Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

communal 'compost'- is it safe?

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • communal 'compost'- is it safe?

    The middle of my site has a large area which everyone seems to use as a dumping ground (despite the big sign saying please don't). Mostly, this is grass clippings and what appears to be perfectly good compostable material, with the odd plant pot and bit of junk thrown in.

    The weeds on this heap are enormous- mostly nettles and comfrey (which I pick when I can reach it), and from what I can see, it looks like there's some really good compost formed in there. Given that there are some spectacular looking weeds growing out of it, with no signs of any deformity or anything, is it likely to be safe? Is there any way I can tell?

    I'm not really making enough compost on my plot, and the soil was very poor when I took it on, so I really need a good source of extra humus and nutrients. I know no-one would mind if I took some, and I'm extremely short on money at the moment, so it's really quite tempting. Worth a shot, or daft idea- what do people think?
    My spiffy new lottie blog

  • #2
    Go for it hamamelis but take out any roots that you come across. Owt for free is a goer in my book.
    sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
    -----------------------------------------------------------
    KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

    Comment


    • #3
      Seeing as the thing you would most have to be worried about is latent weed killer and the weeds are thriving I would give it a go. Like BM says just remove any roots.
      Potty by name Potty by nature.

      By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


      We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

      Aesop 620BC-560BC

      sigpic

      Comment


      • #4
        You could do a Bean Test if you are worried about latent herbicide risk (Beans are very susceptible and grow quickly and thus exhibit side effects promptly, thereby making them good test candidates )

        Longer term, if you were able to find specific plot holders who were using central-dumping, rather than making their own compost, perhaps you could encourage them to keep material for you, as you could then verify with them, periodically, what chemicals, if any, they had used. Dunno if that approach might be more trouble than it is worth? I know of some folk in my village who compost their neighbours' garden rubbish (and use that compost on their own gardens ) which saves the neighbours having to pay the council's fee for a Brown Wheelie Bin
        K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

        Comment


        • #5
          If its a communal dumping ground there will be diseased tissue in there! Do you want onion white rot or clubroot on your plot, to name but a few of the 'nasties' that could be there? Both of these conditions can take twelve years to get rid of and having lived with both I would be loathe to reintroduce them!

          If you can guarantee that diseased material hasn't been dumped there then go for it!
          My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
          to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

          Diversify & prosper


          Comment


          • #6
            I remember my grandad cooking old compost ( steamed ) just curious if this practice still happens?

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Greenleaves View Post
              I remember my grandad cooking old compost ( steamed ) just curious if this practice still happens?
              Use a microwave these days Greenleaves!
              Last edited by Snadger; 16-10-2014, 06:48 PM. Reason: Thought I was answering a Henry V111 song! lol
              My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
              to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

              Diversify & prosper


              Comment


              • #8
                I was all for microwaving to sterilise compost for some of my show stuff. However, I saw a report somewhere about experiments done with water. Flowers grew in ordinary water but died in water which had been microwaved. I didn't do it

                Comment


                • #9
                  Do people really microwave their compost, must take weeks to do a full heap. Not enough hours in the day.

                  Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                  Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Not been funny but can you guarantee what people have put in the pile isn't diseased. Also what chemicals people have used. Like Snadger has said you could be adding more to you plot than you bargained for.
                    sigpic

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      If nettles and comfrey are growing well then probably okay as far as pesticides but you don't know what else might be in there. If you do take any then I would suggest sieving it to remove any non organic rubbish that will be in there.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Aberdeenplotter View Post
                        I was all for microwaving to sterilise compost for some of my show stuff. However, I saw a report somewhere about experiments done with water. Flowers grew in ordinary water but died in water which had been microwaved. I didn't do it
                        I often 'nuke' my coffee i it goes cold..........
                        My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
                        to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

                        Diversify & prosper


                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Snadger View Post
                          I often 'nuke' my coffee i it goes cold..........
                          Not to mention the amount of heating of food, soup, defrosting and other cooking that goes on in the microwave in our house ...

                          I can't see how Microwaving water can "alter" it so that flowers die in it but I'm all ears to hear what physical change microwaves could cause.

                          What about background microwaves and the water in the cells in my brain ... "Too Late" I hear you all say?
                          K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Kristen View Post
                            Not to mention the amount of heating of food, soup, defrosting and other cooking that goes on in the microwave in our house ...

                            I can't see how Microwaving water can "alter" it so that flowers die in it but I'm all ears to hear what physical change microwaves could cause.

                            What about background microwaves and the water in the cells in my brain ... "Too Late" I hear you all say?
                            I do find microwaves change the taste of most foods and not for the better. Always assumed that was the same thing as the differences between different types of cooking. We have one but never cook things in it, just a bit of warming up. That said it's very handy as a cupboard to put things in when defrosting away from any pets .

                            Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                            Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Alison View Post
                              We have one but never cook things in it, just a bit of warming up.
                              Actually I think we are Warmers and Defrosters too rather than Cookers too ... Sweetcorn ?
                              K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

                              Comment

                              Latest Topics

                              Collapse

                              Recent Blog Posts

                              Collapse
                              Working...
                              X