good to know, will toss em in.

I was just worried about the high fat content.

Interesting on the tp and tissues....any reason not to?

Anyone composting their own.....doo dads?

since I'm a vegan and won't buy blood or bone meal, I was wondering if I could contribute a monthly event to the composting to compensate, anyone ever hear of this kind of thing?

If you don't have neighbors nearby (farm, country area), then you can compost anything that was created by nature - plants and animals.

If you do have neighbors close by, you'll need to be respectful and only include plant matter. Unless you absolutely have enough volume to bury any meat scraps well enough so the smell is stifled. The problem with meat product is odor and critters.

Sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and witness the evolution of an Organic Kitchen Garden.

If, at any time, there is an offensive odor emanating from a compost pile there is a problem that needs to be corrected. A properly built and maintained compost pile should never smell of anything other than good, rich earth.
Vermicomposting is different and there are many restrictions about what can be put into the mix because some material is deadly to the worms in that environment. The same material in your garden is not as harmful to the earthworms because they can avoid it if they wish while the worms in a vermicompost bin are a diffeent species and cannot move as freely as the earthworms can.

NatGreeneVeg

That was a lovely video...I enjoyed watching the evolution of the pottager!

This makes the process of community gardening so inviting, it would be a great recruiting device.

Peace

Gail

PS. Was the groundhog video also one of yours? ("Jaws" music followed by "Can't Touch This") If so, how do y'all keep em so dang small?!

quote:

Originally posted by rgriisser:
I read in one magazine the oinions, leeks, garlic, etc. should not be put in the compost pile. anyone know if that is true or not.

I don't think it's that they shouldn't be composted... it's just that they repel worms and other bugs that help process your compost. In small amounts, I think it's fine for a compost pile. I wouldn't put huge amounts in though. My kitchen scraps go in my worm bin more often than my compost bin, so I usually just toss the onion scraps.

quote:

I don't think it's that they shouldn't be composted... it's just that they repel worms and other bugs that help process your compost. In small amounts, I think it's fine for a compost pile. I wouldn't put huge amounts in though. My kitchen scraps go in my worm bin more often than my compost bin, so I usually just toss the onion scraps.

Ah so that's the reason! Gee - I think I composted a lot of onion skins......

With the exception of shrimp shells, I do not put animal scraps in unless it is the manure from an animal that does not eat meat. Otherwise, if it does not have a face - I toss it in.

I dont add Meats, fats, dead animals, and meat eating animal poop to my pile. Too much risk for disease transmission. Also Roses, they take too long to break down & if you do run across some uncomposted parts while weeding the thorns hurt like hell. Last but not least anything with morning glory/ bind weed on it. because, those plant restart very easily and are a huge pain.

quote:

Originally posted by borders:
I dont add Meats, fats, dead animals, and meat eating animal poop to my pile.

I don't add dog or cat manure to my piles either. (Easy to do, since I have no dog or cat.) But what are the risks of disease transmission as a result of composting meats, fats and dead animals?

I respect your decision to not compost these because you believe there is a risk, but what, if any, is the actual risk?

Wayne

From what I've learned the issue with meats, etc. is critters (live). I know large commercial composting will toss in a carcass on occasion.

Dirt

I put most things in there, if a bone or a piece of meat gets in there, I don't sweat it. But I don't live in town.

I think the real disadvantage to a carcass is the possibility of smell, and some wildlife might dig it up for a meal. Spoiled meat, while may smell bad, and provide a pretty good growing medium for germs, if it all breaks down, by the time you put it on your soil, and garden with it, it would be imho past dangerous. Grandpa always buried his fish innards in the compost pile, and in the past cultures have buried fish with the corn seed.

But when you live close to the neighbors, must be a bit more self conscious.

mk.

quote:

Originally posted by borders:
I dont add Meats, fats, dead animals, and meat eating animal poop to my pile. Too much risk for disease transmission. Also Roses, they take too long to break down & if you do run across some uncomposted parts while weeding the thorns hurt like hell. Last but not least anything with morning glory/ bind weed on it. because, those plant restart very easily and are a huge pain.

What do ya mean by meat eating animals? Do ya include chickens and pigs?

Chickens and pigs are both meat eating, pigs eat anything, and chickens will chow down on a mouse. Wow, surprised me, and I am a country girl. mk

I add citrus rinds, garlic & onion skins and leeks tops and they don't deter the worms one bit.

I have heard people say not to compost oils and fats, but no one explains why – perhaps it's a myth. Your nut and seed butters will all have high fat content, but I think they'd be fine to compost.

I also don't compost rose branches or leaves. My compost doesn't heat up enough to make sure rose diseases are eliminated. That's why I don't put in anything I believe to have diseases, such as tomato plants at the end of the summer.