Compost browns

[laryu.livejournal.com]

I've come to learn my compost heap could benefit from more "browns," like dead leaves, dry grass, chipped wood or hay. (But not coffee grounds, which are considered "green.") I seem to be a little short of those right now. Does anybody have a small supply of browns in their yard they could contribute? I'm happy to come by with a rake and a bucket.

Comments

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

You can use shredded newspaper!

[laryu.livejournal.com]

Aha! That could get me through the summer. Does it have to be newspaper or can more types of shredded paper be used?

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I read that you can use any type of shredded paper, BUT we have not had much success with regular office paper. Now, my (old and in need of replacement) shredder just makes standard strips; maybe if they were smaller pieces, i.e. cross-cut, it would break down better. But we get the daily Globe, so we just switched to newspaper for dry compost, and are recycling the shredded office paper curbside.

[laryu.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a shot. I'll keep coated stock (glossy paper) out of the bin, but I have a cross-cut shredder AND I am coincidentally going through the process of culling through old financial records right now. A bagful of shredded 15-year-old credit card statements might do the compost browns trick. Thanks!

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we find that cross cut shredded paper works pretty well.
On the other hand we tend to have a pretty wet compost bin and I'm not too concerned with ink chemicals and paper bleach.

The other things that we always compost:
- toilet paper rolls
- napkins
- qtips
- hair (from the drain of the shower)
- non-chemically paper towels
- compostable paper plates (chinet brand I think, we get them at Costco)

Spent grains from homebrewing?

[zymurgist70.livejournal.com]

Don't know if this helps you compost, but I have about 11 pounds of spent grain from a recent homebrew. You're welcome to it. Mostly malted barley with a little malted wheat.

I typically throw it away. Yours for the taking. Let me know.

Z

Re: Spent grains from homebrewing?

[laryu.livejournal.com]

Spent grains would work! Can I come get 'em this week? I can't figure out how to message you, but I think you can message me, right?