gradually getting my house sorted

went to a local environment group's open day yesterday

they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.

their objection seemed to be it encourages rats

I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game

others of that opinion?

--
http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/

On May 9, 5:44*am, "Gill Smith" > wrote:
> gradually getting my house sorted
>
> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>
> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>
> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>
> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>
> others of that opinion?

Fat will take an eternity to break down.

Ditto bones.

Meat and fish heads, while good sources of nitrogen, will attract
dogs, skunks, etc. If you want creatures rooting through your compost,
fine.

In article
>,
spamtrap1888 > wrote:

> On May 9, 5:44*am, "Gill Smith" > wrote:
> > gradually getting my house sorted
> >
> > went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
> >
> > they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
> >
> > their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
> >
> > I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
> >
> > others of that opinion?
>
> Fat will take an eternity to break down.
>
> Ditto bones.
>
> Meat and fish heads, while good sources of nitrogen, will attract
> dogs, skunks, etc. If you want creatures rooting through your compost,
> fine.

That might not be such a bad idea. Save you the work of turning the
compost. <g> Let the critters do it for you!
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

On May 9, 8:44*am, "Gill Smith" > wrote:
> gradually getting my house sorted
>
> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>
> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>
> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>
> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>
> others of that opinion?
>
> --http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/

What type of composting would you be doing? We have a 3x5 meter area
where we compost leaves and kitchen scraps (not much of the latter,
far too much of the former). In the early days, my DH tried putting
the turkey carcass in there, but the coyotes tore the pile apart.
I've divided it into 3 bins, and we rotate them year by year. No
animal bits or pure fat allowed.

The larger commercial operations will take anything, but they are
running long rows 6-8' high, turning them with backhoes. They
probably have some extra protein that wanders in and doesn't get out
before a good turning occurs, but then, it'll all get decomposed
before it's used, so no big deal<G>

maxine in ri

"Gill Smith" > wrote in message
o.uk...
> gradually getting my house sorted
>
> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>
> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>
> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>
> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>
> others of that opinion?
>
> --
> http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/
>

I've only ever done vegetable matter, not meats.

On Sun, 9 May 2010 11:59:38 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
>"Gill Smith" > wrote in message
>news:KPednacA3NXXM3vWnZ2dnUVZ7tudnZ2d@brightview. co.uk...
>> gradually getting my house sorted
>>
>> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>>
>> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>>
>> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>>
>> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>>
>> others of that opinion?
>>
>> --
>> http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/
>>
>
>I've only ever done vegetable matter, not meats.

Here you can sort to compost in a bin and the town picks it up once a
week. They say no animal product. The only animal stuff I put in are
eggshells.

Nathalie in Switzerland

Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> "Gill Smith" > wrote in message
> o.uk...
>> gradually getting my house sorted
>>
>> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>>
>> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>>
>> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>>
>> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>>
>> others of that opinion?

> I've only ever done vegetable matter, not meats.

I've always read that meat will not be good for your compost.
Googling around I see that different bacteria compost meats vs
vegetation, aerobic as opposed to anaerobic, so I take it they
should be composted separately.

nancy

My father a PHD professor of Soil Chemistry always said not to put
meat products in compost for fear of animals, and rats imparticular.
We've followed that advice for over 40 years and have had great
composts.
Nan

Gill Smith wrote:
> gradually getting my house sorted
>
> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>
> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>
> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>
> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>
> others of that opinion?

Our city's composting system encourages all food scraps, including meat.
But they don't have a compost heap in their back yard, so that's
different. You really do want to avoid having critters in your backyard
compost.

Serene

--
"Basic principles of the Universe, oo. Do tell. Quantum mechanics?"
"You cannot know simultaneously where you are in a relationship *and*
how fast it is going." - Piglet and Rob Wynne, on alt.polyamory

Nan wrote:
> My father a PHD professor of Soil Chemistry always said not to put
> meat products in compost for fear of animals, and rats imparticular.
> We've followed that advice for over 40 years and have had great
> composts.
> Nan
>


That was the reason that I heard for not putting meat in with the other
compost goodies. I don't put meat in my compost, but if I go out to dump
stuff in it at night there are sometimes rats running around in there.

