"Judith in France" wrote in message
...
On Jul 13, 7:09 pm, "Spider" wrote:
This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins and
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. I am so smug,
it's painful! I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going to be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. I put in a good
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water only
rarely if the contents seem dry. They are cold heaps, although they get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. Might just as well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

Spit, I'm jealous, my 2 bins look as if they are going very slowly
despite the contents of... er.. ehm, bladders :-)

Judith

I stopped doing that ... the neighbours got pi**ed off! :~)
Have you tried adding pests to your bins? I put in snails (*not* slugs),
woodlice and, if needs be, ants. They really break it down well. I add an
ant or two (oodles more soon join them), plus something sweet, and let them
get on with it. They generally disappear by the end of the season, but you
can make them disappear by thoroughly wetting the compost, which they hate.
However, I didn't need to employ them last season as things were cooking
along nicely.

All these creatures naturally break down organic material, so are good
'ingredients'. Although I tried slugs, they simply refuse to eat themselves
to death, so they persist and are generally unpleasant :~(. Snails chomp
away for a while but, by the time I empty my bins, they are just empty
shells. These are good for cane toppers.

Spider

"June Hughes" wrote in message
news
In message
,
Judith in France writes
On Jul 14, 11:46 am, "Spider" wrote:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message

...



On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:09:21 +0100, "Spider"
wrote:

This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins
and
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. I am so
smug,
it's painful! I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going to
be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. I put in a
good
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water
only
rarely if the contents seem dry. They are cold heaps, although they
get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. Might just as
well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

The late Geoffrey Smith once said that compost should be such that you
could fancy it in a sandwich. Anyone fancy a sandwich?

Pam in Bristol

Mine looked really yummy. I offered RG ('Him indoors') compost pie for
dinner, but he turned it down. There's no pleasing some people.

Spider

LOL. I have been adding chicken poo to mine and it seems to be
working, without it, the contents hadn't even started to break down, b

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.
--
June Hughes


Agreed; but so do I - and I don't smell as much :~))

Spider

On Jul 14, 11:54*am, June Hughes
wrote:
In message
,
Judith in France writes



On Jul 14, 11:46*am, "Spider" wrote:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message

. ..

On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:09:21 +0100, "Spider"
wrote:

This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins and
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. *I am so
smug,
it's painful! *I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going to be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. *I put in a good
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water only
rarely if the contents seem dry. *They are cold heaps, although they get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. *Might just as
well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

The late Geoffrey Smith once said that compost should be such that you
could fancy it in a sandwich. *Anyone fancy a sandwich?

Pam in Bristol

Mine looked really yummy. *I offered RG ('Him indoors') compost pie for
dinner, but he turned it down. *There's no pleasing some people.

Spider

LOL. *I have been adding chicken poo to mine and it seems to be
working, without it, the contents hadn't even started to *break down, b

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.
--
June Hughes

So I'm told, still waiting to see it though.

In message , Spider
writes

"June Hughes" wrote in message
news
In message
,
Judith in France writes
On Jul 14, 11:46 am, "Spider" wrote:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message

...



On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:09:21 +0100, "Spider"
wrote:

This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins
and
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. I am so
smug,
it's painful! I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going to
be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. I put in a
good
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water
only
rarely if the contents seem dry. They are cold heaps, although they
get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. Might just as
well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

The late Geoffrey Smith once said that compost should be such that you
could fancy it in a sandwich. Anyone fancy a sandwich?

Pam in Bristol

Mine looked really yummy. I offered RG ('Him indoors') compost pie for
dinner, but he turned it down. There's no pleasing some people.

Spider

LOL. I have been adding chicken poo to mine and it seems to be
working, without it, the contents hadn't even started to break down, b

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.
--
June Hughes


Agreed; but so do I - and I don't smell as much :~))

Spider


G When it has rotted down, it doesn't smell at all.
--
June Hughes

On Jul 14, 12:07*pm, "Spider" wrote:
"June Hughes" wrote in message

news


In message
,
Judith in France writes
On Jul 14, 11:46 am, "Spider" wrote:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message

...

On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:09:21 +0100, "Spider"
wrote:

This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins
and
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. I am so
smug,
it's painful! I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going to
be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. I put in a
good
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water
only
rarely if the contents seem dry. They are cold heaps, although they
get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. Might just as
well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

The late Geoffrey Smith once said that compost should be such that you
could fancy it in a sandwich. Anyone fancy a sandwich?

Pam in Bristol

Mine looked really yummy. I offered RG ('Him indoors') compost pie for
dinner, but he turned it down. There's no pleasing some people.

Spider

LOL. *I have been adding chicken poo to mine and it seems to be
working, without it, the contents hadn't even started to *break down, b

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.
--
June Hughes

Agreed; but so do I - and I don't smell as much :~))

Spider

Young woman, are you suggesting I smell of eau de chicken poo? I
usually smell of Chanel number 5 LOL According to someone I know,
they would say they both smell the same, Philistine!!!

