[duckling]

I'm a composting newbee as we are setting up our 1st veg patch in our building site of a garden!  I have concerns about the Compost heap as we have loads of leaves from the 3 enoumous trees we have in the garden, loads of ash from the log burner and chicken poo and hay from the hens.  I don't get much kitchen waste because that is either fed to the chickens or the dogs.

My question is- can you get a decent compost from leaves, ash and chicken poo? :roll:

[joshwain]

you should do.

Rotted leaves make a good topsoil on theirselfs anyway, so with the added nutrition, brilliant!

[nicchick]

Have you asked any friends and neighbours for compostables? I hadn't thought of it but the family who live next door to our lotty just offered us their peelings! I also managed to ask our fruit and veg man for old leaves and he reckons he can sort out a bag of greens for our chickens every week, so a good day for recycling all round! Most people are pretty keen to not put this stuff in landfill but have no choice. Nic.

[joshwain]

good to feel so green asking around for stuff

at first you just feel cheeky, but after, you realise your doing your bit for the world...

[Poolfield2]

I'm a composting newbee as we are setting up our 1st veg patch in our building site of a garden!  I have concerns about the Compost heap as we have loads of leaves from the 3 enoumous trees we have in the garden, loads of ash from the log burner and chicken poo and hay from the hens.  I don't get much kitchen waste because that is either fed to the chickens or the dogs.

My question is- can you get a decent compost from leaves, ash and chicken poo? :roll:

The heap will probably need watering to break down efficiently cos all of the things you list are dry.

[joshwain]

i forgot to add that chicken poo is a great fertilizer as well, so that added to your compost will make gold

[Lee G]

I thought leaves needed to be composted on their own as they took 2 years to break down?

I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time  

[joshwain]

They don't need to be but its hardly noticeable in the compost that they aren't fully broken down...

[AndyRVTR]

I thought leaves needed to be composted on their own as they took 2 years to break down?

I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time  

Try adding Garota... it will speed up the breakdown process...

[Oscar Too]

I'd be inclined to compost the leaves separately, throw the ash straight onto the veg patch, and then compost the hay and poo separately if space allows.

But you should be fine.

[joshwain]

compost comes out better with a wider variety of waste...

[duckling]

Thank you people for all your adivce - I'm trying to coax hubby into making something up with pallots over the weekend.  Got a lot to live up to when you see Munt and Aggy's shed though!   :oops:  The standards are so high.

[mrsdirtyboots]

Hi,

You could add your dirty washing up water to the heap.  It's got lots of small food scraps and the water to help the leaves break down so should speed things up (though we find the chicken manure really keeps things hot).

Good luck

[Poolfield2]

Hi,

You could add your dirty washing up water to the heap.  It's got lots of small food scraps and the water to help the leaves break down so should speed things up (though we find the chicken manure really keeps things hot).

Good luck

Haven't met you on here before so may I say welcome to the forum. Just be careful, this site is addictive

[mrsdirtyboots]

Ta very much!  I think it will have to be a once a week(ish) visit or I could spend way too long here!