[juliec]

Hi all,

we have a paper shredder at work and whilst shredding some documents today I wondered if this paper would be any good in the compost heap?

any one have any ideas, its normal white computer paper 


Many thanks

Jools

[Jamie Butterworth]

Yep, it is good as a 'brown' material to put in the compost bin, if you were to just have 'green' materials like veg peelings and grass clippings then it wouldnt produce too good compost, you need 'brown' materials like shredded paper and card to equal it out, i think its best if its put into layers, 1 layer of green then 1 of brown etc.

[noshed]

Jamie is right - it rots down lovely and what could be more secure than passing all your secrets through a worm? Keep in in shallow layers with the tea bags and apple peelings in between - a few comfrey leaves makes it rot down really quickly.

[operabunny]

Shredded paper traps air pockets really well, which is great for the health and efficiency of your compost heap.

[JayG]

Jamie is right - it rots down lovely and what could be more secure than passing all your secrets through a worm? Keep in in shallow layers with the tea bags and apple peelings in between - a few comfrey leaves makes it rot down really quickly.

Used to have a girlfriend who did that (made me feel very insecure!)     


(Seriously, shredded paper is a great addition to the compost heap; it retains moisture well once wetted and is also easy to mix in with the other ingredients. Also something strangely satisfying about the thought of growing next year's vegetables in this year's bills/bank statements etc!) 

[RichardA]

just dont leave the office boy to do the shredding - he shredded envelopes with the little plastic windows, shredded out of date credit cards, shredded plastic dividers etc etc == not good to be picking it out of the compost heap a year later
R

[compostqueen]

Speaking of compost, I emptied some of my black dalek bin today and it was booootiful stuff. I used it on a slumped raised bed before bunging in some onions 

[veggieman]

Don't forget to get the man of the house to (ahem!) pee into the compost bin occasionally!

[sunshineband]

Keeping compost moist enough is essential, espcially in the daleks 

[Jamie Butterworth]

My next door neighbour was telling me last year to never let the compost get damp, that it must  be bone dry at all times

Anyway, i did as i was told by him because my dad believed him (my dad known for his gardening skills) and ended up with rubbish compost

[RichardA]

moisture level is more critical in my opinion than temperature. Wet is wrong but so is dry. Composting for the best results relies on worms and moisture is vital to them
R

[compostqueen]

I keep mine watered. I keep a leaky watering can especially    I watered it today when I topped it up with spent courgette plants. I added some comfrey leaves too

[juliec]

OMG Veggie man with 3 grandsons running about Id better not mention peeing in the compost!!!!!

Although my son did tell me that a friend of his and his dad keep a pee bucket in the shed to pee in to put on the tomatoes, not sure if it works but they seem to  think it does, the only thing was they then offered my son a ham and tomato sandwich, which he couldnt bring him self to eat as he knew what was in the tomato!

[compostqueen]

Pee in compost acts as an activator and it does work but then so does comfrey but both get added to my bins on the lotty.  "Lady water"  apparently is not as good as male pee but better than nothing I'd say   

If you want to make the best compost ......... 

[granjan]

Pee in compost acts as an activator and it does work but then so does comfrey but both get added to my bins on the lotty.  "Lady water"  apparently is not as good as male pee but better than nothing I'd say   

If you want to make the best compost ......... 

Which begs the questions, does "lady water" get better with age i.e. post-menopausal?    We must be good for something