Compost and Veg
This page is being written now/dreckly - see additions during 2024! Button (Optional)Composting and growing vegetables
by Miranda Penhaligon
I am Master Composter trained by Garden Organic (ex HDRA) and Oxfordshire County Council.
I also spent 5 months training on vegetable & fruit growing, at Trengwainton (National Open College Network, Level 2).
I use organic principles and a low-effort method of composting. For example, I only turn my compost once a year.
Composting
I use the Three Bin system; compost bins are available commercially, and mine are at least 12 years old and may be beginning to ‘self-compost’!
Bin One is filled with material; Bin Two is filled and ready to turn; and Bin Three is turned and being used. Please refer to the photographs on the right.
One of the problems I have is is that my bins are very exposed to wind and rain as can be seen in the final photograph.
Composting challenges peculiar to West Penwith
- High Winds can dry the compost out and blow material away! A solution is to ensure that there is wind protection, use heavy material to weigh compost ingredients down and don’t have too many open slats in your bin design.
- Too much rain from October – April leaches out nutrients. A solution is to use a lid or cover.
- The compost may become too dry from May – September and you may need to ‘water’ your compost.
Opportunities peculiar to West Penwith
- Pretty warm, so the composting process continues for most of the year.
- Supply of seaweed, nettles and, if you’re lucky, Comfrey.
- There are quite a few horses in West Penwith . If you can develop a relationship with the owners as they will bite your hand off if you can take their manure away.
To learn more about making compost, please click the image below to watch a video from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
For more information on composting from Garden Organic, please click on the button below
Charles Dowding Composting Information
For a more detailed but very informative YouTube video on making and using compost, click on the button below for information from Charles Dowding on composting. He is also renowned for his ‘No Dig’ philosophy of using compost – ie less hard work! Gone are the days of Double Digging.
THE ANNUAL ST BURYAN YOUNG FARMERS DUNG RUN
St Buryan Young Farmers deliver free in the area. The cost per bag is very reasonable, but the material is fresh from cow barns, so needs stacking for 6 months before use. It is worth asking about pesticide used on the cow fodder in case this is present in dung (though I’ve never heard of this problem here in West Penwith).
