I have to ask....

Tuxdad 2/24/2012, 8:00 pm

Why no meats in compost ?? Is it because of the smell or what ?? I remember my grandmother throwing everything into her compost pile ..

My apologies if this has been asked before ...

Tux

curio 2/24/2012, 8:20 pm

Meat and dairy can attract animals to the compost bin. I'm sure there are other reasons, but that's the first one that comes to mind.

boffer 2/24/2012, 8:46 pm

Also, it's the danger of pathogens developing so quickly that could make us sick or worse.

I've read that large scale/commercial composters will compost meat products because their process is strictly monitored to maintain certain temperatures for a certain length of time that is sure to kill the pathogens.

**camprn** 2/24/2012, 9:02 pm

I pour spoiled milk and sometimes cheese rinds into the compost. Never had a problem.

**RoOsTeR** 2/24/2012, 9:05 pm

I dumped a bunch of leftover oatmeal in mine ONCE What a Face

Mercy! The smell was rank there for a few days. Real rank.

curio 2/24/2012, 9:52 pm

That's good to know, although we seldom have any that lasts that long here.

Lindacol 2/24/2012, 10:23 pm

camprn wrote:I pour spoiled milk and sometimes cheese rinds into the compost. Never had a problem.

During the summer, early I always have extra milk. During that time of year it it usually hot & very dry here. I use the extra milk, sometimes straight, often diluted to water my compost pile. I put it on the working pile that will not be used most likely til the next spring. Works well for me.
There are some studies out there showing benefits of using milk in compost or sprayed directly on plants, which I have also occasionly done.

**walshevak** 2/24/2012, 11:12 pm

Milk spray for powdery mildew. It supposedly acts as a fungicide.

Kay

Tuxdad 2/26/2012, 7:22 am

I remember helping on my grandmother's as well as my uncle's farm that if it able to be eaten by the hogs then it wasn't good for the compost.. When the hogs were slaughtered, the rule still stood but it went to compost...

Wonder what's changed ??

**walshevak** 2/26/2012, 7:54 am

Possible a case of feed the animals first then, if left over, feed the compost heap.

Kay

Ha-v-v 2/26/2012, 7:55 am

walshevak wrote:Possible a case of feed the animals first then, if left over, feed the compost heap.

Kay

I agree Kay Smile

it is exactly what I was thinking when I saw that. I do that here, the chickens dont get the goodies, like shaved carrots, but the wormies get them first now. When the worms dont need to be fed it goes to the chooks Smile

Lavender Debs 2/26/2012, 7:57 am

Tuxdad wrote:....snip.... Wonder what's changed ??

The world has gone crazy. My personal theory is that most farms have lost the bio-diversity that allows them to have the ability to overcome issues like compost that goes rancid when compost is all about manure.... or used to be. Maybe lack of manure which probably has the enzymes (I am totally guessing here) to break down flesh is missing from our modern, sweet smelling compost piles. I remember ALWAYS gagging when grandpa's pile, rich with horse poo and chicken litter was turned a couple of times a year. My urban compost, turned far more often because there isn't as much of it and it is going into a tidy SFG where the enzymes are not as plentiful as in a healthy earth garden only smells bad if something isn't working.

My personal reason for not using flesh products.

#1 I was a strict vegan for 17 years. I find it difficult to get over my past long enough to use blood or bone meal or dog food (all of these heat up the pile), never mind flesh food that the rats love so much.

#2 Rats and my own dogs.

#3 My urban farm has neighbors that I want to keep happy so the yard police do not come knocking on my door.

Welcome to the board Tuxdad!

Tuxdad 2/26/2012, 8:19 am

Not to derail this thread, but why not add worms to the compost ??

Tuxdad 2/26/2012, 8:23 am

Anyone ever give this a shot, to help with things breaking down ??

**RoOsTeR** 2/26/2012, 8:35 am

Tuxdad, first off welcome to the forum Very Happy

I merged your other topic about worms with your previous question here.
You can add worms to your compost bin, (careful you dont cook em) I have to ask.... 3170584802

Most however prefer to place the worms in their gardens or keep them in containers to collect the castings.
We have lot's of threads on worms and compost. You can search the terms in our search feature to finds lots of good information on both topics.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t997-wiggler-hilton
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1603-worm-tube-for-the-sfg

Lavender Debs 2/26/2012, 8:41 am

Tuxdad wrote:Not to derail this thread, but why not add worms to the compost ??

OH, OH, choose me! I do this.

But I live in the PNW where nothing gets too hot EVER.

Tuxdad 2/26/2012, 8:46 am

Thanks

Sponsored content

I have to ask....

I have to ask....

one reason I'm aware of

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

spoiled milk

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Adding worms to your compost ??

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....

Re: I have to ask....


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.