Gill Smith wrote:
>
> gradually getting my house sorted
>
> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>
> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>
> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>
> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>
> others of that opinion?
>


Not one of my gardening books recommend composting animal products other
than washed eggshells (for the calcium). We have coyotes, raccoons,
skunks and the occasional bear wandering around. Decomposing animal
products would entice them more than we'd like

On May 9, 9:36*am, Nathalie Chiva <Nathaliedotchivaatgmail.remove.com>
wrote:
> On Sun, 9 May 2010 11:59:38 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski" >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >"Gill Smith" > wrote in message
> >news:KPednacA3NXXM3vWnZ2dnUVZ7tudnZ2d@brightview. co.uk...
> >> gradually getting my house sorted
>
> >> went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>
> >> they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>
> >> their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>
> >> I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>
> >> others of that opinion?
>

> >I've only ever done vegetable matter, not meats.
>
> Here you can sort to compost in a bin and the town picks it up once a
> week. They say no animal product. The only animal stuff I put in are
> eggshells.
>

In my experience, eggshells take longer than other things to break
down, so I always squeeze them to break them into small pieces.

The other problem with fats is that they can coat other materials and
prevent bacteria from getting to them. You see this same effect with
pine needles that have a waxy coating.

On May 9, 4:26*pm, Arri London > wrote:
> Gill Smith wrote:
>
> > gradually getting my house sorted
>
> > went to a local environment group's open day yesterday
>
> > they no-no'ed composting fat, meat bones, fish heads etc.
>
> > their objection seemed to be it encourages rats
>
> > I've always thought composting *anything* organic is fair game
>
> > others of that opinion?
>
> Not one of my gardening books recommend composting animal products other
> than washed eggshells (for the calcium). We have coyotes, raccoons,
> skunks and the occasional bear wandering around. Decomposing animal
> products would entice them more than we'd like

Brushing the dog reminds me that hair is another animal product you
can put in your compost.

In article
>,
spamtrap1888 > wrote:

> > Here you can sort to compost in a bin and the town picks it up once a
> > week. They say no animal product. The only animal stuff I put in are
> > eggshells.
> >
>
> In my experience, eggshells take longer than other things to break
> down, so I always squeeze them to break them into small pieces.
>
> The other problem with fats is that they can coat other materials and
> prevent bacteria from getting to them. You see this same effect with
> pine needles that have a waxy coating.

The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)

Best garbage disposals ever invented...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> Omelet > wrote:
>
>> The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
>> leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)
>>
>> Best garbage disposals ever invented...
>
>
> Uhm...
>
> NOPE!

True dat.
>

The best would be...

Andy

In article >,
" Joe" > wrote:

> "Andy" > wrote in message ...
> > Omelet > wrote:
> >
> >> The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
> >> leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)
> >>
> >> Best garbage disposals ever invented...
> >
> >
> > Uhm...
> >
> > NOPE!
>
> True dat.
> >
>
> The best would be...
>
> Andy

<lol> Especially when Andy has never owned chickens. ;-)
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

"Omelet" > wrote in message
news
> In article
> >,
> spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>
>> > Here you can sort to compost in a bin and the town picks it up once a
>> > week. They say no animal product. The only animal stuff I put in are
>> > eggshells.
>> >
>>
>> In my experience, eggshells take longer than other things to break
>> down, so I always squeeze them to break them into small pieces.
>>
>> The other problem with fats is that they can coat other materials and
>> prevent bacteria from getting to them. You see this same effect with
>> pine needles that have a waxy coating.
>
> The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
> leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)

my previous locale was on the coast

seagulls eat *any* animal leftovers - from entrails to fat

--
http://www.gillsmith999.plus.com/

On May 9, 12:28*pm, Nan > wrote:
> My father a PHD professor of Soil Chemistry always said not to put
> meat products in compost for fear of animals, and rats imparticular.
> We've followed that advice for over 40 years and have had great
> composts.
> Nan

It's "in particular". not "imparticular"

Sorry, but I couldn't resist! :-)

John Kuthe...

