Читать книгу Your Herb Garden - Barbara Segall - Страница 41

Fence off an area 60 × 60cm (24 × 24in) in a sheltered part of the garden, using four posts and fine-mesh wire netting.

Construct it so that the front piece of netting can be opened like a door.

Dig out the topsoil of the enclosed area and keep it to one side. Line the base with twigs or branches to allow circulation of air underneath your heap.

During the year, add layers of disease-free garden and kitchen vegetable waste to the heap.

Build the heap up in layers about 15cm (6in) deep. Between each layer add a thin layer of the topsoil you removed from the base.

Cover the heap with a piece of old carpet to keep it dry, raise the temperature and increase the rate of decomposition.

Every few weeks, make several holes vertically through the heap using a strong stick. This aerates the mound and prevents any slushiness in the middle.

When the top of the fence is reached and the heap is full, start a second one. The compost from the first heap will be ready to use by the autumn, when you will begin preparing new beds or maintaining older parts of the herb garden.