Gardening with quilting scraps
#31
Now is also the perfect time of year to put your scraps out for the birds to build nests with. We feed the birds all winter long and in the spring rather than putting suet in the suet holder put in your scraps. :-)
#35
Originally Posted by tjradj
The birds love small strips! We once had a robin's nest that had a lovely yellow piece of nylon rope holding it together. Cotton would be much more eco friendly.
#36
Originally Posted by PaperPrincess
I was on google for awhile before making the original post. i kept trying to search on till + cotton fabric, garden + cotton fabric etc. but had a brain burp and didn't try looking under compost. I just did and cotton fabric is one of the items listed under many sites as being good to add to your compost pile, so looks like another use for all those crumbs too small to quilt with.
The thing about composting, especially if you are just starting out - - it gets hot as it breaks down which is why putting compost directly in your garden can be a problem - - however, I don't think fabric would have that same issue. Without the chemicals on it, it is still not in the same category as rotting fruit and fresh manure. Cotton and wool is more like hair in the composting process - - I am not sure how those items break down, but I do know that they are not considered "hot" ... this will be an interesting thread to keep track of. <wave>
#37
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
I organic garden, and would not use fabric in my compost due the chemicals, but I have been assured that newspaper is commonly used in todays organic composting!
I think I will try the newspaper cover and maybe put some straw on top instead of grass clippings, since we have so many weeds!
NOW, if I thought a mole might eat the fabric and choke to death, I would stuff the holes with my very best scraps....
but since there is no guarantee he would eat it, I just dug out the beds 3 feet down and put chicken wire down and an organic landscaping cloth, then filled the beds back in...darn moles....
I think I will try the newspaper cover and maybe put some straw on top instead of grass clippings, since we have so many weeds!
NOW, if I thought a mole might eat the fabric and choke to death, I would stuff the holes with my very best scraps....
but since there is no guarantee he would eat it, I just dug out the beds 3 feet down and put chicken wire down and an organic landscaping cloth, then filled the beds back in...darn moles....
#39
Originally Posted by McQuilter
I've not done or heard of that; but I love throwing my tiniest of scraps (thin, thin strips) and my thread scraps from embroidery out in the front yard for the birds. I have bushes around the side of my house and they nest in there in the summer and I can see my threads interwoven in their nests.
#40
Originally Posted by glowworm
Thank you, I stand corrected.
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