Composting & Mold

[bobm]

As you may know that I am getting grass clippings from several of my neighbors as a mulch. Last evening one neighbor braught over his offering and dumped it in the back yard about an hour before we came home... however the clippings were cut a week ago and stored in a covered garbage can fermenting. ( he came home yesterday afternoon from being away at a job site for a week) The top layer was all dry and mouldy ( powdery) while the bottom layer was steaming HOT and a brown mush. I spread it out on a bare spot in the back yard. Come 1 AM ... I couldn't breath the rest of the night. I know that composting is great for the soil, ( I had spread TONS of daily horse manure offerings from an average of 30 horses in my gardens as well as the pastures) . BUT ... how healthy ( unhealthy ) is it for the one that turns the compost pile / spreads it out on the land. I still CANT BREATH !!!

 

[catjac1975]

Next time use a painters mask. You inhaled the mold. I am particularly sensitive to mold as are many people. I try not to disturb it once it is put down as it molds very quickly.If you're using it in a compost pile I think the thing to add would be dry material. Of course it is best to handle before it turns. Once it has completed turning to compost it should be safe for spreading

As you may know that I am getting grass clippings from several of my neighbors as a mulch. Last evening one neighbor braught over his offering and dumped it in the back yard about an hour before we came home... however the clippings were cut a week ago and stored in a covered garbage can fermenting. ( he came home yesterday afternoon from being away at a job site for a week) The top layer was all dry and mouldy ( powdery) while the bottom layer was steaming HOT and a brown mush. I spread it out on a bare spot in the back yard. Come 1 AM ... I couldn't breath the rest of the night. I know that composting is great for the soil, ( I had spread TONS of daily horse manure offerings from an average of 30 horses in my gardens as well as the pastures) . BUT ... how healthy ( unhealthy ) is it for the one that turns the compost pile / spreads it out on the land. I still CANT BREATH !!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

That mold really hits my allergies hard. Its not trouble breathing but the spigot is turned on in my sinuses. Its not just grass or compost. If it is damp outside for long, mold is there. Cleaning out a chicken coop is pretty high on the list too. That dust can do nasty things to your lungs.

I agree, for certain tasks a mask is the best answer I have. I have them but to be honest, I dont use them nearly as often as I should.

 

[so lucky]

There's something about freshly cut grass clippings that really gets to my lungs. Last time I raked fresh grass, I was sick for about 10 days; bronchial and upper respiratory issues. If I let it sit a couple days to dry out a little, I'm ok with it. But that moldy stuff, too, makes me ill.

 

[MontyJ]

I know the mold you are talking about. A mask would be best when you come in contact with it. When you have a compost pile, you don't have the mold problem if you tend the pile regularly. I run some pretty large compost piles and never have mold unless I don't get the grass clippings turned in the day they are cut. That happens to be the case right now. I have a large pile of clippings sitting beside the new compost pile that I didn't get around to turning in. The are in the open, not bagged up, so the top is dry, but inside that pile the mold and smell will be waiting.

 

[bobm]

I guess that I forgot to include the part after I got the first pitch fork full and the pesky mold started to fly.... I put on my bandana over my nose and mouth and finished spreading it out over the beds. When one can't breath normally when posting things go snafu !