Is it a good practice to add wood ashes while making a compost pile?
Most soils in California have a basic (alkaline) pH and since wood ashes are also basic, they probably should not be added to the compost pile. However, if mostly high nitrogen material is used, especially in a closed-bin system, the composting mass is likely to become acidic, and wood ashes can be added to help neutralize the compost. Can pet feces be composted? We recommend against composting pet feces because of potential disease and parasite transmission. Cat droppings are especially hazardous to pregnant women. Kitty litter should not be composted. Aquarium water, however, contains algae and organic matter that can be beneficial to plants, so can be added to the pile. Can bones and meat scraps be composted? Can fish bones be buried? There is too much potential for pest problems, so we do not recommend composting or burying these materials. Bones also take a long time to break down. Can fleece be composted? Natural fibers including fleece, cotton, hemp and burlap may all be compost
