Shredded paper, including newsmagazines, can be composted, but there are some important considerations to ensure it is done safely and effectively: Ink: Modern inks, especially those used in newspapers and many magazines, are generally soy-based and non-toxic. However, glossy magazine pages can contain inks and coatings that may not be as environmentally friendly. If you're concerned, you can prioritize non-glossy paper for composting. Coatings and Additives: Glossy papers often have coatings or clay-based finishes that may not break down as easily in a compost pile. It's best to avoid glossy pages or use them sparingly. Balance: Shredded paper is considered a "brown" material, which means it's high in carbon. To maintain a healthy compost pile, you need to balance "brown" materials with "green" materials (which are high in nitrogen, like food scraps and grass clippings). Quantity: Using too much shredded paper can disrupt the balance of your compost pile. It's best to use shredded paper in moderation and ensure it's mixed well with other compost materials. Chemical Treatments: Some magazines might use paper treated with chemicals or heavy dyes, which might not be ideal for compost, especially if you're using the compost for growing edibles. Prioritize paper from sources that you trust to be free from harmful chemicals. Recommendations for Composting Shredded Paper: Use sparingly: Mix shredded paper with other compost materials to ensure a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. Avoid glossy and heavily printed paper: Stick to non-glossy, black-and-white printed paper if possible. Shred finely: Smaller pieces of paper will break down more quickly and integrate better into the compost. Moisture management: Shredded paper can absorb moisture, so monitor your compost pile's moisture levels to ensure it's not too dry or too wet. By following these guidelines, shredded paper, including newsmagazines, can be a beneficial addition to your compost pile.
EE, fantastic that you are going organic with worms. I have doing this for 5 years now and when I tell people how I do this they look at me like I'm nuts. But that's okay because I spend very little on fertilizer and my veggy plants are big and producing and the soil keep getting better and better. I use a large fibreglass bathtub and tape a seedling warm mat on the inside bottom for winter. Next comes a layer of course drain rock and then cover and tape strong piece of landscape fabric over that taped to the sides. Next I fill half the tub with horse manure. There's lots of places in Coombs area that will give you a wagon load. The red wrigglers will usually be in the manure if it has been sitting on the ground for a while. Now just put your kitchen scrapes in one half side and cover lightly with the manure from the other side. Put a bucket under the drain hole of the tub to harvest the worm juice. Amazing stuff. Stock pile it during winter. Cover the tub with a sheet of 1/2 inch plywood from windsor plywood. Get the cap sheet for cheap and trim it up a bit. To harvest casings, i do it on a super sunny day and scrape a 1/4 layer off the top with a cedar sawn shingle and then run it threw a 1/4 inch screen. Beautiful stuff and usually get a wheel barrow full load. In winter plug in the mat when it gets below freezing. Viola! You can get the tubs for free just make sure they are flat on the top with no head rest bumps. I am now on version 4. If you want I can give you a tub to start one. I live by Gordon Home Sales in South Wellington. Cheers.
Oh I know the feeling, all my friends thought I was weird keeping a bin full of worms in my closet when I lived in Victoria 😂 The bathtub with the heat mat is a great idea! I'd like to move my worm bin outside eventually and put it in a bigger container but I was worried about the temperature as we get pretty cold where I am in the winter. I actually have a vermicomposting grey & black water set up for an RV and it's been amazing! It's in an IBC tote that I insulated around the sides and I got the design idea from the Eco Village in Shawnigan Lake. One day I might make a video on that when UA-cam is ready for my full eco weirdness 😉🪱
It gives me the opportunity to get really hands-on with making soil amendments for our garden and the planet. I'm a wheelchair user, so my husband does the heavy lifting with conventional compost. The worms, he leaves to me! ~ Sandra
😆I don't eat meat, so no issue with worms. I bought red wiggler worms from a worm farmer. Most people that compost with red wigglers can divide their worm population up every 3-6 months.
Great video and info!
Thank you!
Great video 🇳🇿🪱
Thanks! 😃
Thanks for an awesome video and info
Glad you liked it!
Shredded paper, including newsmagazines, can be composted, but there are some important considerations to ensure it is done safely and effectively:
Ink: Modern inks, especially those used in newspapers and many magazines, are generally soy-based and non-toxic. However, glossy magazine pages can contain inks and coatings that may not be as environmentally friendly. If you're concerned, you can prioritize non-glossy paper for composting.
