A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Gardener's Chat Wood Chips or Shavings for compost...?

I just read a post of someone who used wood chips as compost, is this possible?

We have lots of wood shavings, chips and even dust that gets vacuumed up from our wood working shop and I'm wondering if I could use any of this for compost. What would I need to do in order for it to be useable and safe with plants.

I would think you'd have to add lots and lots of green stuff, in order to help it break down. Also, you want to be careful not to use any shavings or dust from plywood or treated lumber.

I use wood chips from the city, but make sure they are well rotted first, the ones I am using are nice and dark brown and have been lying on the ground since last fall.

I've used cedar shavings, neighbours own a saw mill. They take a long while to break down though and you've got to watch for ants and snakes that seem to love living in the pile while it's breaking down.

I think Pat has the best idea of leaving them sit for a long while before using them.

Hey thanks for the info'. That's what I thought I would have to do. I guess I could easily save a bag of dust from pine wood, that's what we're using, and let it sit for a while. I'll see what my hubby thinks. We need to do something with all the left over chips and stuff.
He even mentioned the other day, to heat my greenhouse with a wood burning stove, but he'd have to build a small room specially for the stove and pipe the heat in. Guess we'll have think some more on all this.

And the best part is the city has done all the work and even offered to load them for me. Plus I can probably get all I want, they have some land at the edge of town where they dump almost all their wood.

You might also check the local Vets in your area, we have one that does a lot with cows and horses, and he has LOTS of good well composted manure. He has probably 3 or 4 Tractor-Trailer loads. He told just help yourself take ALL you want.

the chips can make a nice mulch and that will cure it long enough that when you scrape it away before adding new it'll be just right for the compost pile. Pretty cool huh?

Pat I've got it made, My farm is next door to the neighbour's saw mill.

There you go ready made compost almost, just pile it up and let it rot.

Love that idea.