sbl

I don't think anyone has said that compost and manure is bad--and not to put words in Richard's mouth, but what I think he was trying to do is point out the falacy of those that believe that chemical salts are "evil". The same chemical salts that are found in fertilizer are in or are created as compost or manure breaks down. There can be harmful chemical in manures--depending on where and when you get it, but I would just advise to be aware and be careful of your source (if you are trying to totally avoid harmful chemicals).

Me--I would take any manure if it were available free and convenient--most of the chemicals that might be there would breakdown in the process of composting.

Patty in Wisc

Oh yeah, crushed egg shells, fish guts & heads, shrimp peels.

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Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

Bob

I thought you were from Wisconsin?..... you don't use the crushed egg shells for ice fishing attractant chum? Perch find them kind of fascinating

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sbl

I bury that stuff next to the fruit trees--egg shells do go to the compost pile.

Patty in Wisc

SBL, I didn't hear anyone say they didn't want chemical salts in the garden.

"If you don't want to use chemical salts in your garden, then for heaven's sake don't use mulch, compost, or manure. There's 2% or more in every shovelful of the stuff !!"
That sounds to me like Richard is saying chemical salts are a bad thing.

Ice fishing??? No way, unless I'm in 75 degree temps. But then the ice would break & I'd drown.

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Richard

Nope, you probably missed this earlier post: post92354

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Kim

Great thread here. If anyone is still in question, do your own research because it will always come down to personal preference.

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sbl

I really should let Richard speak for himself.

For me I don't want chemicals salts that are harmful in my garden --things like lead, arsenic and mercury salts and are often found in municipal sewage. But let's be clear, the chemical salts that are in commercial fertilizers --even man made nitrogen salts-- are the same chemical salts you get from organic materials as they breakdown--primarialy ammonium and nitrate salts. Phosphate and potassium cannot be man made (except in a nuclear reactor), they can only be mined, refined, or recycled.

sbl

Grass clippings are better than manure--they are manure without all the good stuff taken out and none of the bad stuff added. I can't believe more people do not use them on their plants.

Bob

I used to use them all the time in the garden and they were great as a weed block and an extra nutrient source. Now a days I use a mulching mower and leave them on the lawn. I was told this was better for the lawn. I haven't noticed any difference really though. Any opinions?

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sbl

I prefer using them on my other plants. I still occasionally dump a bag on some of the shrubs, but most go through my compost pile. It may be good for the grass, but I can see it causing problems with bugs and fungus as well down here.

momoese

I use them as compost and at times for light top mulch when I have nothing else to use, like right now. Nice thing is that I know they are organically grown because I grew them! I'm curious as to your method of composting them. Are you doing this solo with just grass clippings or combined with some brown stuff. Are you using any starters? Also what are you using to compost, a pile or composter?

sbl

My compost pile is just a large pile of stuff--leaves, pine straw, grass, kitchen scraps. It is about 4ftx8ft.

rscotth

Great post Bob, as you know I have been recently inspired to start composting.
Much like yourself I am also an avid fisherman and we are getting to the time of year that all "your" bluefish finally start arriving in our area. Along with the "runs" of various game fish the Sargasso Sea Weed hits the shore in good volume. Not sure if it the same "weed" you guys have up there.

Nature Report by Colley's Fins to Feathers - Sargasso Seaweed

My question is what do you do to prep it for your compost pile?

There is another thread.
Compost materials???

"supermario" posted a huge list with NPK values and it listed dried seaweed.
"Seaweed (dried): 1.1-1.5/0.75/4.9 (Seaweed is loaded with micronutrients including: Boron, Iodine, Magnesium and so on.)"

Do you rinse it with fresh water then dry it before it goes in the pile?

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supermario

I believe the information I posted had the seaweed listed as dried because that's how it is sold in stores. If you have access to fresh seaweed, I don't see why you can't just rinse it(to get salt and tiny critters out) and then toss it in the compost pile like you would kitchen scraps. Someone please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong...especially since I'm thinking of heading to South Miami beach with a garbage bag!

Richard

For fresh seaweed:
Soak several hours, rinse, repeat.

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Bob

Bob and Mario, basically when I go down to surf fish in the fall I load up mostly on eel grass and what we call "Cabbage". I have a secret spot on Barnegat bay where the prevailing winds blow it up in huge clumps (along with all sorts of debris mixed in, I even found a giant sponge the size of my head once. I usually can fill five or six large trash bags . When I get home I pull it out and remove all the trash........yup welcome to New Jersey! Then I rinse the remaining pile with fresh water from the hose. I used to add it to the compost pile but now just throw it on top of the garden bed and let it sit over winter. In spring I just till in shallowly. Adding to the compost works just as well but since I get it in the fall it wouldn't decompose much anyway. In a warmer area it would break down quickly and might be a better option. Four or five trips doing this and you can add a whole load of free organic matter to the garden with no effort. In the main bed I can stick my whole forearm in what was pure clay when I got here ten years ago.

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Patty in Wisc

It takes years to get good soil when it starts out being junk. Mikes garden soil is clay so this was first year. I threw in what was available. Bags of peat, pine needles, some leaves, horse poop, & soon to get (finally) bags of grass clippings from his neighbors. Next year will be better.
You have a good head start on me Bob. I s'pose I could go to my lakefront & bag up some mossy seaweed if it's still there. Wonder what the diff would be other than no salt(?)
Forgot to say that my garden is so much better than Mike's. I have been composting for years...lots of grass clippings, composted manure, & stuff from my compost.

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Bob

Hey Patty you have a lot of lakes in your part of the country right? I would find an area where they have a weed problem and are using harvesters to remove the weed, usually near boating or swimming tourist type areas. Let them do the work for you and just bag whatever you can. They have to be full of nutrients and provide some bulk.

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Richard

And just for your own health, check with the city/county about metal content in the lake. Some lakes are great, others have runoff from long abandoned mines.

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