Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
brown stuff / green stuff Toplef10brown stuff / green stuff 1zd3ho10

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.

brown stuff / green stuff I22gcj10brown stuff / green stuff 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]

Join the forum, it's quick and easy

Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
brown stuff / green stuff Toplef10brown stuff / green stuff 1zd3ho10

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.

brown stuff / green stuff I22gcj10brown stuff / green stuff 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]
Square Foot Gardening Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
Search
 
 

Display results as :
 

 


Rechercher Advanced Search

Latest topics
» Strawberries in MM: to feed or not to feed?
by KiwiSFGnewbie Yesterday at 6:26 pm

» Mark's first SFG
by OhioGardener Yesterday at 6:04 pm

» Strawberry Varieties?
by Scorpio Rising 12/1/2023, 7:47 am

» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 11/29/2023, 5:36 am

» Senseless Banter...
by sanderson 11/28/2023, 10:31 pm

» N & C Midwest: November/December 2023
by sanderson 11/27/2023, 9:23 pm

» FREE Online SFG Class - November 28, 2023
by sanderson 11/27/2023, 9:21 pm

» Mini-Raised Beds?
by Chuck d'Argy 11/27/2023, 2:14 pm

» Happy Birthday!!
by sanderson 11/26/2023, 10:58 pm

» Name the mystery (to me) seedlings! :-)
by Psdumas 11/25/2023, 12:04 am

» Happy Thanksgiving from the USA
by sanderson 11/23/2023, 1:47 pm

» Guatemalan Green Ayote Squash
by OhioGardener 11/21/2023, 8:27 am

» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by sanderson 11/20/2023, 2:06 pm

» Seeds 'n Such Early Order Seeds
by sanderson 11/20/2023, 1:13 pm

» USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
by OhioGardener 11/19/2023, 7:12 am

» AeroGarden for starting seeds?
by OhioGardener 11/16/2023, 12:40 pm

» Biochar?
by OhioGardener 11/16/2023, 10:31 am

» 2023 - Updated U.S. Interactive Plant Hardiness Map
by sanderson 11/15/2023, 6:18 pm

» SFG Is Intensive Gardening
by sanderson 11/14/2023, 3:26 pm

» Teaming with Microbes Kindle Sale (Mem. Day weekend 2023)
by markqz 11/10/2023, 12:42 am

» Bok Choy Hors d'oeuvres
by donnainzone5 11/9/2023, 5:58 pm

» Now is the Time to Start Preparing Next Year's Spring Garden
by OhioGardener 11/9/2023, 7:13 am

» Shocking Reality: Is Urine the Ultimate Gardening Hack or Disaster?
by dstack 11/6/2023, 5:29 pm

» Nightmare on Mel Street.
by Scorpio Rising 11/4/2023, 6:37 pm

» Aerogardening
by Scorpio Rising 11/3/2023, 10:02 am

» Sunday All Purpose Organic Garden Nutrients
by lisawallace88 11/3/2023, 9:13 am

» Mid-summer seed sowing, how do you do it?
by KiwiSFGnewbie 11/2/2023, 8:04 pm

» N&C Midwest October 2023
by OhioGardener 11/1/2023, 8:49 am

» Fall Tree Colors
by Scorpio Rising 10/31/2023, 1:48 pm

» Freeze Dried Food
by lisawallace88 10/30/2023, 11:28 am

Google

Search SFG Forum

brown stuff / green stuff

+2
littlejo
kittykat
6 posters

Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty brown stuff / green stuff

Post  kittykat 4/3/2012, 8:56 pm

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!!

brown stuff / green stuff 582897
kittykat
kittykat

Posts : 194
Join date : 2012-03-18
Location : Coastal Britsh Columbia

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  littlejo 4/3/2012, 9:50 pm

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
littlejo

Female Posts : 1575
Join date : 2011-05-04
Age : 70
Location : Cottageville SC 8b

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  Too Tall Tomatoes 4/3/2012, 11:17 pm

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!!

brown stuff / green stuff 582897

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
Too Tall Tomatoes

Male Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  yolos 4/4/2012, 12:20 am

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".
yolos
yolos

Female Posts : 4152
Join date : 2011-11-20
Age : 73
Location : Brooks, Ga Zone 7B/8A

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  kittykat 4/4/2012, 12:42 am

Thanks for the replies - much appreciated!
kittykat
kittykat

Posts : 194
Join date : 2012-03-18
Location : Coastal Britsh Columbia

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  plantoid 4/4/2012, 5:44 am

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 .
plantoid
plantoid

Male Posts : 4096
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 72
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  camprn 4/4/2012, 6:39 am

Too 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!!

brown stuff / green stuff 582897

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.
green= nitrogen; brown= carbon
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. What a Face

____________________________

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



brown stuff / green stuff WxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&airportcode=KEEN&ForcedCity=Keene&ForcedState=NH&zipcode=03431&language=EN
camprn
camprn

Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher

Female Posts : 14169
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 61
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-week

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  Too Tall Tomatoes 4/4/2012, 2:32 pm

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"?

brown stuff / green stuff 601593
Too Tall Tomatoes
Too Tall Tomatoes

Male Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  camprn 4/4/2012, 4:34 pm

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"?

brown stuff / green stuff 601593
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.

Does that help? Sometimes I am not very good at explaining myself... Rolling Eyes Sorry about that. Wink

____________________________

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



brown stuff / green stuff WxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&airportcode=KEEN&ForcedCity=Keene&ForcedState=NH&zipcode=03431&language=EN
camprn
camprn

Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher

Female Posts : 14169
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 61
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-week

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  Too Tall Tomatoes 4/4/2012, 5:25 pm

camprn wrote:
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"?

brown stuff / green stuff 601593
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.

Does that help? Sometimes I am not very good at explaining myself... Rolling Eyes Sorry about that. Wink

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
Too Tall Tomatoes

Male Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A

Back to top Go down

brown stuff / green stuff Empty Re: brown stuff / green stuff

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum