On 8/11/07 12:27, in article
, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 09:45:11 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :
snip

I've been trying to Google the archives for Judith Lea's hilarious
description of her attempts to use nature's way. Why on earth can't I use
those blasted archives any more - they deny all knowledge of me, Judith,
compost, accelerator, stairs and even gold slippers! ;-)


Searching the Google archives isn't nearly as easy as it used to be. I think
you may be referring to the posting by Jenny, subject was "Urinating on
compost (ladies only)" dated 2nd June 2001. Not sure if this link will work
but here goes:

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk..../thread/493278
3711233dc8/b0c151a44156e012?lnk=st&q=group%3Auk.rec.gardening +insubject%3Aurin
ating#b0c151a44156e012


No, that's not the one but thanks for looking, Sally. It was Judith's
account of storing her 'accelerator' and then falling over while carrying
it...... At one time I think I suggested a sort of urg's 'Golden Moments'
addition to the FAQ, including that story but one way and another we never
got round to it. I'll have to keep hunting but yes,, Google really is a
pain!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

On 6 Nov, 18:59, "CWatters" wrote:
mostly grass clipings from a paddock. Seems reluctant to decompose despite being watered. The inside is still dry and dusty and look more like straw.

Anything I can do to speed up the process? I've been adding leaves now that we have loads falling.

You may have too much nitrogenous material in the heap, adding the
leaves will help but they are notoriously slow to break down. A
better idea would be to mix the grass cuttings with strawy material or
shredded paper in the ratio of 1 volume of grass cuttings to 1 volume
of shredded paper. Also the more you mix the material the faster it
will compost - the best way I've found is to fork one pile into an
adjacent pile at up to weekly intervals. It should be damp but not wet
- about as wet as a damp sponge and it should be the same consistency
all the way through - if you have wet or dry areas it needs more
mixing.

The best thing to do with the leaves is stuff them in a bin liner, put
a garden fork through it 2 - 3 times, leave it out of the way
somewhere and forget about it for a couple of years.

Hope this helps

"CWatters" wrote in message
...
Got a huge compost heap - mostly grass clipings from a paddock. Seems
reluctant to decompose despite being watered. The inside is still dry and
dusty and look more like straw.

If you have a paddock you have the ideal accompliment for the compost heap,
all the deposites from the horses will do a wonderful job!

Anything I can do to speed up the process? I've been adding leaves now
that
we have loads falling.

"Sheila" wrote in message
.uk...

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...

No, no, it's definitely a man thing! (a) they have the equipment and (b)
they have different hormones. I'm told that Copella fruit juice bottles
are
quite convenient because they have a large enough opening.

No commentg.

One man should be enough - in a compost sense I mean. Apply daily (just
watch the double-entendres in that one!).



ah, right, so I have to get my hubby to go out there then...... that
should save us getting a downstairs loo then!

And think of all the water you will save from not having to flush the loo!

"Sheila" wrote in message
. uk...

"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 7 Nov 2007 12:01:32 -0000, "TheScullster"
wrote:


"CWatters" wrote

Anything I can do to speed up the process? I've been adding leaves now
that
we have loads falling.



What the others have said and add Garrotta

and stand with your back to the wind.
--

Martin


my mind boggles, I try to visualise myself trying to balance on the top
of mine, its taller than me.....plus I'm a lady...... then some bright
spark says, why not put it in a jug........

Or a bucket, a lady can manage to deposit the stuff into a bucket!

actually, how much do we actually need? or how often!

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...
On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 09:45:11 +0000, Sacha wrote
(in article ) :

On 8/11/07 08:17, in article ,
"David in Normandy" wrote:

In article , R says...

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...
On Wed, 7 Nov 2007 16:51:11 +0000, Sheila wrote
(in article ) :


"Martin" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 7 Nov 2007 12:01:32 -0000, "TheScullster"

wrote:


"CWatters" wrote

Anything I can do to speed up the process? I've been adding leaves
now
that
we have loads falling.

What the others have said and add Garrotta

and stand with your back to the wind.

my mind boggles, I try to visualise myself trying to balance on the
top
of
mine, its taller than me.....plus I'm a lady...... then some bright
spark
says, why not put it in a jug........

actually, how much do we actually need? or how often!

No, no, it's definitely a man thing! (a) they have the equipment and
(b)
they have different hormones. I'm told that Copella fruit juice
bottles
are
quite convenient because they have a large enough opening.

Sorry..........not big enough.................BTDTGTTS ;-)

Now trying a wine carafe......


No commentg.

One man should be enough - in a compost sense I mean. Apply daily
(just
watch the double-entendres in that one!).

Old detergent bottles are good. Just pull out the pouring spout if there
is one. Extra wide neck etc. Ideal.

I've been trying to Google the archives for Judith Lea's hilarious
description of her attempts to use nature's way. Why on earth can't I
use
those blasted archives any more - they deny all knowledge of me, Judith,
compost, accelerator, stairs and even gold slippers! ;-)


Searching the Google archives isn't nearly as easy as it used to be. I
think
you may be referring to the posting by Jenny, subject was "Urinating on
compost (ladies only)" dated 2nd June 2001. Not sure if this link will
work
but here goes:

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk..../thread/493278
3711233dc8/b0c151a44156e012?lnk=st&q=group%3Auk.rec.gardening +insubject%3Aurin
ating#b0c151a44156e012

It didn't work here, I was hoping to see a demonstration!(:-)

"K" wrote in message
...

