found a possible compost source

**walshevak** 7/8/2013, 5:34 pm

I'm always on the lookout for new compost sources. I was at the local fish market today and as I came out of the store I saw a sign in the corner - SHRIMP COMPOST $6 a bag. There was a garbage bag there that look like it had about a cu ft of stuff in it and a 5 gal bucket filled with compost. It was crumbly, medium brown and had nothing identifiable in it. Had sort of a rice hull feel to it. So I went back into the store and asked about it. It seems last year the owner of the fish market started a pit of all the shrimp heads and dead crabs layered with cypress sawdust. Compost is a year old and owner has put into his own garden which is "exploding".

What do you think? Ready to use? Add to my compost piles? It seem like a good thing to mix with the 4 rubbermaid bins of llama poo I picked up yesterday.

Kay

**camprn** 7/8/2013, 5:45 pm

OMG!

Go GET IT!

Marc Iverson 7/8/2013, 6:00 pm

What a cool thing! I love unexpected discoveries like that!

**RoOsTeR** 7/8/2013, 6:37 pm

I'd be all over it found a possible compost source 3170584802

bnoles 7/8/2013, 7:09 pm

WOW! Some folks get all the luck Cool

batmap 7/9/2013, 3:00 pm

Do a test planting using that mixed into MM with leftover seeds or plants. Try one with and one without for a comparison. Post results.

**walshevak** 7/23/2013, 11:04 am

Today was a compost pile replenish day.

Picture of the shrimp/crab/sawdust compost
found a possible compost source Dscn1563

still has some crab claws and backs visible, but as soon as you pick up a claw and squeeze it crumbles to bits.
found a possible compost source Dscn1559

found a possible compost source Dscn1559

LLama beans and coffee grounds.
found a possible compost source Dscn1560

the current active bin
found a possible compost source Dscn1561

Left is finished compost with a potato growing in it and right is the almost finished bin.
found a possible compost source Dscn1562

I screened a bag of shrimp compost and added it and 1 bag of coffee and one bin of llama beans to the finished bin. I'll be using that for the fall garden.

I also added llama beans and shrimp to the other two bins. The second coffee bag went into the almost finished bin for next spring. I had just added a big bag of coffee to the active bin about 2 weeks ago.

Triciasgarden 7/23/2013, 6:28 pm

Oh wow Kay, that is just such a wonderful find! I will be right over to get some from you, lol!

**llama momma** 7/23/2013, 6:35 pm

Has anyone thought of contacting their local Red Lobster chain and coordinate taking shrimp, crab, lobster shells from them?? This is one of those things I think of but don't follow through...
silly me

bnoles 7/23/2013, 6:47 pm

llama momma wrote:Has anyone thought of contacting their local Red Lobster chain and coordinate taking shrimp, crab, lobster shells from them?? This is one of those things I think of but don't follow through...

I have one of those Japanese Steak houses close to me and I have been thinking of going in and talking to them about their seafood scraps. Another good option might be a Chinese Buffet, they have a lot of shrimp, lobster and crab on the menu as a general rule.

**donnainzone5** 7/23/2013, 6:48 pm

Great ideas!

**sanderson** 7/23/2013, 7:36 pm

No go at my Red Lobster. I'm going to try the other suggestion and try Oriental restaurants.

**donnainzone5** 7/23/2013, 7:44 pm

Sanderson,

It's probably the same "liability" issue that most supermarkets have.

I think I'll check out my own local Asian restaurants.... and meanwhile, use whatever seafood shells I've cooked.

Triciasgarden 7/24/2013, 5:43 pm

I wonder if a single entity restaurant (as opposed to a chain) would be more apt to donate those scraps. Maybe something could be arranged that a bag is dumped out their back door at a certain time. Maybe they can put those particular scraps in a certain "marked" bag and you can go in your camoflauge clothes and sneak and pick it up behind the restaurant. I know my grocery store can't give out unsellable fruits and vegies anymore.

Triciasgarden 7/24/2013, 5:43 pm

donnainzone10 wrote:Great ideas!

+1

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