Hairdo or don't?

January 15, 2005

Hairdo or don't?

I am getting my hair cut this morning. The question I am struggling with at the moment is: do I ask my hairdresser for a bag of my hair? Apparently it's a good source of nitrogen. But will she think I am a complete weirdo? Hang on a minute, I am a complete weirdo!

What I really want for my compost heap is some manure. I am hoping that one of the horses that is occasionally ridden down my road will decide to, er, leave me a gift. Then there's only the embarrassment of scooping it up into a bag as my neighbours look on in horror. Still, they already think we're a little odd because the man of the house hangs washing on the line. Yes, we do live in a rather, er, conservative area.

15 Jan 2005 09:06:08 | Composting

6 Comments

I occasionally get a gift of a sack of horse manure for my compost heap. The odd thing is, if it's fresh, it actually smells really nice....

On a good day, I'll get a sack of grass cuttings as well. When the two combine, I honestly think you could cook in it (and I'm sure I saw something to the same effect on blue peter or something, years and years ago).

Posted by: james h | January 16, 2005 at 01:33 PM

Because it gets so hot. Sorry, left out the salient point there.

Posted by: james h | January 16, 2005 at 01:34 PM

Hugh F-W does a leg of lamb cooked in hay which I've always wanted to try. Recipe here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/legoflambormuttonbak_8849.shtml Not sure how I'd obtain hay where the likelihood of a dog having peed on it was zero, though.

Posted by: Jane Perrone | January 16, 2005 at 05:27 PM

Ha -- I never heard about putting one's hair in the compost pile.

Most riding stables are always looking for ways to get rid of their manure and are usually generous in allowing one to shovel out loads for a compost pile.

Of course, you have to be careful about weed seeds that the horse ingested. If the manure is not properly composted, the seeds will sprout in places that you did not want it.

The smells usually go away in a day or so, and the end result (after composting, no pun entended) is a lovely, earthy and sweet smelling substance for your plants.

The hotter or fresher the manure, the faster it composts, by the way.

Posted by: Don | January 17, 2005 at 05:56 PM

Mmmm.... hay....

Cheers, if I ever get to try this (and I have similar dog-based concerns), I'll let you know results.

Posted by: james h | January 17, 2005 at 10:49 PM

I shave my head (being a Buddhist) and give the shavings to my lovely composting worms in my Can-o-worms

Posted by: Sujatin | January 30, 2005 at 12:39 PM

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