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Sefton Park Allotment

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Commenced:	01/11/2013
Submitted:	02/08/2015
Last updated:	07/10/2015
Location:	Sefton Park, Greenbank Lane, L17, Liverpool, GB
Climate zone:	Cool Temperate

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Sefton Park Allotment

Liverpool, GB

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First try with a Berkeley Compost Pile

Project: Sefton Park Allotment

Posted by Fatima Silva Franco over 8 years ago

Last month I tried the Berkeley method for the first time. I have been very inconsistent with the turning days and it is taking longer than 18 days. The pile got too hot between turnings and when I did the 3-5h turnings, after 3-4 days instead of 2, it smelt a little bit like ammonia. After a month it is looking nearly done, it is still warm but worms are starting to crawl on near the margins.

I made the pile on top o a raised bed. It was made mostly of barley left overs from a beer brewery, with some horse manure and greens from the allotment layered in in between. The greens were not shredded or cut, and were mostly nettle, potato and confrey. Because of the big stalks they made difficult turning the pile the first times (they melted after that...). I made the pile, left it 4 days, then remade it a little, adding more greens and manure, and left it for another 4 days. It got hot very fast!

I will try it again turning it very two days next time (hopefully :). I will also cut down the greens a little bit to make the turning easier at the begginig.

Comments (6)

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Kathryn Michaud : Hi Fatima. My local feed store told me that barley is considered one of the "hot" grains, the other being corn, and produce more energy.

Posted over 8 years ago

S. Symens : Wow, it's looking pretty brilliant to me... Does it still smell?

Posted over 8 years ago

Cindy Madou : I agree with Saskia. I haven't been able to obtain such a result, yet. Good job. I've started a heap last week. Tomorrow the third turn .:-)

Posted over 8 years ago

Fatima Silva Franco : It only smelt the second week or so, when I removed the cover. I guess the ratio N:C was too high, it make sense what Kathryn says...

I didn't add to much horse manure, just 2 wheelbarrels, but I'll try with a less next time.

Posted over 8 years ago

Rodney Robinson : Very envious here. I have a double set of rotating composting barrels that I got at Costco, charged with kitchen scraps, leaves, and some finished compost for inoculate. After two months of rotating the barrels every other day or so I am not getting a good result. My next attempt will be a pile a meter and a half high. I was told that in PDC class. :-)

Posted over 8 years ago

Fatima Silva Franco : Hi Rodney, I did the meter and a half pile (more or less) and it was really amazing how fast the temperature went up. The compost is finished, it is dark, smells nice and holds a ton of moisture! Waiting to see the results on the plants... and definitely going for a second pile :)

Posted over 8 years ago

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