alex no

[kaberett]

we have reached the point in the year where, even though I know better -- even though I know that over winter I can't keep even one of them running at a reasonable temperature (or at least have not historically been able to) --

my head is filled with a near-constant refrain of "but what if I got a second Hotbin"



(I hate stinging nettles so much. SO MUCH.)

Comments

[kaberett]

The limiting factor on weeding at the moment is definitely being able to dispose of them (and I have pseudo-infinite shredded paper and partially-composted wood chip) so I'd be envisaging filling one to the brim with weeds etc on day one and leaving it to cook down for 48 hours or so, then doing the same to the second bin on day two...

(Some of this is of course because the plot is bigger than I can meaningfully keep weeded in its current state such that I get a lot of growth in areas as I rotate around trying to keep most of it down to a vaguely reasonable level, where if more of it were in cultivation I might be able to keep on top of things better, but -- still.)

[ewt]

Would putting (non-shredded) cardboard and woodchips on top of the areas not in cultivation limit the weeds some?

I have been using straight woodchips for paths and it seems to work well, the bindweed comes up anyway though.

I also kindof want to put nettles in a retting tank and use them to make thread which I then weave, knit or crochet into cloth but I also know I would get as far as having a mucky tankful of muck and then...stop. Also I don't seem to have many nettles on my plot.

Another thing I have heard of and want to try is a compost tea tower thing. Black plastic waste pipe, mounted vertically with space underneath for a jug, attach mesh/sieve/etc to the bottom, put weeds in top and put lid on. It heats up in the sun and cooks the daylights out of them and the liquid that drains off is essentially fertiliser. Needs emptying every so often to get the leftover fibrous material out.

[kaberett]

I am doing so and it does help a bit but the choke point for that is (still) not having a wheelbarrow & therefore being fairly limited in how much I can carry back & forth...

[ewt]

Wheelbarrows are cheaper than Hotbins...

[kaberett]

but also less easy to impulse-buy online for delivery, and more amenable to minmaxing. :-p

eta I grumped at A about my ongoing failure to get my act together to Sort Out A Wheelbarrow and one is now winging its way to me. <3