On Jul 14, 12:06*pm, "Spider" wrote:
"Judith in France" wrote in ...
On Jul 13, 7:09 pm, "Spider" wrote:



This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins and
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. I am so smug,
it's painful! I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going to be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. I put in a good
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water only
rarely if the contents seem dry. They are cold heaps, although they get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. Might just as well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

Spit, I'm jealous, my 2 bins look as if they are going very slowly
despite the contents of... er.. ehm, bladders :-)

Judith

I stopped doing that ... the neighbours got pi**ed off! :~)
Have you tried adding pests to your bins? *I put in snails (*not* slugs),
woodlice and, if needs be, ants. *They really break it down well. *I add an
ant or two (oodles more soon join them), plus something sweet, and let them
get on with it. *They generally disappear by the end of the season, but you
can make them disappear by thoroughly wetting the compost, which they hate.
However, I didn't need to employ them last season as things were cooking
along nicely.

All these creatures naturally break down organic material, so are good
'ingredients'. *Although I tried slugs, they simply refuse to eat themselves
to death, so they persist and are generally unpleasant :~(. *Snails chomp
away for a while but, by the time I empty my bins, they are just empty
shells. *These are good for cane toppers.

Spider

So I need to go on an ant hunt? I will definitely try the snails, we
are expecting rain after a very hot and humid day yesterday, so I will
be on the lookout.

Judith

In message , Spider
writes

snip
Have you tried adding pests to your bins? I put in snails (*not* slugs),
woodlice and, if needs be, ants. They really break it down well. I add an
ant or two (oodles more soon join them), plus something sweet, and let them
get on with it. They generally disappear by the end of the season, but you
can make them disappear by thoroughly wetting the compost, which they hate.
However, I didn't need to employ them last season as things were cooking
along nicely.

Oh dear. I put slugs _and_ snails in mine. Why shouldn't you?
(Whatever you say, I am not prepared to go delving through the compost
bin to dig out the slugs )
All these creatures naturally break down organic material, so are good
'ingredients'. Although I tried slugs, they simply refuse to eat themselves
to death, so they persist and are generally unpleasant :~(. Snails chomp
away for a while but, by the time I empty my bins, they are just empty
shells. These are good for cane toppers.

Ah! You have answered my question. I like the idea of snail shells as
cane toppers but I generally tread on them, so defeat the purpose. Must
try not to and put them straight into the compost instead. I was at
Barnsdale Gardens on Sunday and they used old, small plant pots as cane
toppers. A bit like Mr McGregor.
--
June Hughes

In message
,
Judith in France writes
On Jul 14, 12:07*pm, "Spider" wrote:
"June Hughes" wrote in message

news


In message
,
Judith in France writes
On Jul 14, 11:46 am, "Spider" wrote:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message

...

On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:09:21 +0100, "Spider"
wrote:

This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins
and
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. I am so
smug,
it's painful! I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going to
be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. I put in a
good
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water
only
rarely if the contents seem dry. They are cold heaps, although they
get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. Might just as
well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

The late Geoffrey Smith once said that compost should be such that you
could fancy it in a sandwich. Anyone fancy a sandwich?

Pam in Bristol

Mine looked really yummy. I offered RG ('Him indoors') compost pie for
dinner, but he turned it down. There's no pleasing some people.

Spider

LOL. *I have been adding chicken poo to mine and it seems to be
working, without it, the contents hadn't even started to *break down, b

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.
--
June Hughes

Agreed; but so do I - and I don't smell as much :~))

Spider

Young woman, are you suggesting I smell of eau de chicken poo? I
usually smell of Chanel number 5 LOL According to someone I know,
they would say they both smell the same, Philistine!!!

Certainly not but as you called me 'young woman' I forgive you for even
thinking it. I wear Chanel no 5 too, so at least we wouldn't clash
--
June Hughes

On Jul 14, 11:54*am, June Hughes
wrote:

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.

Yeah but....how do you get the chickens to poo on the compost heap?
Litter trays for cats works very well but toilet training chickens -
you must be winding us up!

Incidently adding slugs and snails is an interesting idea - of course
here in Essex all the slugs wear shell suits!

"moghouse" wrote in message
...
On Jul 14, 11:54 am, June Hughes
wrote:

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.

Yeah but....how do you get the chickens to poo on the compost heap?
Litter trays for cats works very well but toilet training chickens -
you must be winding us up!

Incidently adding slugs and snails is an interesting idea - of course
here in Essex all the slugs wear shell suits!

......................................

A goodly sprinkling of chicken pellets, as purchased from your Garden Centre
;-)

--
Mike

The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?
www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk

In message
,
moghouse writes
On Jul 14, 11:54*am, June Hughes
wrote:

Chicken poo makes wonderful compost.

Yeah but....how do you get the chickens to poo on the compost heap?
Litter trays for cats works very well but toilet training chickens -
you must be winding us up!

