Compost Heap

 
I started a compost heap 12 months ago, its in a 200 Ltrs plastic
container,
however the compost of grass cuttings , garden waste etc.
does not appear to be
"breaking down", also the waste is cold.
It probably needs something to kick start it, suggestions I have had
are LIME or
URINE
Would any of the members agree with this or are there other
alternatives

All help will be appreciated

United Kingdom (North West)




--
Gringo

 

No personal experience but yarrow leaves are reputed for accelerating
decomposition of compost. Compost needs to be turned over from time to
time and kept humid. A little dirt thrown on top would be good and urine
can't hurt. Lime would certainly decompose your compost but the results
would be of little utility.
--

- Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being
is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the
moment of conception until death."  - Rachel Carson



http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072040.html

 

 Aeration and nitrogen rich materials.

<http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/homecompost/materials.html>

 I'd hazard a guess the main issue is the plastic container not  being
porous.  The above site list carbon and nitrogen info.

 Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

Not all who wander are lost.
 - J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)





 

 On 4/6/2009 5:26 AM, Gringo wrote:

My compost is in a pile inside a corner formed by intersection of two
walls.  It gets stirred about once a month, after which I water it.

Composting requires air and moisture.  You might have a moist "mess",
but I don't think it gets enough air in a plastic container.


--
David E. Ross
Climate:  California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

 

 how long did it take the vultures to find pile #2? we're thinking of
building a 'roadkill cafe', with other goodies like refrigerator
cleanouts (pity the vultures migrate. i lost almost a hundred pounds
of meat in the 8 day power outage).
lee