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Re[2]: compost/bloodmeal

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html


     Hi Mary,
     
     I think a general rule is that a little bit 'o any old thing is OK, as 
     long as it's not a major contaminant. I've added crackers or cookies, 
     all just one at a time cuz they fell on the floor and I didn't want 
     the doggies to have them, or something. I've even added leftover flour 
     used to roll meatballs in, as long as it's not a lot and it's spread 
     out. I wouldn't add a 5 lb. bag of flour I was throwing away because 
     it had mealworms in it, but the occasional dairy product or starch 
     gets in our compost. Even lint from the dryer. Skim milk should be OK 
     and will even help keep the pile moist, as long as you're not dumping 
     a couple of quarts...just my 2 cents.
     
     Shawn


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: compost/bloodmeal 
Author:  Mary Thorp <maribou@infocom.com>  at INTERNET
Date:    10/23/98 4:52 PM


Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
     
Okay, here's a detailed question...what about milk?  We're near-vegetarians, so 
throw out very little meat or related waste, but it seems like lots of oatmeal, 
cheerios, etc. get thrown out because I've been afraid to add the skim milk to 
the compost pile.  Would it be okay to add it?  (BTW, it is organic free-range, 
happy-cow, $#&%$*-expensive milk, no nasty chemicals).  Also the occasional 
fragment o'cheese, drip o'yogurt, etc. Any suggestions?
     
Mary
Zone 5
Richmond, IN
     
Frank Teuton wrote:
     
> Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html 
>
> Concerning animal ingredients in compost, I would just like to offer some 
> thoughts:
>
> 1)They are not necessary for good compost; alfalfa meal and rock phosphate 
> are good sources of N and P respectively. Phosphorus shouldn't be added to 
> compost unless the soil the compost is destined for is really deficient in 
> P, as shown by a soil test...
>
> 2) There are concerns around bonemeal that may have European (and especially 
> British) origins and be carrying prions which are the causal agent of
> spongioform encephalopathy (e.g. Mad Cow Disease) and which are apparently 
> *not* destroyed in the composting process
>
> 3) as mentioned already, blood meal used to excess, especially in an overly 
> moist compost, may be attractive to what are euphemistically referred to as 
> 'vectors'--which range from flies to grizzly bears depending on yer
> location.
>
> Having said all the above, let me admit that I do put small animal
> mortalities like birds and baby rabbits into large compost piles in the
> early (hot) phase of composting---maybe half a dozen total in the last three 
> years--but they are always placed deep in the pile out of reach of flies or 
> animals...
>
> I think the usual advice against animal matter in compost piles is basically 
> well founded; if I needed to purchase an N source for composting it would be 
> alfalfa (rabbit pellets, horse feed, alfalfa meal) rather than blood
> meal--check the feed stores for good prices. I just got a note from a friend 
> in BC saying that horse feed could be had at 6$ per 40 kg (that's 88 pounds 
> for you non-metric types...:-)
>
> Finally, even leaf compost has nutrients in it and when kitchen scraps are 
> added can provide everything your plants need...with clean grass clippings 
> too, yer all set to grow...
>
> Frank--noting that since all flesh is ultimately grass, plant matter compost 
> will get you there...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Unlisted <THYME@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU> 
> To: sqft@listbot.com <sqft@listbot.com>
> Date: Tuesday, October 20, 1998 2:39 PM 
> Subject: compost/bloodmeal
>
> >Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html 
> >
> >it's fine to include bloodmeal in your compost, but be aware it may attract 
> >pests.  our dogs adore bloodmeal-very primative.  they will eat it by the
> >boxful if i leave it in their reach. 
> >
> >
> >thyme
> >
> >
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