G now you are winding me up. You scoop it up and put it in the
compost of course. Many years ago I bought a dog toilet and it took a
while to realise that you couldn't train the dog to poo in it but had to
put the poo in there yourself. What a waste of time, space and
everything else

Incidently adding slugs and snails is an interesting idea - of course
here in Essex all the slugs wear shell suits!

G

--
June Hughes

Hi Spider,
I have just started composting this year on a large scale with 3 large wooden compost bins husband errected for me, I too have some good compost but showing my ignorance what do you do to sieve the compost? Many thanks Debs in Bristol

On 2009-07-14 11:48:38 +0100, Judith in France
said:

On Jul 14, 11:46*am, "Spider" wrote:
"Pam Moore" wrote in message

...



On Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:09:21 +0100, "Spider"
wrote:

This weekend I sieved through the contents of one of my compost bins an
d
gained a huge quantity of the most glorious crumbly compost. *I am so
smug,
it's painful! *I have three other bins which are ready, so I'm going
to be
impossible to live with this week :~)).

The bins are simply ex-dustbins, upended or well-holed. *I put in a g
ood
variety of materials, mix them (but not *that* often) and add water onl
y
rarely if the contents seem dry. *They are cold heaps, although they
get
quite hot in summer, so they've taken about 9 months to produce this
really
splendid stuff.

I just need some rain now, so I can spread it as mulch. *Might just a
s
well
let the worms finish the job :~)

Spider

The late Geoffrey Smith once said that compost should be such that you
could fancy it in a sandwich. *Anyone fancy a sandwich?

Pam in Bristol

Mine looked really yummy. *I offered RG ('Him indoors') compost pie for
dinner, but he turned it down. *There's no pleasing some people.

Spider

LOL. I have been adding chicken poo to mine and it seems to be
working, without it, the contents hadn't even started to break down, b

Chicken manure makes very strong compost though so either dilute it and
water on as a feed or wait a year for it to break down a bit.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

On 2009-07-14 12:14:29 +0100, June Hughes
said:

In message , Spider
writes

snip
Have you tried adding pests to your bins? I put in snails (*not* slugs),
woodlice and, if needs be, ants. They really break it down well. I add an
ant or two (oodles more soon join them), plus something sweet, and let them
get on with it. They generally disappear by the end of the season, but you
can make them disappear by thoroughly wetting the compost, which they hate.
However, I didn't need to employ them last season as things were cooking
along nicely.

Oh dear. I put slugs _and_ snails in mine. Why shouldn't you?
(Whatever you say, I am not prepared to go delving through the compost
bin to dig out the slugs )
All these creatures naturally break down organic material, so are good
'ingredients'. Although I tried slugs, they simply refuse to eat themselves
to death, so they persist and are generally unpleasant :~(. Snails chomp
away for a while but, by the time I empty my bins, they are just empty
shells. These are good for cane toppers.

Ah! You have answered my question. I like the idea of snail shells as
cane toppers but I generally tread on them, so defeat the purpose.
Must try not to and put them straight into the compost instead. I was
at Barnsdale Gardens on Sunday and they used old, small plant pots as
cane toppers. A bit like Mr McGregor.

Charlie uses wine corks, she says sneakily. Just to be fair, I should
probably explain that he doesn't drink the contents of every bottle
they once topped but gets given a lot!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

In message , Sacha
writes
On 2009-07-14 12:14:29 +0100, June Hughes
said:

In message , Spider
writes

snip
Have you tried adding pests to your bins? I put in snails (*not* slugs),
woodlice and, if needs be, ants. They really break it down well. I add an
ant or two (oodles more soon join them), plus something sweet, and let them
get on with it. They generally disappear by the end of the season, but you
can make them disappear by thoroughly wetting the compost, which they hate.
However, I didn't need to employ them last season as things were cooking
along nicely.

Oh dear. I put slugs _and_ snails in mine. Why shouldn't you?
(Whatever you say, I am not prepared to go delving through the compost
bin to dig out the slugs )
All these creatures naturally break down organic material, so are good
'ingredients'. Although I tried slugs, they simply refuse to eat themselves
to death, so they persist and are generally unpleasant :~(. Snails chomp
away for a while but, by the time I empty my bins, they are just empty
shells. These are good for cane toppers.

Ah! You have answered my question. I like the idea of snail shells
as cane toppers but I generally tread on them, so defeat the purpose.
Must try not to and put them straight into the compost instead. I was
at Barnsdale Gardens on Sunday and they used old, small plant pots as
cane toppers. A bit like Mr McGregor.

Charlie uses wine corks, she says sneakily. Just to be fair, I should
probably explain that he doesn't drink the contents of every bottle
they once topped but gets given a lot!

That sounds like a good idea too, Sacha. Someone here once suggested
using corks as drainage in pots and I collect them and do that. I also
use old broken household crockery and it brings back good memories when
I empty out a plant, either when it has died or I pot it on, and see the
bits of old, sometimes well loved crockery. If sounds a bit daffy but
it works for me.
--
June Hughes