Coatings and Additives: Glossy papers often have coatings or clay-based finishes that may not break down as easily in a compost pile. It's best to avoid glossy pages or use them sparingly.
Balance: Shredded paper is considered a "brown" material, which means it's high in carbon. To maintain a healthy compost pile, you need to balance "brown" materials with "green" materials (which are high in nitrogen, like food scraps and grass clippings).
Quantity: Using too much shredded paper can disrupt the balance of your compost pile. It's best to use shredded paper in moderation and ensure it's mixed well with other compost materials.
Chemical Treatments: Some magazines might use paper treated with chemicals or heavy dyes, which might not be ideal for compost, especially if you're using the compost for growing edibles. Prioritize paper from sources that you trust to be free from harmful chemicals.
Recommendations for Composting Shredded Paper:
Use sparingly: Mix shredded paper with other compost materials to ensure a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio.
Avoid glossy and heavily printed paper: Stick to non-glossy, black-and-white printed paper if possible.
Shred finely: Smaller pieces of paper will break down more quickly and integrate better into the compost.
Moisture management: Shredded paper can absorb moisture, so monitor your compost pile's moisture levels to ensure it's not too dry or too wet.
By following these guidelines, shredded paper, including newsmagazines, can be a beneficial addition to your compost pile.
@@shapeshifter1364 Great points, thanks for sharing! I never use glossy paper or magazines in my worm bin for the exact reasons you mentioned.
EE, fantastic that you are going organic with worms. I have doing this for 5 years now and when I tell people how I do this they look at me like I'm nuts. But that's okay because I spend very little on fertilizer and my veggy plants are big and producing and the soil keep getting better and better. I use a large fibreglass bathtub and tape a seedling warm mat on the inside bottom for winter. Next comes a layer of course drain rock and then cover and tape strong piece of landscape fabric over that taped to the sides. Next I fill half the tub with horse manure. There's lots of places in Coombs area that will give you a wagon load. The red wrigglers will usually be in the manure if it has been sitting on the ground for a while. Now just put your kitchen scrapes in one half side and cover lightly with the manure from the other side. Put a bucket under the drain hole of the tub to harvest the worm juice. Amazing stuff. Stock pile it during winter. Cover the tub with a sheet of 1/2 inch plywood from windsor plywood. Get the cap sheet for cheap and trim it up a bit. To harvest casings, i do it on a super sunny day and scrape a 1/4 layer off the top with a cedar sawn shingle and then run it threw a 1/4 inch screen. Beautiful stuff and usually get a wheel barrow full load. In winter plug in the mat when it gets below freezing. Viola! You can get the tubs for free just make sure they are flat on the top with no head rest bumps. I am now on version 4. If you want I can give you a tub to start one. I live by Gordon Home Sales in South Wellington. Cheers.
Oh I know the feeling, all my friends thought I was weird keeping a bin full of worms in my closet when I lived in Victoria 😂 The bathtub with the heat mat is a great idea! I'd like to move my worm bin outside eventually and put it in a bigger container but I was worried about the temperature as we get pretty cold where I am in the winter. I actually have a vermicomposting grey & black water set up for an RV and it's been amazing! It's in an IBC tote that I insulated around the sides and I got the design idea from the Eco Village in Shawnigan Lake. One day I might make a video on that when UA-cam is ready for my full eco weirdness 😉🪱
i hear coffee grinds are delicious worm food.
Yes they do like coffee grinds, but you do need to make sure you're not overfeeding them with grinds.
Hi Jackie, I raise worms too on Vancouver Island (Victoria). Please to find your channel and subscribe.
~ Sandra
Hi Sandra, worm composting is so much fun, isn't it!
It gives me the opportunity to get really hands-on with making soil amendments for our garden and the planet. I'm a wheelchair user, so my husband does the heavy lifting with conventional compost. The worms, he leaves to me!
~ Sandra
But what if you don't have worms ? If you cook your meat well before you eat it you won't get worms.
😆I don't eat meat, so no issue with worms. I bought red wiggler worms from a worm farmer. Most people that compost with red wigglers can divide their worm population up every 3-6 months.
@@ecoendeavour Ah, I think Brendan was making a joke from a myth.