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Lots of questions!
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Posted by heather38 6a E,Coast (My Page) on Sun, Jun 28, 09 at 21:55
I have always composted, and had good results after a while, but it was never with a purpose! just something I had been brought up to do! used what I could in my limited vegs, and gave the rest away...
anywho new country and veg patch, which is expanding, so looking into it seriously! along with other stuff which is new to me and stuff I couldn't do in the UK!
1) can I use sea shells in a composter? there are thousends of them round my compost bin??? don't know why? mostly whole! (brought the house in sept 08)
2)is collecting seaweed legal?, even though in the UK some people collect it to eat, it is considered akin to picking wild flowers,
3) do you use seeweed in the compost or separately? by a different method?
4) I live very close to a good fish resturant, which also sell fresh fish, I imagine if I asked, for old fish guts and bones they could supply them, but like seaweed, what do I do with it?
5) can you use fish which is past its prime?
as you can tell, I am in a coastal area! as I was in the UK, but planning on 4 bins here, and want to maximise my mix!
Thanks in advance |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Lots of questions!
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| 1) can I use sea shells in a composter? there are thousends of them round my compost bin??? don't know why? mostly whole! (brought the house in sept 08) What kind of sea shells? you should be able to use them, but I think lobster shells have something that tends to build up if you use a lot (I don't remember the details, but somebody posted here and was having a problem that may have been caused by large volume of lobster shells). 2)is collecting seaweed legal?, even though in the UK some people collect it to eat, it is considered akin to picking wild flowers, I don't know, but I think it depends on where you do the collecting. 3) do you use seeweed in the compost or separately? by a different method? I haven't used it. 4) I live very close to a good fish resturant, which also sell fresh fish, I imagine if I asked, for old fish guts and bones they could supply them, but like seaweed, what do I do with it? Mix it with lots of high carbon material like sawdust, shredded paper or fall leaves. It's very high in nitrogen and will stink and/or draw animals if it's not mixed with lots of high carbon matter. 5) can you use fish which is past its prime? Yes. Do the same things as with the guts. |
RE: Lots of questions!
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1. You could, but you will find that they do not get digested as quickly as the rest of the material. Work them into your soil instead.
2. If the seaweed has been washed up onto the shore it is available to whomever because at tahat point is it a pollutant. Swimming out and harvesting, or using a trawler, does require a license.
3. When I have had some fresh water weed available I put it right in my compost bin with the rest of the material.
4. You could add that directly to your compost pile, but you may find that the quantity you can get would exceed the amount of other material very easily. You may also find that your local health codes are quite restrictive about that material.
5. You can compost fish that is past its prime, just don't eat it. |
RE: Lots of questions!
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Thank you both, I think you have answered my questions, the shells appear to be the type hermit crabs live in, I am going to the beach tomorrow, hopefully and it is covered in seaweed, so I will collect some.
on the fish guts/fish I will leave the idea of the resturant/store alone, possible eat enough, at home to add occationally, to add variety. |
RE: Lots of questions!
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| I've had an aquarium seashell in my compost pile for a couple of years. I could rinse it off and put it back in my aquarium and nobody would know. I'd as soon compost a brick, except somehow the seashell makes me smile. |
RE: Lots of questions!
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RE: Lots of questions!
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| Seems to me I've heard that seaweed from the ocean might add too much salt to a garden? Not sure if you'd have to rinse it first with fresh water. When we lived near a large fresh water lake the city removed the weed and people collected it for their gardens. Some used it as mulch and others composted it. You could crush the shells altho it might be difficult if they are heavy oyster shells. Not sure what hermit crab shells are like. I've heard that crushed shells might harm earthworms so haven't used them yet. Bury "ripe" fish or fish entrails in the center of your compost pile and cover well. |
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