5 Parts Carbon + 1 Part Nitrogen = Hot Compost

FiMBY had a hot composting demo session at their propagation headquarters in Taroona.  Christina and Juliet lead the session, assisted by Hazel as well as 4 of us FiMBY beginners, Anne, Ian, Scott, and me.

First Christina gave a bit of a chat about the basic principles, 5 parts carbon (such as straw or some cardboard) layered with 1 part nitrogen (such as green garden waste).  After her chat, we all got stuck into it.  Some of us gathered green garden waste from the less tamed parts of the block, some chopping up the gathered green waste, and someone layered straw, 2 handfuls of chicken manure pellets, chopped green waste, watered it in well, and started another layer.  We all had a chance to change jobs, ask questions, and chat about life and gardens.  Anne and Ian are tree & sea changers originally from Edinburgh (via Canberra and Sydney amongst other places).  They live south of Cygnet on a few acres and have FiMBY helping them out with edible garden and chooks.  (Their dog is especially appreciative of the chooks!  😉  )

In 3 Weeks The Compost Will Compact

FiMBY's Propagation HQ

Scott Chopping Up Nitrogen Rich Greens

Anne Asking Juliet a Question; Compost Listening In

The closing chat was about what happens next with the compost.  In about a week, it should be quite warm in the middle.  It will have compacted by about half in 3 weeks time, and at that point can be turned over into the neighbouring compost area.  At that point, especially if it hasn’t gotten hot in the middle, you can diagnose what might be wrong: for example if it is dry it doesn’t have enough water and if not it may not have enough nitrogen rich materials.  3 weeks later it can be turned again, and may be ready to use.

Afterwards we attempted to go to the Taroona Lounge Bar around the corner, but the Grand Final replay meant it was booked out. So we decided to head to the Citrus Moon cafe at Kingston Beach. But first we had some garden pilfering to do. We’d already been given some silverbeet to cook and some artichoke plants to plant, but Christina had friends nearby who had a male and a female kiwi vines that needed rehousing. So off we were to Sonia and Andrew’s, where Christina dug out the vines for us. We promise to drop some kiwis off when we have some! I’ve named the male vine Apty after a kiwi friend but don’t know what to name the female.

Male Kiwi's Last Moments in Sonya and Andrew's Garden

Christina Stealing the Female Kiwi from Sonya and Andrew

Lunch at Citrus Moon was great. When we started up with FiMBY I knew they could help us with our garden, but I hadn’t realised how good it would be that they put us in touch with a network of people doing the same things we are. People whose eyes don’t glaze over when we describe what’s happening and how we’ve established the various bits of the garden!