[mikem]

If you don't want foxes or deer to invade your plot however, then get the men to pee round the boundaries and mark your territory.

I am not sure that I could pee the whole 270 feet of my boundary - can I do it over a few days?

[paintedlady]

If you don't want foxes or deer to invade your plot however, then get the men to pee round the boundaries and mark your territory.

I am not sure that I could pee the whole 270 feet of my boundary - can I do it over a few days?

  

[dougsta]

Spent hops are another good addition if you can get them
If you have a brewery nearby, most brewers are trying to get rid of it, won't cost you anything. Very high in Nitrogen too.

[mumofstig]

peelings yes i personally don't use mouldy bits...just in case.

Can I ask why?

Just in case it's something nasty I just decided to play safe cos don't want a problem when i put it on the soil. I'm probably mad but hey ho

[Dabhand]

Ooopps I always put orange and lemon peel in my composter !!!  Why shouldn't I put them on ??  Is it because they are too acid?

[peapod]

I do too DH
Personally I feel that it can get all too complicated and doesnt need to be..

I wouldnt compost perennial weeds unless I know Im not going to use the compost for a good few years and they have got hot enough
I wouldnt compost blight remainders
I wouldnt compost dog/cat muck
I wouldnt compost cooked meats/raw meats/bones
Make sure you have a good mix of brown and green

Otherwise..everything else is bunged in, and Im doing OK with mine

[Shamps]

thanks for your answers folks,

we havent got our composter set up yet but we do just have our pile of 'stuff' on the plot waiting until we do have a proper one set up.  We haven't done a wee wee on anything yet either but we have put some citrusy fruit bits in there   :blink:

[savbo]

the 'don't use citrus' is cos they are acidic, and often don't rot down that well...but wee is acidic too, I bung em in and they go in the end.

Avocado skins take a long time - and the stones never go...

Amazing how many wee labels I find in the final stuff, off the avocados, bananas etc

And almost always at least one kitchen implement seems to have got in too

[Rubellite]

And almost always at least one kitchen implement seems to have got in too

Ooh can you have a look for my stray fork, little cutting knife and that dear little spoon I've lost when you're next rooting around? 

[Christine]

If you know someone who keeps chickens or pigeons and can persuade them to donate you some buckets of droppings sometimes then these are a great addition to a compost heap. They act as browns and help it to heat up. You do need the brown stuff mixed in (paper, cardboard are easy to get hold of) to stop you getting a slimy mess.

The old story though - layer of greens (all the things mentioned here) followed by a layer of browns (chicken droppings, pigeon droppings, crumpled up newspaper, ripped up cardboard) then another layer of greens and then another layer of browns is the way to go. Try to finish with a layer of browns.

[LittleRedHen]

We just got several hens a few weeks back and have been adding their poo to the compost.  The compost is cooking now!  Hen poo is pretty hot and so is a wonderful activator for compost!

[siandc]

I saw somewhere that wood ash is ok but don't use coal ash because it can contain some pretty nasty stuff, cyanide rings a bell but I'm not sure.

[Snap Dragon]

OK this is probably a really stupid question but could you add the pelleted chicken manure or would it not help things at all?

I don't have chooks  so I don't have any fresh stuff!

[peapod]

I think that would be a waste SD as you can apply that direct to your veg beds.  The chicken/other poo in rotting down heats the compost heap and so speeds up the process, thats why its a good idea to add it

[Snap Dragon]

Cheers Peapod... I'll save it then