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Posted by pjgolf (U2469936) on Wednesday, 9th February 2011
Bit of a long title but here goes.
My compost bins have been sitting on the allotment all winter and not doing much (understandable beacuse of the cold)
I did some research and found that some people use alfalfa to get their compost moving again in spring. I bought some alfalfa horse feed which is is chopped and dried. I layered up the bins using a couple of handfulls of the stuff inbetween layers and the results have been fantastic. All of my bins have now heated up and started working again.
Just wondering if anybody else had any other sugegstions or methods for getting their compost going.
The alfalfa was £10 for a big 20kg bag which sounds a bit steep but I have loads left and it will probably last me all year.
PJ
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
Peeing in it is supposed to work wonders! If you're a male, the female product isn't so good apparently!
Lottie
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Wednesday, 9th February 2011
It sounds as if you've done the right thing P.J. Did you turn the compost over when you introduced this stuff ? Where the heck to you find Alfalfa (apart from the first page of a dictionary!) Cheers, Tony.
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
Hi Tony.
I found it at a pet store called Milbury Hill. Not sure if it`s a national chain but they sell lots of Horse feed
Yes, I made a new bin full with stuff from the other bins layered up with this stuff. It works a treat. I`m going to use this every time in the future.
PJ
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
, in reply to message 2.
Posted by Playingtimeaddedon (U14150224) on Wednesday, 9th February 2011
Sprinkling Sulphate of Amonia has the same effect whatalottie, and has the benefit of being easier to do, and is less likely to see you up before the beak on a charge of indecent exposure!
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
, in reply to message 2.
Posted by duckieswife (U13911608) on Thursday, 10th February 2011
Please don't think I'm being rude or sexist, but why is male wee better than female? Urine is urine, regardless of who it comes from, isn't it?
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
, in reply to message 6.
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Thursday, 10th February 2011
Chaps have the apparatus to distribute the activator more evenly ! Cheers, Tony.
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
I read that its something to do with the female hormones not being as helpful
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
Sorry Tony, but you're wrong for once.
Nothing to do with apparatus--- DEFinitely hormones!
Female gardener here, OH has no interest in garden except for cutting lawns- and enjoying the fruits of my labour-- but he is quite useful at providing samples for compost heap and brassicas!!!
Link to this forum: Things to get your compost bin going after winter
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