Take it this one is for me Dave. Apologies this is a bit long but there's quite a lot to day! I think you can encourage your brother that a decent compost heap is simple if one follows a few guidelines:
- If it was once organic it can be composted but unless one has a heap which works very well, that is high temperatures, it's best to avoid a few things. These would be anything which is twiggy or woody, they simply take a long time to break down
- Include paper and cardboard. These provide carbon and help to create airpockets in the heap. Tear up in to sensibly sized pieces. Remove sticky labels, tape etc. from cardboard - they won't break down. Only use brown or white cardboard, anything with pictures or shiny probably has a plastic film on it which won't break down - it's the film which is printed not the cardboard.
- When adding bulky material, large leaves etc. - for example brassica or rhubarb leaves - chop these up before adding to the heap. It's a few minutes work but by damaging the leaves break down is speeded up
- Add material in layers especially when adding leaves or grass cuttings. These are best mixed with paper or cardboard to prevent a dense soggy mess building up
- Before adding substantial amounts of material turn over the top 9-12" with a fork. Add the new material and turn this in to the top layer.
- Avoid the heap getting too wet. Cover the top with plastic of some sort and chuck a bit of old carpet on top of this
- Hops are brilliant for getting a heap working - the centre of mine is +/-60C. Animal manure should create a similar effect but I've no direct experience as I don't have a source.
- If hops or manure aren't available following the above will work but take longer.
Kitchen waste is a good addition but will probably attract rats. I compost this separately in a rat proof plastic bin and then add it to the heap every six months or so.
If these thin bright red worms appear, probably in their 100s, the heap is a really good one!!! Tiger worms will do the work of breaking everything down. They live on or near the top of the heap but die off when dug into ordinary soil. Once the heap is fully composted they disappear - no food!! If your brother needs some he can buy them online - once you've got a population they never disappear completely.
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