Not yet a composter

I've not yet got into composting, but I sure am hoping too eventually. At the moment my waste goes into a large bonfire, where the ashes then get used by people, for their plots. I've got a bucket with the dead leaves of things like turnips and rhubarb. They've gone super crispy. I was wondering whether I could use them as mulch, maybe mixed with straw, to cover my strawberry beds this winter. Or is this completely crazy..would I risk spreading pests?? Any tips appreciated as always

 

If the mulch is made up of plants that are not related to the strawberry I don't think there would be any problem. Try to avoid adding seeds of anything that could sprout and need to be weeded out next year if you can.

 

I'd much rather compost all the rhubarb n turnip leaves first.
When they've turned into a rich dark 'black gold' you can mulch any and everything with it.
I've got 3 compost bins on my plot so that i can put the newer stuff in a seperate one to the ready to use ones.

 

Bit surprised that you are allowed to have big bonfires on your Allotment ? surely not very Green friendly these days ?

Making compost heaps is the best way to use up all your waste, so many methods , be it an open heap, old pallets etc or the modern composting bins.
Just google "diy compost bin" for loads of ideas/methods

Only diseased plants etc need to be disposed of by other means.

 

I visited my allotment tonight around 19.30 to water and feed.
Not one bombfire was lit, but two!.. I didn't mind too much cos i figured it was a reasonable time to light them, but it's just the smoke stink through my clothes that isn't too pleasant to drive home with. One guy lit a fire under his apple tree the other night and paid a high price cos half of the tree is burnt to a cinder including many dozens of apples.
You just can't fathom some folks...

 

I've only seen it lit once in 6 months so far, and when you're clearing a plot there's not always a use for all the wood you're left with. At least people use the wood ash to enrich their soils, I guess you can call that recycling I'm going to get onto the case of composting soon enough. Thanks for your tips!

 

Oh!!! I don't think we're allowed to light our own, we have a couple of guys who just tend a main one. It doesn't get lit too often from what I can gather. Oh my...do you think he was trying to cook his apples before picking them