to **** in for quite some time to come. Tsk. With a little imagination and diligence, you could form your own pot in papier maché....! snip -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk (remove weeds from address) |
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