It's a classic example of why punctuation exists ;-)
It's a classic example of why punctuation exists ;-)
There's a book on that called Eats, Roots, and Leaves. (which is subtly different to eats roots and leaves...)
Eats, Shoots and Leaves!
http://www.amazon.com/Eats-Shoots-Le.../dp/1592400876
I have that book!
Although to be fair, the poster may not have English as a first language, or may not have English written grammar skills.
Im a cold composter cant be bothered with the work load of a hotty.
I find I mulch way more than compost
Except kitchen scraps
Worms get most of the good stuff and compost is really for when the worms are full and its stuff they dont love.
Although to be fair, the poster may not have English as a first language, or may not have English written grammar skills.
Australian is my first language, English my second. I put it down to a senior moment.
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I'm about to try a Jean Pain compost, a large pile of straight woodchip (forest mulch) with a higher than average leaf content and small-ish branches (some large trees in it too).
I'll move the pile into a pile of about 2m, wet it all down and cover it (so no nitrogen added besides the green leaves). I figure it's a set-and-forget pile, 6 months to a year unless I keep turning it. Perhaps I will try 2 piles, one non-turn, one turned.
Does anybody want me to take photos or updates?
It's not really a 'Jean Pain' method I'm using, he is just a guy who harvested undergrowth from his property by breaking it up into grid squares, making massive piles of woodchip compost, heating all his water and capturing methane gas, then planting food over the top of the pile.
http://permaculture.org.au/2011/12/1...jean-pain-way/
To first understand the process of composting brushwood, Jean Pain set about creating a heaping row of chipped material. By chipping the brushwood into 8mm pieces, you can accomplish the fastest rate of decomposition. Larger chips and even small branches will work just as well, but with a longer processing period. This "drawback" could be used as a benefit, keeping the hot water running longer. There is little difference in temperature for chips of most sizes, 58-60C. The ideal weight is 520-550kg/m3 of chipped brushwood material.
Once you have your chips, pile them 1.6m tall with a base of 2.2m. The pile can then be drawn into a long mound if more material is available. Wet the pile to saturation as you build it; you can dig a small gully to collect and recycle water that drains through. You want your wet chips to be saturated to the point where a tight squeeze only produces 1 or 2 drips of water. When you have finished your pile, cover it with 2cm of leaves, sand, soil, or a previously finished batch of compost. Lastly cover it with large boughs or a tarp to keep the moisture constant and the elements out. In three months this will be a rough mulch ready for surface application. Two months later it will be a thick leaf mulch that will incorporate well into the soil, and 1 month longer would give you a wonderful humus. This process produces no bad odors. Typically it will have a sweet earthy smell for the entire production cycle. You are not required to turn, or add any inputs to the pile as it decomposes. It is a set-it-and-forget-it system.
Photos would be good :-)
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