The hot topic: compost

The question of the day in the Guardian's G2 features section today is "how do I avoid smelly compost"? written by, er, me. As regulars will know, I get unfeasibly excited by composting, so this was a pleasure to write.

Meanwhile in the latest edition of Weekend Martyn Cox finds out what trends and plants will be red hot at Chelsea and Carol Klein writes about plants for texture.

Also: I am currently loving my sempervivums and lusting after this.

Comments

[Rebecca Hillman]

Hi Jane

I'm a fellow compost lover! Just as I thought I had learned all there was to learn about composting I got my hands on The Humanure Handbook from my local library. WOW. It's an amazing read with a huge amount of facts, figures and references to scientific research, the book is a must read for people who compost. I was originally interested in it to learn about how to make a composting toilet, but the book has taught me so much more than that. I haven't read such an exciting book since John Seymours bible 'Guide to Self Sufficiency'!

[hiro]

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[Matron]

This time of year I think there is something special about the first few cuttings of the new grass. I mix it thoroughly with fresh,hot horse manure direct from the stables.. and within a couple of weeks it is almost too hot to handle. Lovely stuff! We love compost!

[Esther Montgomery]

What extraordinary messages you receive!

Perhaps you should have a sister blog - 'Collected Comments'?

Esther Montgomery

P.S. And perhaps I should start thinking of some good ones myself?

[Simon Kirby]

Hi Jane, it's a timely post. I felt pretty smug when I first read it knowing that my heap smelled sweet, but a week of good weather has created quite a pong. Thanks for the tips.

Simon

[emma t]

Hee hee, I spent ages at CFS trying to get a shot of that Sambucus nigra... And then wondering why I am so keen to get elder back in my garden when I spend so much time picking little green seedlings out... What a difference a colour makes.

[Sarah Flood]

Hi Jane,
Why should I not put cooked food on my compost? Because I do and it turns into compost...... Stuff like left over oatmeal, veggies, beans etc. I keep reading this advise in different blogs and articles and I wonder why should I not put cooked food on my compost pile. It keeps me up at night ;)
Can I give cooked food to my composting worms?
Thanks,
Sarah

[theManicGardener]

I wandered over here, because having just made it to p.1 of Google's "organic gardening blogs" search list, (no doubt a brief aberation, till they fix the algorithm) I wanted to see what was at the top--and this was it. What a find! I have compost questions too, but I'll read up on what you offer here first.
--kate

[RickO]

Hey Sarah Flood,

I've been wondering same as you about the "no cooked food in the compost". Many sites tell you not to do it, very few tell you why (in fact that's why I'm here, searching for reasons why not). From the sites/articles where someone has mentioned more than just "don't do it", it seems rats and mice are the reason. But if you think about your examples it seems like that it should be fine. For example, cooked oatmeal is hydrated oatmeal, so how is that a problem? It might have to do with adding salt or butter which some people do. In general, I'm with you, it's good for the reasons composting is good and as long as the compost is protected/vermin (and salt) free, why not?

[Jane Perrone]

Sarah and RickO - the cooked food issue is an interesting one. The main reason compost guides argue against adding anything cooked to compost heaps is that they're attractive to vermin and can smell quite bad as they break down: likewise meat and fish. Of course, all these foodstuffs WILL decompose, but if you do want to add them it's advisable to bury them deep in the heap.

You can add cooked food to a wormery but don't add meat or fish. You may be better off investing in a bokashi composting system which is suitable for absolutely any foodstuff, or alternatively, one of these green cones are billed as suitable for all foods, although I can't say I've ever tried one: http://www.greencone.com/how_it_works.asp?prid=10

My local council has just started a food waste collection into which I am going to put meat, fish and dairy, as well as grapefruit halves that really don't compost well.

Hope that helps. Anyone else have thoughts on the cooked food dilemma?

[composter]

I've seen raccoons break into compost bins before, just to get at cooked food. If you can't compost cooked food, then what do you do with leftover scraps?