Compost isn’t smelly at all – it’s wonderful!
Allotment Week has got us talking about compost and why our Sunnyside Rural Trust mix is so special. Catherine, one of our brilliant project workers and our allotment guru, tells us all about the unique and sustainable way that we make compost and grow produce.
At Sunnyside Rural Trust, we cultivate our fruits and vegetables in a chemical-free environment. This practice is significant to us as it allows us to grow our produce in an ethical and flavourful manner.
By utilising weeds, animal waste, and hay, our compost naturally heats up and progresses through various stages. This process generates approximately 20 cubic metres of compost annually, providing sufficient nutrition for our produce production.
‘It is impossible for us (Sunnyside Rural Trust) to create bad compost’
However, Catherine reassures us that we do not need chickens, pigs and sheep to make compost. Making high quality compost at home is easy! Cardboard boxes, egg boxes and paper pulp all give you the carbon you need to create decent compost. And if you want to go that extra mile, you can buy a hay bale to add more brown material in.
Catherine also explains how we can tell if our compost is just right. Trust your senses – if it smells clean it is ready to use!
‘To think this is made from chicken poo, you would think it would smell bad but…it smells really good. That’s how we know it’s healthy ground and that we have all the good stuff in here’
Our dedication to our allotments drives us to strive for a more sustainable site daily. We are thankful for our knowledgeable staff who consistently educate us on horticulture, enhancing our passion for sustainability!