Does it come in bulk, or individual soggy bread bags?

I suppose that any self-respecting planaria would be able to avoid the shredded paper.

You Fool! Everybody here's going to think that you're a horrible barbarian! Composting bread! I'd be Laughing!! here at the very idea, if I weren't so repulsed.

Gak! People have Got! to quit clicking on this, so we don't have to see this disgusting header for the whole next month! Do we all agree?

I've become seriously disgusted since David posted that link conclusively linking planarians to well-meaning people putting bread* in the compost pile.

* and other absorbent, wheat-based, materials

You'd be a fool not to compost it. A side bonus is the planarians can get as big as crappies eating bread. Kinda cool lookin'. I think I saw a picture of one somewhere.

tj

I would think bread is a "brown." It's carbon or more correctly carbohydrate which is converted to sugars and consumed by bacteria as food. "Greens" are proteins, nitrogen, amino acids which allow bacteria to multiply.

That's my simple understanding.

"I would think bread is a "brown." It's carbon or more correctly carbohydrate which is converted to sugars and consumed by bacteria as food. "Greens" are proteins, nitrogen, amino acids which allow bacteria to multiply.

That's my simple understanding."

As most have already determined, this was posted only because of the date (poisson d'avril).

Hoewver, to correct this, I thought I'd point out that IF I were to try to compost bread (and keep it secret from annpat), it would be a strong "green" rather than a brown. It's considered a carbohydrate for people, but we're comparing it with something like a hamburger. When it comes to composting, bread (if it could be composted) would be a high protein source.

It's only a brown if it's a fresh wholemeal loaf. It's a green if it's been left in a bag too long. Ordinary sliced white bread is not compostable at all since it's essentially plastic.

At least that's my simple understanding.

I was going to start my usual April Fool's thread saying something like "Bread's really heating up my compost!" or "I've come to the dark side. Can't get enough bread for the bin," but it's so humiliating that you guys fall for that year in, year out, that I took pity on you this year.

So what is the C:N ratio of bread. Is it closer to 30 or is it closer to 10?

The C:N ratio of bread is far less important than the P:S (planaria:slice) ratio?

Truer words were never spoken, Randy!
Well, maybe I shouldn't say 'never'.
Rarely are truer words spoken.

Hey flora, do you want to come to Maine in July of 2012?

Love to annpat - but small matter of 2012 London Olympics. I've got my applications in - now we just have to wait and see if we're lucky in the draw. On the track I've applied for the Women's 4 x 400 composting relay (you know the one where they run round with a baguette and have to pass it to the next person to see which team can get it in the oile quickest) and in the Aquatics centre I'm hoping for the Planaria 10 meter board semis. Where they get marked on style for launching themselves into a pool of sog. Although I was tempted but the synchronized sliming.

Here is a link that might be useful: Certificate 18

Awesome web site you've found there, Flora. (

Im going to dig out the center of my compost pile and bake bread in the center using the heat from the decomposition . I can then compost it and watch life unfold!!!

Annpat,
If you are on the dark side does that mean you compost Rye?

Another convert for the good guys. YES Go bread.

I just topped my bins off with some wonderful garlic bread, spring is in the air and the male planaria like to take the ladies out for Italian...

oooo, I wish it was something less awful than planaria that were attracted to bread in the compost. If it were, say, rats or Giant, fang-toothed, Belgium Mice, I'd give it a try. Between David's link and Flora's, though, I suspect I'm not the only one here who's thinking, "It's just not worth it. It's just not worth it."

"If it were, say, rats or Giant, fang-toothed, Belgium Mice"

Or perhaps Rodents Of Unusual Size.

OK, I did some searching to no avail. Can someone please bring me into the loop on this inside joke??

Oh, this is no joke, simcan, no laughing matter. I'm not surprised you're perplexed. Canadians are far too civilized to consider allowing the marriage of wheat and wet to take place---even outdoors in their compost---unlike some of the slovenly USians I know.
Not naming names, but you know who you are, berry.

