permaculture

["Kevin Topek" <ktopek@bellsouth.net>]

Roger,

 

Wood shavings do take a relatively long time to break down. The pine shavings, straw, manure and urine mixture promotes fungal growth due to the relatively high carbon ratio of the mix. All kinds of spores the horses ingest from eating hay sprout and thrive in the cool and moist conditions this mixture promotes, relative to more thermoactive pile mixtures. The final compost may be slightly acidic from the pine shavings. Overall, horse bedding mixed with waste makes an excellent compost. It is too often overlooked, considering the availability of large volumes and nuisance as a landfill component.

 

Kevin Topek

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Roger W. Greene Jr.

To: permaculture

Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 5:54 PM

Subject: Wood shavings in compost

I have been composting horse manure mixed with straw and wood shavings (pine). Does anyone know the pros and cons of wood shavings in compost. I have noticed that it takes longer for it to break down.

R

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