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...

One man should be enough - in a compost sense I mean. Apply daily
(just
watch the double-entendres in that one!).



There doesn't seem to be an upper limit. Best and sweetest compost I ever
made was in a mini-heap in a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft hole which took about half
the total daily output of two people

The problem I have with depositing it directly on the heap is that my garden
is overlooked by a couple of neighbours!

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...


Or a bucket, a lady can manage to deposit the stuff into a bucket!


Those of the sailing fraternity will be familiar with the expression,
"Bucket and chuck it"

Kind regards

Mike
AKA 'Popeye'

:-)


--
www.rneba.org.uk for the latest pictures of the very first reunion and
Inaugural General Meeting. Nothing less than a fantastic success.
The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy
www.rneba.org.uk to find your ex-Greenie mess mates
www.iowtours.com for all ex-Service Reunions. More being added regularly
"Navy Days" Portsmouth 25th - 27th July 2008. RN Shipmates will have a Stand

No, no, it's definitely a man thing! (a) they have the equipment and (b)
they have different hormones. I'm told that Copella fruit juice bottles
are
quite convenient because they have a large enough opening.


Best bottles are.... Fabric Conditioner ones, lovely large opening :-0

"Campa-Man" wrote in message
...

No, no, it's definitely a man thing! (a) they have the equipment and (b)
they have different hormones. I'm told that Copella fruit juice bottles
are
quite convenient because they have a large enough opening.


Best bottles are.... Fabric Conditioner ones, lovely large opening :-0


Talking personally, just checked one and it's not big enough

Kind regards

Mike


--
www.rneba.org.uk for the latest pictures of the very first reunion and
Inaugural General Meeting. Nothing less than a fantastic success.
The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association.
'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy
www.rneba.org.uk to find your ex-Greenie mess mates
www.iowtours.com for all ex-Service Reunions. More being added regularly
"Navy Days" Portsmouth 25th - 27th July 2008. RN Shipmates will have a Stand

Campa-Man writes

No, no, it's definitely a man thing! (a) they have the equipment and (b)
they have different hormones. I'm told that Copella fruit juice bottles
are
quite convenient because they have a large enough opening.


Best bottles are.... Fabric Conditioner ones, lovely large opening :-0


And built-in odour control, according to a wild-camping friend of mine
--
Kay

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"K" wrote in message
...

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...

One man should be enough - in a compost sense I mean. Apply daily
(just
watch the double-entendres in that one!).



There doesn't seem to be an upper limit. Best and sweetest compost I
ever
made was in a mini-heap in a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft hole which took about half
the total daily output of two people

The problem I have with depositing it directly on the heap is that my
garden
is overlooked by a couple of neighbours!


At least they would have the sense to look away. I would have the neighbours
horse right behind me.

"Deubug" wrote in message
oups.com...
On 6 Nov, 18:59, "CWatters" wrote:
mostly grass clipings from a paddock. Seems reluctant to decompose
despite being watered. The inside is still dry and dusty and look more like
straw.

Anything I can do to speed up the process? I've been adding leaves now
that we have loads falling.

You may have too much nitrogenous material in the heap, adding the
leaves will help but they are notoriously slow to break down. A
better idea would be to mix the grass cuttings with strawy material or
shredded paper in the ratio of 1 volume of grass cuttings to 1 volume
of shredded paper. Also the more you mix the material the faster it
will compost - the best way I've found is to fork one pile into an
adjacent pile at up to weekly intervals. It should be damp but not wet
- about as wet as a damp sponge and it should be the same consistency
all the way through - if you have wet or dry areas it needs more
mixing.

The best thing to do with the leaves is stuff them in a bin liner, put
a garden fork through it 2 - 3 times, leave it out of the way
somewhere and forget about it for a couple of years.


My trees have been producing 300-400 Liters of leaves every other day for
the last two weeks

I know because the grass box on my new mower has a 300 L capacity! I'm
hoping the last lot blow away tonight.

Alan Holmes writes

"K" wrote in message
...

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...

One man should be enough - in a compost sense I mean. Apply daily
(just
watch the double-entendres in that one!).



There doesn't seem to be an upper limit. Best and sweetest compost I ever
made was in a mini-heap in a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft hole which took about half
the total daily output of two people

The problem I have with depositing it directly on the heap is that my garden
is overlooked by a couple of neighbours!

Well, we didn't deposit directly. We used a bucket.


--
Kay

"K" wrote in message
...
Alan Holmes writes

"K" wrote in message
...

"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
al.net...

One man should be enough - in a compost sense I mean. Apply daily
(just
watch the double-entendres in that one!).



There doesn't seem to be an upper limit. Best and sweetest compost I
ever
made was in a mini-heap in a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft hole which took about half
the total daily output of two people

The problem I have with depositing it directly on the heap is that my
garden
is overlooked by a couple of neighbours!

Well, we didn't deposit directly. We used a bucket.

Why did you bother with a bucket, it is possible to put it on directly!