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composting

Hugel Compost

Jojo Cameron

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posted 9 months ago

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Hi Everyone,

So, I'm staying at my grandmother's house, and whenever someone weeds the garden, a lot of soil and plant matter end up in the Council plant matter bin, which is then removed and, presumably, composted. I want to compost the stuff instead, but my grandmother's against any kind of anything along those lines. That means I can't build a compost heap. However, I have saved about 3x30 litre (3x60 pint) refuse sacks of weeds, grass cuttings and soil. Just having found out about hugelkultur, I'm wondering if I can just bury the contents of the bags and let them decompose underground, out of sight. Alternatively, would leaving them in the black refuse sacks make them decompose faster?

All advice much appreciated.

Be well!

- Jojo

They say time's the great healer, and that's true. It's just not a very good anaesthetist, is the problem,
Whose lunar deity is not male is destined to be dominated by his wife. -- Old Hindu proverb

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Anne Miller

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posted 9 months ago

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That sounds like a great idea to me.

There are several methods of composting similar to that.

One is called trench composting:

https://permies.com/t/37441/wanting-advice-trench-compost-ground

https://permies.com/t/120258/composting/Thinking-trench-composting

https://permies.com/t/102502/ve-heard-trench-coat-trench

The Ruth Stout Method is similar so you might want to investigate that method:

https://permies.com/t/215725/Ruth-Stout-Work-gardening-tip

https://permies.com/wiki/98577/Ruth-Stout-style-composting-spots

Another method you might want to look at is the trash can composting:

https://permies.com/t/9414/composting/trash-compost-bin-work

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Jojo Cameron

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posted 9 months ago

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Okay, thanks for those, Anne!

I looked through a few of the links and watched some of the videos, but I think the first link is essentially the most applicable. I'll forage for some twigs and wood, then dig a trench 12" by about 48" (maybe by 12" deep, so the weeds don't re-surface), bury the compostables, cover the thing back over with the earth I've excavated, and plant some Atlas 5 carrots on top.

I'll let you know how it goes. (I'm not sure I'll know how it goes, except that we've lost so much organic matter that water is pooling in the lawnside bed I'm going to reconfigure. I suppose if the drainage and soil level is improved, and the carrots grow, that's a success).

Cheers for now,

- Jojo

They say time's the great healer, and that's true. It's just not a very good anaesthetist, is the problem,
Whose lunar deity is not male is destined to be dominated by his wife. -- Old Hindu proverb

Anne Miller

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posted 9 months ago

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I like your suggestion for planting carrots.

And do post an update to the forum.

Happy composting!

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

May Lotito

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posted 9 months ago

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First of all, the soil in the root balls is very fertile with high organic matters and active microbiome. You probably also notice there are lots of earthworms living in there too. If possible, try to retrieve the soil by knocking the clots off the root balls. The separated weeds without soils attached will be much lighter and less bulky, making it easier if you want to carry them somewhere else to compost.

This year I make my own potting soil with 50% compost and 50% garden soil. I don't want to dig hole in my garden so the garden soil is actually from whatever shaken off the large clumps of grasses I remove. Plants grow every well in it except it's a bit weedy.

Zone 6, 45 inches precipitation, hard clay soil

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Jojo Cameron

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posted 9 months ago

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Hi May,

I try to take as much of the earth off as possible, but the soil is heavy with clay, and it sticks to the roots. I leave the weeds to dry off a bit, but the weather is extremely changeable here, so there's only so much one can do. If I try to take too much soil off the roots, the roots come with it.

Good to know it's fertile soil, though!

- Jojo

They say time's the great healer, and that's true. It's just not a very good anaesthetist, is the problem,
Whose lunar deity is not male is destined to be dominated by his wife. -- Old Hindu proverb

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