[rideandy]

I need more browns in my compost!
I have loads of the green stuff, just dont seem to get enough brown
At the mo, I have brown.
 
news paper, ripped
loo rolls,ripped
shreaded paper
egg boxes, ripped
some old leafs

Thats about it
More browns needed ,I would love to get hold of Gordon and put him in,lol.
Help please
Cheers
Andy

[peapod]

lol@gordon

try to get hold of some cardboard boxes (ask at your local shop), or if you buy the big boxes of beer from the supermarket then that can go in. Any box that is food packaging (e.g cereal boxes) can go in, as can glossy magazines (according to my tutor whos an absolute fanatic about composting and travels to give lectures over it) they no longer contain detrimental chemicals and are fine for composting.  The contents of your hoover bag (unless you have a huge amount of nylon carpet) can also go in. Even my filter fluff from my tumble drier goes in mine.

[Swing Swang]

Try your local newsagent. Often unsold local rags don't get returned for credit -  the newsagent just returns the mastheads and junks the rest. If you're prepared to do the shredding they're better off in your compost heap than in land fill.

[rideandy]

Cheers chaps
I was not sure about cardboard with printing on.
My hoover bag has lots of cat hair in ,is that ok??
Thanks again

[peapod]

cat hair is fine....I get loads of dogs hair, and I can honestly say Ive never found a hair in my finished compost

[Ivor Backache]

Sawdust is another good brown. Secret is to mix it well and get the air into it, Soon heat up

[littlepete]

as i am new to this compost lark could you give me some more info on what you do

[peapod]

forgot to add wood ash from my chiminea when we have a few drinkies outside with friends

[peapod]

Try this littlepete

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/compost_pf.php

[GillyHen]

if you have cats, use pine pellets in their litter tray, and put the wee'd on pellets that have turned to sawdust in

[DD.]

forgot to add wood ash from my chiminea when we have a few drinkies outside with friends

Paula's compost in the past has in fact been found to be wood ash heavy!

[littlepete]

thanks for that peapod

[GrannieAnnie]

We've got plenty of chicken poop with straw and shavings! and ash where Brian is burning it!

[BazTheGardener]

Does it matter if the wood shavings are from hard woods as I've got a couple of bags of shavings from my wood turning but they are all exotic hardwoods.

[andreadon]

i'm assuming you're already adding your kitchen waste?
egg shells, crushed up?
teabags (make sure you rip the bags before adding them)
banana skins.

straw is a good one, grannie

old compost

i'd love to have this problem! my compost is mostly brown with hardly any green at all!!  

(i think hardwoods would just take longer to go down, but if you mix it all in well, it shouldn't matter )