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brown stuff / green stuff
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littlejo
kittykat
6 posters
Page 1 of 1
brown stuff / green stuff
So... if I mow the grass and collect the clippings and dump them straight onto the compost heap, they are green stuff. If I lay them out on a tarp to dry out, are they then brown stuff?
Same with comfrey leaves - I've got tons of it and it's so prolific. If I collect off the leaves and put them into the compost fresh, they are green stuff. If I dry them and crumble them, can I use them as brown stuff?
I read something about it somewhere, but I can't figure out where...
THANKS for your help!!

Same with comfrey leaves - I've got tons of it and it's so prolific. If I collect off the leaves and put them into the compost fresh, they are green stuff. If I dry them and crumble them, can I use them as brown stuff?
I read something about it somewhere, but I can't figure out where...
THANKS for your help!!

kittykat- Posts : 194
Join date : 2012-03-18
Location : Coastal Britsh Columbia
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
I ordered Comfrey seeds, but they have not come up yet. Comfrey, supposedly, does not have much dry part to it, it just 'melts' away. Directions say to just put the leaves beneath your plants that need a nutrient boost. Or to add to the compost bin while green, I think it's like a compost starter! Jo
littlejo-
Posts : 1575
Join date : 2011-05-04
Age : 70
Location : Cottageville SC 8b
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
kittykat wrote:So... if I mow the grass and collect the clippings and dump them straight onto the compost heap, they are green stuff. If I lay them out on a tarp to dry out, are they then brown stuff?
Same with comfrey leaves - I've got tons of it and it's so prolific. If I collect off the leaves and put them into the compost fresh, they are green stuff. If I dry them and crumble them, can I use them as brown stuff?
I read something about it somewhere, but I can't figure out where...
THANKS for your help!!
I think the grass would have to dry out completely(think something along the lines of straw) for them to be considered "brown".
If you cut the grass and let it dry for just a few days, I would call them "green". It's not that you're trying to turn them into a "brown", you just want the grass to dry out somewhat so it doesn't get all gloppy and gooey when added to the compost.
Too Tall Tomatoes-
Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
The following information is taken from The Rodale Book of Composting -
"Freshly gathered green clippings (grass) are exceedingly rich in nitrogen and will heat up on their own if pulled into a pile. But, because of their high water content, they will also pack down and become slimy. This can be avoided by adding grass clippings in thin layers, alternating with leaves, garbage, manure, and other materials, thus preventing them from clumping together. Grass clippings and leaves can be turned into finished compost in 2 weeks if the heap is chopped and turned every 3 days."
It has been 3 months and my pile is still not completely composted (maybe because it is winter and I was only turning every 1 - 2 weeks instead of every 3 days.
"Clippings that have been allowed to dry out will have lost much of their nitrogen content but are still valuable as an energy source and to absorb excess moisture".
"Freshly gathered green clippings (grass) are exceedingly rich in nitrogen and will heat up on their own if pulled into a pile. But, because of their high water content, they will also pack down and become slimy. This can be avoided by adding grass clippings in thin layers, alternating with leaves, garbage, manure, and other materials, thus preventing them from clumping together. Grass clippings and leaves can be turned into finished compost in 2 weeks if the heap is chopped and turned every 3 days."
It has been 3 months and my pile is still not completely composted (maybe because it is winter and I was only turning every 1 - 2 weeks instead of every 3 days.
"Clippings that have been allowed to dry out will have lost much of their nitrogen content but are still valuable as an energy source and to absorb excess moisture".
yolos-
Posts : 4152
Join date : 2011-11-20
Age : 73
Location : Brooks, Ga Zone 7B/8A
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
Thanks for the replies - much appreciated!
kittykat- Posts : 194
Join date : 2012-03-18
Location : Coastal Britsh Columbia
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
Add a layer of cut comfrey to the compost every time it's grown enough to get a decent amount of it.
It will compost and give up it's goodness to the rest of the heap. Composted comfrey is truly one of natures best & most natural plant foods .
Remake your comfrey bed somewhere else every five or six years or so by taking cuttings to ensure it does not lose its quality . Then when the second patch is up & running dig / rototill in the old patch & add some manures .
It will compost and give up it's goodness to the rest of the heap. Composted comfrey is truly one of natures best & most natural plant foods .
Remake your comfrey bed somewhere else every five or six years or so by taking cuttings to ensure it does not lose its quality . Then when the second patch is up & running dig / rototill in the old patch & add some manures .
plantoid-
Posts : 4096
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 72
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
green= nitrogen; brown= carbonToo Tall Tomatoes wrote:kittykat wrote:So... if I mow the grass and collect the clippings and dump them straight onto the compost heap, they are green stuff. If I lay them out on a tarp to dry out, are they then brown stuff?
Same with comfrey leaves - I've got tons of it and it's so prolific. If I collect off the leaves and put them into the compost fresh, they are green stuff. If I dry them and crumble them, can I use them as brown stuff?
I read something about it somewhere, but I can't figure out where...
THANKS for your help!!
I think the grass would have to dry out completely(think something along the lines of straw) for them to be considered "brown".
If you cut the grass and let it dry for just a few days, I would call them "green". It's not that you're trying to turn them into a "brown", you just want the grass to dry out somewhat so it doesn't get all gloppy and gooey when added to the compost.
They are brown but the thing to remember is that grass is high in NITROGEN. While the level of nitrogen is a bit lower when dried, I believe it its still considered green. I use most of my grass clippings when they are fresh, but I sprinkle them lightly and thinly to avoid the masses of slime as big clumps of the stuff are thrown into the compost. If I am not turning the compost the same day I am mowing the lawn, I just dump the grass clippings next to the compost pile. I will use the clippings the next time I turn the pile.

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
camprn wrote:They are brown but the thing to remember is that grass is high in NITROGEN.
Hey camprn.....what do you mean by "They are brown"?

Too Tall Tomatoes-
Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
When the grass clippings dry out they lose their green color and a bit of the nitrogen but not enough to call it 'carbon' when talking about compost.Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:camprn wrote:They are brown but the thing to remember is that grass is high in NITROGEN.
Hey camprn.....what do you mean by "They are brown"?
Does that help? Sometimes I am not very good at explaining myself...


43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: brown stuff / green stuff
camprn wrote:When the grass clippings dry out they lose their green color and a bit of the nitrogen but not enough to call it 'carbon' when talking about compost.Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:camprn wrote:They are brown but the thing to remember is that grass is high in NITROGEN.
Hey camprn.....what do you mean by "They are brown"?
Does that help? Sometimes I am not very good at explaining myself...Sorry about that.
Ahh yes.
Brown in color. Gotcha
I guess the only way to turn grass into a "brown" or source or carbon is if you would dry it completely and turn it straw-like ....if that would be possible
Too Tall Tomatoes-
Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A

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