Page 33 - ALG Issue 2 2025

COMMUNITY
More weeds added throughout summer and autumn The straw is delivered.
was collected and many potential bonfires
avoided. On the minus side, there was
some inappropriate waste, such as plastic
weed control fabric, added to the heap. The
resulting 'compost' was worse than any I
have ever made myself. Much of the material
had not decomposed well, for example grass
weeds that were basically hay and turf with
2 inches of heavy soil attached. The nature of
the waste that allotment neighbours added
was clearly not the best for composting.
Applying the Growth Mindset to this case:
•
I have learnt a lot and will redesign the
composting area to improve filling and
emptying.
•
•
The 'compost' that was dug out after
10 months was very low quality, but not
useless. It will still be useful as a mulch on a
no-dig plot close to the composting area.
This 'compost' has not decomposed well,
is full of weed roots and woody stems,
so it was covered in cardboard and then
straw to rot down on the no-dig bed.
This compost will feed worms, improve
soil fertility as it rots further and has
avoided bonfires.
•
It is better for each allotment member
to have their own compost bin or heap
on their own plots. Educating and training
them about composting is going to be
better in the long term than providing a
convenient dumping area for their weeds.
Russell Atwood
East Midlands Deputy Representative
"The sceptic in me was NOT using Growth
Mindset, but I overcame the hesitation to have a
go – at least a pilot study."
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Allotment and Leisure Gardener | Issue 2 2025 | 33