[jacnal]

This is what has been deposited at our site. Is it compost? Allotmenteers are really going for it, filling up wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow and depositing in their plots - would you?



As you can see, there's quite a bit of rubbish in it, but I thought I'd check with you guys first. They wouldn't deposit something bad for the soil or plants or people now, would they? What do you think? Should I go sieve some for my plot before it's all gone - which will be soon, if I go by how many people I saw collect it today, lol!

[muntjac]

its what we call brash .bits of trees smashed up and then part composted .sieve it thru chicken wire then go smaller dumping the rubbish in the skip or using it to fill pathways you can use pallet wood to eaise the sides up and just walk over it ...

[mkhenry]

its what we call brash .bits of trees smashed up and then part composted .sieve it thru chicken wire then go smaller dumping the rubbish in the skip or using it to fill pathways you can use pallet wood to eaise the sides up and just walk over it ...

Munty does this actually have much nutritional value,I know it has bulk but like wood mulch it does not add much goodness to the soil.
In fact too much might have a detrimental affect,unless its on very heavy clay.

[muntjac]

the soil componenet would have some goodness but as you say the rest is rubbish ,, which is why i suggest sieveing it to remove the wood stuff

[jacnal]

I'll definitely sieve some. It not only has wood, but also inorganic stuff like plastic bags, soda cans and even bottles? That's why I had to ask if you guys would use it on your plots. If I had a spare compost bin, I'd fill it up with this stuff and manure, see what the outcome would be...... That would add nutrients to it, huh?

[Trillium]

If it's free, get all you can. It's a bit of a bother to sieve, but the end product is well worth the effort. I'd be out there night and day  
Nutritionally, you can't really compare it to say fertilizer, but it definitely holds its own and is excellent for heavier soils - just check John's diaries and pix. During the growing season you can give specific feeds (eg manure tea, comfrey tea, seaweed, etc) to certain crops to give them further boosts.

[mkhenry]

I'll definitely sieve some. It not only has wood, but also inorganic stuff like plastic bags, soda cans and even bottles? That's why I had to ask if you guys would use it on your plots. If I had a spare compost bin, I'd fill it up with this stuff and manure, see what the outcome would be...... That would add nutrients to it, huh?

Your description puts me off.I can see that free seems a very attractive deal but you maybe importing disease, microbes,and viruses.
Thats would be ok if you could compost it for a while but I would not like to risk it.However if Munty gives it his seal of approval I would not argue

[jacnal]

I'll be there nice and early tomorrow morning, ferrying barrow-fulls of the stuff then. Will sieve once I've at least 5 loads, lol. Great thing most people are at work in the week, and I'm not for now  

My back's still suffering from yesterday's weeding though  

Damn surgery, messing with my gardening  :evil:  Good thing is it's keeping me from work  

[muntjac]

your gonna get bugs etc with anything you import ..... even on ya wellies from walking among the plots mk. worry about it when they come  

[Little Miss Muffet]

where did it come from the council?

[jacnal]

where did it come from the council?

Yep!

[Little Miss Muffet]

why arnt they selling it.?
are council sells compost at the recycling plant but it is nothing like that its actully quite good compost.
could they have given you the dodo what was left from the good stuff.if they have it seems a bit mean.

[muntjac]

cos its basically uncompostable rubbish

[jacnal]

cos its basically uncompostable rubbish

Oh?!

I'll go off to the lottie now and ferry a few barrowfuls anyway. It's all organic matter - I'll leave it in a heap on the side - at the very least it'll help condition my clay soil as I prepare the beds.....

[Trillium]

Seems to me John did this and someone helped themself  

I agree with Munty MKH - you get viruses and bacteria from everything, including the manure which I suspect you spread on your plot