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           If there  is one undertaking that  everyone has a special
           recipe for it has to be the making of compost.

           Any organic  material is suitable  for the purpose,  from
           food scraps,  grass cuttings, prunings  and leaf rakings,
           to animal  manures and blood  and bone. You  can even use
           paper and any natural fibres such as wool and cotton.

           These materials  will all break  down to form  a rich and
           crumbly compost, ideal for use as garden soil enrichment,
           plant food and as mulch.

           Keep your compost moist but not wet.

           As  the  decomposition  process  gets  underway,  heat is
           generated which helps the material to break down.

           This heat  serves to kill any  weed seeds, virus diseases
           and fungus that may be present.

           Preferably have at least two  heaps, bins or boxes in use
           simultaneouly  so  that  a  cycle  can  be established to
           provide a constant supply. (see graphic illustration)

           One  bin is  used for   new material  while the  other is
           maturing.

           About  three weeks  after starting  a new  bin, fork  the
           contents from the  top and sides of the  mature heap onto
           the new one and cover with a layer of soil and straw.

           Alternatively  the top  and side  layers can  be used  to
           start a new heap, when  this top layer becomes the bottom
           layer of the new heap.

           An eight  to fourteen week cycle  is normally required in
           good  weather to  fully decompose  the contents  of a new
           heap.

           If odour  becomes a problem,  sprinkle a thin  dusting of
           agricultural lime on the heap.

           Also apply  a dusting of blood  and bone and ash  to help
           the decomposition process along.

           Avoid  adding  bulbous  weeds,  nut  grass,  onion  weed,
           wandering jew,  and kikuyu runners, as  these may survive
           the internal  heat of the  heap and become  a nuisance in
           the finished product.

           Add a little  slow release fertiliser to the  heap to add
           nutrients to  the mixture as  it percolates down  through
           the material.

           Your  compost is  ready to   use when  you can  no longer
           recognise the contents of the heap or bin.
           
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