Comment on Daily Discussion Thread: Wednesday 19th February 2025
TheWitchofThornbury@aussie.zone 3 days agoThe really important bit about compost is to add at least as much dry carbon matter (autumn leaves, hay, dried lawn clippings, shredded cardboard, shredded newspaper) as wet vegetable scraps. Tea bags/coffee grounds are sorta in between. There are whole tomes of info on doing compost but it’s pretty foolproof if you keep the dry/wet ratios about equal with the dry predominating. I would also recommend getting a bag of worms to put in the compost cos they do wonders to keep the compost non-smelly. And a longish stick/fork to stir up the layers occasionally to keep it properly aerated and cooking away. I use a very old 3 prong hoe with a shortish handle to do this in mine. Once a compost bin/heap is cooking away merrily, it can cope with almost anything that was once alive. Including all the stuff that they say you can’t put in it such as citrus peel and meat bones and avocado stones and eggshells. I once put an old pair of jeans in my heap, and there wasn’t anything left of them except the buttons & rivets a year later.
melbaboutown@aussie.zone 3 days ago
Oh there will be plenty of dry leaves and shredded paper, also dried or fresh grass clippings. I actually won’t have many wet vegie scraps or fresh stuff which might be an issue.
Worms sound good but I’m afraid to kill them through neglect by letting them dry out. And not enough edible vegie stuff.
I have a garden fork if that works?
Also is there a way to keep it warm enough over winter that it keeps cooking?
TheWitchofThornbury@aussie.zone 3 days ago
Garden fork is perfect! Also, drying worms doesn’t actually happen - they go into aestivation, having laid eggs. As soon as things moisten up, the eggs hatch and the adults re-activate. Yes, they are less active in winter, but they don’t actually stop - just burrow deeper which is what you want for circulation of nutrients.
Wet vegie scraps are an extra - you might need to give the compost an occasional bucket of water but seriously, the worms actually generate quite a bit of moisture themselves. I’ve never had a dryness problem that couldn’t be fixed with a bucket of water whatever the season. Worms are the gift that keeps on giving. They eat the dry stuff too - and turn it into wonderful worm castings. Just takes a bit longer.
Most compost problems are too much moisture and too little aeration. Worms fix both.
As you’ve probably figured, I’m a fan of worms. I like the way they do the heavy lifting while I kick back with a glass of wine.
melbaboutown@aussie.zone 3 days ago
I’m just scared I’m going to hurt the little beasts. Especially with a fork. I’m not sure where to get them either or about paying 🪙🤏
TheWitchofThornbury@aussie.zone 3 days ago
The fork seems to be OK - I had a few casualties when I used a spade but they seem to wriggle away from a fork or hoe.