Our compost project is hotting up! The temperature of our new ‘hot compost’ is rising rapidly which means we will soon be using our first batch of compost on the fields
Category Archives: Compost Matters
The new composting bays
Despite the official opening of the compost bays only happening last Saturday, the first bay is full and will soon have to be turned into the finished bay.
The second bay is nearly full and will probably have to be closed this weekend.
So that means that the third bay will be started next week.
Ian the grower is hopeful that there will be usable compost within the next two to four weeks that he can use around the growing site. This is where the system of having hot compost no dig beds will come into its own.
However there is just one job that needs to be done before Go Local Food starts to make use of the home produced hot compost. The home-made sieve created from various spare materials around the Go Local Food site which is used to riddle and grade our onsite home made compost will have to be strengthened.
Ready for action
Last week a dinosaur skeleton – this week a transformation into our long awaited compost bays.
Our current ups and downs:
The good news
• volunteer help in making a successful planning application
• trial and error to identify the perfect straddling size for our plots
• much digging and removal of several tons of docks (that may be a slight exaggeration)
• growing brilliant lettuce and onions on the created plots – using cold compost
• the opportunity to work the plots in any weather
• development of a positive name for our experiment, rather than ‘no dig’ or ‘no till’ we have, some like it hot #compostmatters
• delivery of the new build compost bins with soak away – looking rather gorgeous!
The less good news
• misjudging the need for planning application held up building work
• short people do not find the plot size as comfortable to work as tall people do
• keeping on top of the weeds whilst we await our hot compost
• working the plots in all weathers!
• time required in preparation of the plots
• a name that attracts attention way beyond the horticultural world
We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to our fields for the official opening, of our compost bins and new poly tunnel. The Grand Launch will take place at 11.30 am Saturday, 1st June. For details of how to find us, http://golocalfood.co.uk/contact-us/
Progress!
The first slab of concrete is laid in the hot composting area. Plans are to lay the second concrete slab today so long as the rain holds off. The drainage trench will be created next week and the effluent tank in two weeks.
Everything will then be allowed to settle for another week. After that – Go Local Food will be hot composting. Fingers crossed that the weather lets us keep to plan.
Hot composting advances
Work continues on the hot composting area at the Go Local Food fields.
From this early clearing of the area where planning permission has been given
To obvious bays being marked out and shuttering put in place prior to applying concrete
It does feel good to see this project advancing despite the workers involved being diverted to lambing duties which are now just about over for the year.
Go Local Food Ltd 