Permacultureglobal.org - the interactive map and database of the Worldwide Permaculture Network

Sefton Park Allotment

Details

Commenced:	01/11/2013
Submitted:	02/08/2015
Last updated:	07/10/2015
Location:	Sefton Park, Greenbank Lane, L17, Liverpool, GB
Climate zone:	Cool Temperate

My Projects

(projects i'm involved in)

Sefton Park Allotment

Liverpool, GB

Followers

Back to Sefton Park Allotment

First try with a Berkeley Compost Pile

Project: Sefton Park Allotment

Posted by Fatima Silva Franco over 9 years ago

Last month I tried the Berkeley method for the first time. I have been very inconsistent with the turning days and it is taking longer than 18 days. The pile got too hot between turnings and when I did the 3-5h turnings, after 3-4 days instead of 2, it smelt a little bit like ammonia. After a month it is looking nearly done, it is still warm but worms are starting to crawl on near the margins.

I made the pile on top o a raised bed. It was made mostly of barley left overs from a beer brewery, with some horse manure and greens from the allotment layered in in between. The greens were not shredded or cut, and were mostly nettle, potato and confrey. Because of the big stalks they made difficult turning the pile the first times (they melted after that...). I made the pile, left it 4 days, then remade it a little, adding more greens and manure, and left it for another 4 days. It got hot very fast!

I will try it again turning it very two days next time (hopefully :). I will also cut down the greens a little bit to make the turning easier at the begginig.

Comments (6)

You must be logged in to comment.

Kathryn Michaud : Hi Fatima. My local feed store told me that barley is considered one of the "hot" grains, the other being corn, and produce more energy.

Posted over 9 years ago

S. Symens : Wow, it's looking pretty brilliant to me... Does it still smell?

Posted over 9 years ago

Cindy Madou : I agree with Saskia. I haven't been able to obtain such a result, yet. Good job. I've started a heap last week. Tomorrow the third turn .:-)

Posted over 9 years ago

Fatima Silva Franco : It only smelt the second week or so, when I removed the cover. I guess the ratio N:C was too high, it make sense what Kathryn says...

I didn't add to much horse manure, just 2 wheelbarrels, but I'll try with a less next time.

Posted over 9 years ago

Rodney Robinson : Very envious here. I have a double set of rotating composting barrels that I got at Costco, charged with kitchen scraps, leaves, and some finished compost for inoculate. After two months of rotating the barrels every other day or so I am not getting a good result. My next attempt will be a pile a meter and a half high. I was told that in PDC class. :-)

Posted over 9 years ago

Fatima Silva Franco : Hi Rodney, I did the meter and a half pile (more or less) and it was really amazing how fast the temperature went up. The compost is finished, it is dark, smells nice and holds a ton of moisture! Waiting to see the results on the plants... and definitely going for a second pile :)

Posted over 9 years ago

Courses Taught Here!

Project Badges

Administrators

Team Members

(close)

Legend of Badges

Note: The various badges displayed in people profiles are largely honesty-based self-proclamations by the individuals themselves. There are reporting functions users can use if they know of blatant misrepresentation (for both people and projects). Legitimacy, competency and reputation for all people and projects can be evidenced and/or developed through their providing regular updates on permaculture work they’re involved in, before/after photographs, etc. A spirit of objective nurturing of both people and projects through knowledge/encouragement/inspiration/resource sharing is the aim of the Worldwide Permaculture Network.

	Member A member is a permaculturist who has never taken a PDC course. These cannot become PDC teachers. Members may be novice or highly experienced permaculturists or anywhere in between. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	Permaculture Matchmaker One of these badges will show if you select your gender and the "I'm single, looking for a permaculture partner" option in your profile.
	PDC People who claim to have taken a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course somewhere in the world.
	PDC Verified People who have entered an email address for the teacher of their PDC course, and have had their PDC status verified by that teacher. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	PRI PDC People who’ve taken a Permaculture Research Institute PDC somewhere in the world.
	PDC Teacher People who claim to teach some version of PDC somewhere in the world.
	PRI Teacher With the exception of the ‘Member’ who has never taken a PDC, all of the above can apply to become a PRI PDC Teacher. PRI PDC Teachers are those who the PRI recognise, through a vetting board, as determined and competent to teach the full 72-hour course as developed by Permaculture founder Bill Mollison – covering all the topics of The Designers’ Manual as well as possible (i.e. not cherry picking only aspects the teacher feels most interested or competent in). Such teachers also commit to focussing on the design science, and not including subjective spiritual/metaphysical elements. The reason these items are not included in the PDC curriculum is because they are “belief” based. Permaculture Design education concerns itself with teaching good design based on strategies and techniques which are scientifically provable. PRI PDC Teachers may be given teaching and/or consultancy offerings as they become available as the network grows.
	Aid Worker The individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to be involved in permaculture aid work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture aid worker experience. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	Consultant The individual with this badge is indicating they are, have, or would like to do paid permaculture design consultancy work. As such, the individual may or may not have permaculture consultancy experience. Watch their updates for evaluation.
	Community Project Community projects are projects that help develop sustainable community interaction and increase localised resiliency.