The Poultry Keeper

stephen · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject:

I don't see any reason at all to not reduce the sugar - the sugar's only there to take the tartness from the fruit with the curds. The eggs are the important bit. Same with the ice cream.

NannyP · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:

Oh right, so I could maybe reduce the sugar by a quarter?
Well, maybe one day, when we've managed to consume the 2 jars I have already done, I'll try again Laughing

And the ice cream, I can reduce the cream, and the sugar, that'd be good. Very Happy

stephen · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 6:10 pm Post subject:

Yes, dillute the cream with milk. All that'll happen is it'll be less rich and slightly less smooth.

NannyP · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 3:05 pm Post subject:

And, back to lasange, I have started my pile!! 1st layer newspaper avec chicken poo, then shavings, then fresh grass cuttings, then large layer of half rotting veg, then another layer of damp, old coop newspaper from the compost heap. Now then, the book is gonna take a while, so what layers do I need next and what for the top layer? it's still only about 6" off the ground!! Laughing

debcat · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 3:12 pm Post subject:

does it matter what order the layers go in?

NannyP · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 4:21 pm Post subject:

don't know? I sort of imagined that the final couple of layers might be impportant and I kknow someone said that the first layer was newspaper, to stop the grass or weeds from growing underneath Cool

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 8:03 pm Post subject:

Want to share my book in the maentime?

Ok from the book:
First layer thick newspaper or cardboard - wet
She uses layers of peat moss (spaghnum?) in alternate layers but I don't have this so I don't

Other layers:
grass clippings
compost
chopped leaves
barn litter
spoiled hay
kitchen scraps
wood ash
bonemeal
manure
spent mushroom compost

She suggests a ratio of 4 times as much brown material such as peat moss, hay, straw, chopped leaves, stalks, twigs as you do green such as grass clippings, kitchen scraps and fresh manure. She also suggests applying the material in 4-6 inch layers, but I just spread it evenly over the surface so I build up the whole bed by the same amount and materials. My raised beds I use are 4 x 15.5 ft (actually the sides are 4.8m lengths of wood and I asked hubby to make them 4ft wide so I could reach from both sides).

I have access to peat 'dust' and seaweed so use both of these too as well as the bedding from the henhouse - both composted and not.

For my top layer this year I am using the contents of the beds from last year because I ahve moved them. This is now dark and crumbly. Lasat year I just made a hole in the layers with my hands and planted into then, adding a little compost to get them going. Seeds I planted into rows made in teh top layer and covered with compost. This is a way to use this method, the other way is to wait until the layers have settled. My lettuce seedlings Dad gave me last year came on much faster than his - I wonder if it was because of the heat given off by the decomposing materials in the beds?

Ok if I haven't answered your questions I have the book next to puter!

debcat · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks,
goiong to start the layers tomorrow if the rain stops, there are bound to be more questions Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I was going to suggest that as soon as you had an acceptable height you could grow things on it ~ not everything, some things don't like new compost ~ carrots. But certainly courgettes they like to have warm toes. Do you like courgettes, nannyp ? Not much growing needed one plant should provide you with enough fruits and you can usually buy a ready started plantlet from garden centres or the like.

NannyP · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 10:58 pm Post subject:

Yes, I like courgetes and as I recall carrots like well rotted manure, or they shoot off in all directions?
Um, I'm gonna have to be creative with the layes, but I do have a large compost heap, which is not easy to get at (poorly made) which I can use, it is about 2/3rds full and will have plenty of rotted material. I can also add another layer of wet cardboard, as that I've heard is good for compost heaps.
Not sure what I'm gonna enclose it with, it is enclosed(ish) on 2 sides already, so I have to think of someting that is is easy to carry, as we live on a steep hill, and getting anything into the garden is heavy going.
If I have some more questions, I'll ask Jaydee and thanks Very Happy

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 11:08 pm Post subject:

The woman who wrote the book doesn't always enclose her beds, I do from preference.

NannyP · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 11:11 pm Post subject:

I'll see how it looks as it grows Laughing

Heather · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 11:11 pm Post subject:

Carrots grow better in poorer soil if it doesn't have too many stones that is . Manure makes them 'fork' - so unless you want some unusual carrots to enter into a show ....................

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 11:15 pm Post subject:

Seen some interesting 3 legged carrots .........

debcat · Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 11:32 pm Post subject:

I've got rabbit, hen, duck and horse muck, some fresh some rotted. And if I take a barrow round the field I can get sheep as well, plus whats on the compost.
I take it the top layer is proper compost