[al78]

I have finally got round to rebuilding my pallet compost bin, adding a second container to dump green stuff whilst the other container contains material in the process of rotting down. All the pallets are securely screwed together to make the whole thing solid and robust, at least until the pallets start decaying. Having shifted rotted material and replaced with the big pile of stuff that I piled up over last year because I had inadequate bin space, I have found a load of long thick stems, mostly old brassicas like kale that had finished last year but the stems are so hard and thick, they haven't rotted at all. Ideally I would like to return them to the soil somehow rather than throw them into the green waste at the local tip. Is it possible to ultimately get them to rot down by burying them or chopping them into small pieces and putting the choppings into the compost bin (if feasible)?

[Nobbie]

I usually chop them into 1” bits with a machete, although the very bottom near the root is so woody I just throw it on the bonfire.

[Kleftiwallah]

Bash 'em with a lump hammer then cut into 'convenient lengths'.  You could try the other way round, but your thumb might suffer!

Cheers,  Tony

[Aidy]

Prob wont help ya that much but I bought a shredder, well worth the money however I have one advatage, my plot is directly behind my house so no power issues!

[al78]

Prob wont help ya that much but I bought a shredder, well worth the money however I have one advatage, my plot is directly behind my house so no power issues!

Thanks for the suggestion but no access to mains power on site. I'd have to buy a shredder and do the shredding at home. I'll have a go with smashing the stems with a mallet and cutting them up.

[Blewit]

I cut them up, roots and all with loppers.

[steven c]

we have 3 bay pallet style bin at allotment [daleks at home ] anything still twiggy after 3rd bin goes back to 1st bin I think this helps with mix and getting 1st bin started  hope this helps

[snowdrops]

Only yesterday I chopped a load of brassica stems with the small axe I keep in the shed for just that purpose. I start with the root end as that takes more effort & my fingers are well out of the way at the leaf end , then work my way up. Never see them again by the time they’ve been through my 5 bin system. I even impressed a few of the old boys yesterday with my method.

[Subversive_plot]

In addition to the good suggestions above, adding extra nitrogen in any form will help break down the woody stuff.  The carbon to nitrogen ratio has to be favorable for the tougher woody material to decompose.  I'll confess, don't measure that ratio myself, but I figure adding manure, fertilizer, etc. can only help the decomposition process.

[al78]

In addition to the good suggestions above, adding extra nitrogen in any form will help break down the woody stuff.  The carbon to nitrogen ratio has to be favorable for the tougher woody material to decompose.  I'll confess, don't measure that ratio myself, but I figure adding manure, fertilizer, etc. can only help the decomposition process.

Urinating on the bin helps increase the nitrogen content. Easy to do that when you're a man and you're up there when it is very quiet.