Simcan,
No need to worry about planaria in your compost unless your bins are in the middle of a pond or stream....The scare tactics above are to convince you otherwise. If you want to add bread make sure its good an wet before adding to your compost. The best test of this is to squeeze it and if it goozes between your fingers its ready to be added to your compost.

Oh, Gak! That was truly sickening to read.
Berry, there are Water planaria, and Land Planaria. simcan, it's the land planaria that infest ill-managed compost piles.

Here is a link that might be useful: Land planaria on a corn flake he (she?) discovered in the compost pile

Speaks for itself....

Here is a link that might be useful: Gift for annpat

Simcan, I had the same reaction a few months ago, an alarmed "What the heck is the deal with bread and planarians in compost??" I did a search of the forum and finally learned that it's all Annpat's fault. She has an intense aversion to sogginess. The thought of soggy bread grosses her out so badly, she can't stand to think of anyone composting it. Now, I'm not sure if soggy bread REALLY attracts planarians to compost, or if Annpat just decided they're as gross as soggy bread and the thought of them might deter people from putting bread in their compost piles. I know I don't want to find one in MY pile, but living in AZ I'm pretty safe. I frequently give old bread to my chickens or make bread pudding out of it, but if it's moldy, into the compost it goes. It's a green so if you add lots of it, be sure to cover with plenty of browns.

The scary thing about planarians is that they are invading where they are not native, and eating up all the earthworms. Soil without earthworms loses its aeration and drainage, and becomes swampy and icky. That, and they are terrifying to look at.

--Maureen

oh. my. word. Maureen!!! Sister!! Finally! Someone who understands! It isn't mold (like some think), or slime or anaerobia or stench that gives us here at Soil, Compost and Mulch the willies, the all-overs, angst, ants in pants, apprehension, botheration, butterflies, care, cold sweat, concern, creeps, disquiet, disquietude, distress, dread, fidgets, flap, foreboding, fretfulness, fuss, goose bumps, heebie-jeebies, jitters, jumps, misery, misgiving, mistrust, nervousness, panic, pins and needles, restlessness, shakes, shivers, suffering, trouble, uncertainty, unease, and worriment. Those conditions are natural in a compost pile---to be expected, reckoned on.

It's the sog.

It's like when we were kids---long before we all gathered here as friends---and our older (or younger) brother (or sister) used to lallygag, loiter, dally, putter, doddle, linger over his or her (or their, because I realize that some of you may have more than one insensitive sibling) Wheat Chex---After
*DON"T CONTINUE READING IF YOU'RE FINESPUN, OR HAVE AN OTHERWISE CULTIVATED AESTHETIC*
he'd (or she'd or they'd) applied the milk. to the bowl. Remember? He'd sit there, gesturing with his spoon---pontificating---his, her, or their, milk would turn tan, or sometimes pinkish, the milk would warm, and the little woven squares or flakes or life buoys would rise up high in the bowl, puffed with absorption. It's the sog. Mostly, it's the puff, really. The wet puffiness, i.e. the sog. That's what is really troubling.

And, I've got to say, the fact that planaria are attracted to wheat products in the compost does not bother me a whit! I, after all, do not compost things that would make other people ill. I'm proud to say that when I signed the Do No Harm composting pledge, I took it *very* seriously.

Thats why I swore off Fruit Loops. I mean, not only the multicolored kaleidoscope of artificial dyes swirling in the milk developing as someone is busy breakfast-texting something about boyfriends and homework before catching the school bus, when I, as a parent, go toss them, the things refused to decompose in the compost heap.

We're speaking in terms of "Fruit Loop Half Life".

I LOVE Fruit Loops!!!!! I eat them so fast, before the milk gets pink, it's like having the roof of my mouth sandblasted. That sharp, sugar crystal coating! I love how they smell like malted lifesavers.

I would never dream of feeding bread to the birds. The salt in it can be harmful to them. I need these Japanese Beetle eating feathery friends around.
Nothing brings joy to my hear faster than a wren with a big old fat female Japanese beetle in its mouth (no more egg laying for that little nasty).
So by helping to rid the beetles, means no more grubs or moles looking for them, which means no more reseeding or having to use more fertilizers to get the lawn back to where it was, or setting dangerous traps.
I get to hear the beautiful birds chirping, the worms singing (moles attack and destroy earthworm populations).
AND I can't see filling our landfills with the bread either, which is a whole other issue, so don't get me started..