On Mon, 10 May 2010 14:19:49 +0100, "Gill Smith"
> wrote:

>"Omelet" > wrote in message
>news
>> In article
>> >,
>> spamtrap1888 > wrote:
>>
>>> > Here you can sort to compost in a bin and the town picks it up once a
>>> > week. They say no animal product. The only animal stuff I put in are
>>> > eggshells.
>>> >
>>>
>>> In my experience, eggshells take longer than other things to break
>>> down, so I always squeeze them to break them into small pieces.
>>>
>>> The other problem with fats is that they can coat other materials and
>>> prevent bacteria from getting to them. You see this same effect with
>>> pine needles that have a waxy coating.
>>
>> The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
>> leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)
>
>my previous locale was on the coast
>
>seagulls eat *any* animal leftovers - from entrails to fat

Big deal... so to guineas.

On Mon, 10 May 2010 06:38:52 -0700 (PDT), John Kuthe
> wrote:

>On May 9, 12:28*pm, Nan > wrote:
>> My father a PHD professor of Soil Chemistry always said not to put
>> meat products in compost for fear of animals, and rats imparticular.
>> We've followed that advice for over 40 years and have had great
>> composts.
>> Nan
>
>It's "in particular". not "imparticular"
>
>Sorry, but I couldn't resist! :-)


You shoulda mentioned that his father said that, and he's a PHD
professor... anytime folks on Usenet claim a Phd it's a dead give away
that they didn't graduate high school.

On 11/05/2010 1:56 AM, brooklyn1 wrote:
> On Mon, 10 May 2010 06:38:52 -0700 (PDT), John Kuthe
> > wrote:
>
>> On May 9, 12:28 pm, > wrote:
>>> My father a PHD professor of Soil Chemistry always said not to put
>>> meat products in compost for fear of animals, and rats imparticular.
>>> We've followed that advice for over 40 years and have had great
>>> composts.
>>> Nan
>>
>> It's "in particular". not "imparticular"
>>
>> Sorry, but I couldn't resist! :-)
>
>
> You shoulda mentioned that his father said that, and he's a PHD
> professor... anytime folks on Usenet claim a Phd it's a dead give away
> that they didn't graduate high school.

This from someone with a PhD in tractor tyres?? Amazing!!

Krypsis

On May 9, 5:25*pm, Omelet > wrote:
> In article
> >,
>
> *spamtrap1888 > wrote:
> > > Here you can sort to compost in a bin and the town picks it up once a
> > > week. They say no animal product. The only animal stuff I put in are
> > > eggshells.
>
> > In my experience, eggshells take longer than other things to break
> > down, so I always squeeze them to break them into small pieces.
>
> > The other problem with fats is that they can coat other materials and
> > prevent bacteria from getting to them. You see this same effect with
> > pine needles that have a waxy coating.
>
> The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
> leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)
>
> Best garbage disposals ever invented...
> --
> Peace! Om
>
> Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
> *Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. *--Alex Levine

true, Om, chickens will clean up everything but the bones and give
back the perfect addition to any compost heap.

In article
>,
ImStillMags > wrote:

> > > The other problem with fats is that they can coat other materials and
> > > prevent bacteria from getting to them. You see this same effect with
> > > pine needles that have a waxy coating.
> >
> > The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
> > leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)
> >
> > Best garbage disposals ever invented...
>
> true, Om, chickens will clean up everything but the bones and give
> back the perfect addition to any compost heap.

I am glad you understand. <g>

And they give eggs as a reward as well...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

Omelet wrote:
> In article
> >,
> ImStillMags > wrote:

>>> The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
>>> leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)
>>>
>>> Best garbage disposals ever invented...
>> true, Om, chickens will clean up everything but the bones and give
>> back the perfect addition to any compost heap.
>
> I am glad you understand. <g>
>
> And they give eggs as a reward as well...


They taste pretty good battered and fried, too.

gloria p

In article >,
"gloria.p" > wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> > In article
> > >,
> > ImStillMags > wrote:
>
> >>> The BEST way to compost meat, fat scraps, eggshells and any animal
> >>> leftovers is to pass them thru chickens first. ;-)
> >>>
> >>> Best garbage disposals ever invented...
> >> true, Om, chickens will clean up everything but the bones and give
> >> back the perfect addition to any compost heap.
> >
> > I am glad you understand. <g>
> >
> > And they give eggs as a reward as well...
>
>
> They taste pretty good battered and fried, too.
>
> gloria p

Eggs or laying hens? ;-)

JUST KIDDING!!!

I've never tried meat birds as yard birds...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine