Like eels on a wet deck, Issue 9 – 11/01/12
Took advantage of a brief spell of dry weather to fix our leaking vessels but failed once again:
the draft proofing strips refuse to stick to damp timber.
The good news is that the emergency measure of spreading plastic rubble bags over the compost is at least a partial success: I managed to decant a litre or so of water from each box, though dealing with the water that way is akin to trying to catch eels running loose on a wet deck in an Atlantic gale.
Not sure what to do next: Lee Evans kindly offered some old tarpaulins – if the offer is still good, could we take you up on it?
There are a few other bits of good news –
There is a nice supply of good quality cardboard by the boxes – many thanks to all the donors.
There is enough room in box 2 to continue adding for another 10 days or so…. and
The contents of box 3 look quite good in spite of the rain; I filled another rubble bag with it to make more room for turning and feel that most of it will be ready for delivery to Middle Street School when I am back after the 20th – it will drain and dry out in the open.
So – please lift the plastic bags before adding any more compost and put it back as best you can to catch water.
I am working abroad next week – see you at the village pump after the 20th.
And before signing off, a bit of information that might interest you:
From the Guardian, 17 November 2012 – the ASK ALYS column:
Our compost is ready to use and is absolutely writhing with pink worms.
What happens to them when we put the compost around the garden?
Those lovely red wrigglers are most likely to be either brandling worms, Eisenia fetida, or composting worms Eisenia veneta, and they love to eat rotting vegetation, of which your compost provides plenty, If you are careful, you can put in a fresh layer of food for them – some veg peelings mixed with damp leaves – and they will migrate to this all-you-can-eat buffet, so allowing you to harvest the ready stuff below. That, or you can just tip them out with your compost, spread it across the garden and the worms will have to start their long trek back to your compost bin or a damp pile of leaves, whatever they decide is better. Some will get eaten on the way by birds and hedgehogs but then, that’s all part of the cycle, and more sustainable than importing bird food. I wouldn’t feel too guilty, though, because you can rest assured that most will miraculously make it back to your compost bin for another round of dining.
askalys:guardian.co.uk