...and all this because I compost bread. You might even say I almost single handedly save the world.

P.S. I like soggy cereal, reminds me of when I was a kid in front of Sat morning cartoons with not a care in the world...I am sorry I need to go get a Kleenex

It is nice to finally understand what annpat's aversion is to bread in compost. Annpat, do you eat bread pudding? YUM!

"It is nice to finally understand what annpat's aversion is to bread in compost. Annpat, do you eat bread pudding? YUM!"

I'm sure annpat would tell you that you misspelled Yuck. Her position on bread is clear. No sog.

Truer words have rarely been spoken. Yuck.
Ask me if I've ever dipped a doughnut.
Ask me if I've ever, since I came of age in 1971, sat at the same table with a cereal eater.

The answers both start with a 'n'.

...naturally?

tj

Pigs, they can compost anything, just ask WS.

I like eating most of my cereal fast while it's still crunchy but there are a few brands that I let sit for ten to fifteen minutes before I eat them. I like the way it absorbs the milk and floats to the top. Hey Ann, what do you think about Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, grits and oatmeal? I also like dunking buttered toast in my coffee. Yum Yum.

jim_6b

So....this uneaten half of roast beef on wheat shouldn't go into the bin?

I love Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, and oatmeal; I've never had grits. Of course, there's no relationship between hot cereals who have a parent who is a liquid and something like egnilk66's wheat bread which is meant to be kept dry or, in the case of dry cereals, meant to be eaten at a high rate of speed before an unseemly marriage takes place.

eg, it would be really ill-advised. You can put the roast beef in your pile. The wheat bread halves should be wrapped in several layers of Saran or Reynolds wrap, put into a, this is important, zip-lock baggie (others may leak) and disposed of in the trash bin under your sink. If you have an empty cottage cheese container, put the baggie in that, and secure the lid. If I have a candle stub around, I sometimes will run a bead of wax around where the lid meets the container. But that's probably overkill.

Mmmmm! Donut dunking reminds me that there is nothing like a piece of hot, buttered toast dunked in a cup of hot chocolate.

You wanna talk sog? Wheat puffs... now they're gross. I haven't seen them since I was a kid, not even sure they still make them. Now that's gross sog.

Karen

EG,
Annpat may have inhaled compost fumes, she has it backwards. Never, never, never, compost meat. Best to throw it somewhere a predator can get it but not in your bin. Put it on a tree limb, for a bird. If it goes in the bin you will just encourage them to figure out how to get in it and then you will have a mess. I believe there is an oath everyone who compost, takes against composting meat. There may be a federal agency that oversee is it as well.
As far as the bread, that should be composted, don't fill your local landfill and deprive the wonderful bacteria and such in your bin a sandwich.

Oh, now see what you've done, berry? You've made eg sick!

Tell me it not true!!!
In the enlighten age of the internet, someone has not tried
GRITS!!!!!!!!:-)

Not only have I never had grits, I've never even seen a grit! I wouldn't know a grit if it walked in the door. I'm game, though! I'll bet a lot of Mainers have never had grits. You would never see them on a restaurant menu here, for instance. I take it I'm missing out?

I imagine them resembling a yellowish Grapenut.

Annpat,
Here is my Grandma's homemade Grit recipe.
Take a loaf of bread and soak it in water for several hours and the using your hands squish it through your fingers. Then let it dry up and repeat.....HAHAHA

Annpat, grits look just like Cream of Wheat. I grew up in Pittsburgh, and I never saw them until I moved here.

Karen

Grits with butter

{{gwi:279936}}

Grits with butter tastes like butter. Grits with salt and butter tastes like salt and butter. Grits with honey tastes like honey. Get the drift there?

I was looking for a Pic of soggy bread and guess what comes up under my Google search images, a Garden web Pic of a Planaria and how they like soggy bread...HAHAHAHA
{{gwi:279937}}

So Annpat, you dont eat stuffing at Thanksgiving?

I plead the fifth.