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Re: OGL Digest - 13 Jan 1997 to 14 Jan 1997

In teaching backyard composting the past three years in lawn-crazed
Charlotte, and watching the municipal composting operation (130,000 yds3/yr
~100,000 m3), I've seen the difficulties composters can have with lawn
trimmings from 'conventional' grass lawns (if interested, see the attached
story below).

I know the various techniques suggested for grass clippings, and I know (and
teach) that grasscycling (for instance, using a mulching mower) works well.
That said, piles do need a source of N, the cheaper the better, and a 'lawn'
could in theory be harvested to provide that.

Debbie TT on the organic gardening listserv mentioned Nichol's 'ecolawn' mix,
which sounds like an ornamental 'simulated meadow' approach. IMHO this
approach has much merit (see Sara Stern's Noah's Garden), but is not designed
to provide a rich and convenient source of N for composting.

So, my question: Has anyone/is anyone doing work on a 'lawn crop' for
composting? Ideal requirements might include attractive appearance, easily
mowed and cared for with conventional (best, hand/people powered) equipment,
low/reasonable water demand, able to handle traffic (like playing kids), well
adapted to the local ecosystem (using native vegetation if possible). My
guess is that it wouldn't be a monoculture, and would involve legumes. It
would be preferable if it would reseed or be a perennial...

Lots of desirables. Now, what is possible?

In my zone, the northern edge of 8a, I have been thinking of trying low
growing clovers that local farmers traditionally use, or a clover + fescue
mix, oversown with annual rye in the winter. But, since I want to limit the
'matting' that causes problems with grass clippings, I am considering doing
away with the grass entirely.

Anybody know a clover that passes for dichondra?

Don
Charlotte 8a
NC USA

_Story_: I was visiting one of the two municipal composting sites and watched
as a couple of workers tried to feed a blend of grass clippings and shredded
woody material into a grinder, which kept jamming and slipping. Now, I had
heard that North Carolinians speak an English that goes back to Shakespearian
times. Well, these two ol' boys were making the air blue with Anglo-Saxonisms
that probably back to Chaucer, directed at those grass clippings. FYI, the
largest # of complaints/questions I get are from people who have trouble with
slimy grass clippings in their compost piles.

Debbie TT wrote in the Organic Gardening listserv, as part of a thread on
lawns/chemlawn

<<Paul's story reminded me of what I saw in Nichol's Garden Nursery catalog.
Ecology Lawn Mix. Now this is the first time I have ever seen this, maybe
it's been around for awhile and I just never noticed it. If this is
something new I would have to say "HOORAY" we are going back to lawns as
they used to be or should be. People are starting to see the light!

I will give you some of the mixes they have in the catalog.

For Northern regions:
Colonial bentgrass, strawberry and Dutch white clover, wild English daisies,
Roman Chamomile, Yarrow and Baby Blue Eyes.

Dryland regions:
Perennial Rye Grass, chewing fescues, strawberry and Dutch white clovers,
wild English Daisies, Roman Chamomile, Yarrow and Bably Blue Eyes.

Southland regions:
Tall Fescue, strawberry and Dutch white clovers, Yarrow, California Poppy,
Pimpernel, Baby Blue Eyes, Creeping Thymes.>>
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