Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot.”
We’re three days away from Bonfire Night here in the UK, an annual celebration of the failure of Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Traditionally a bonfire is built and used to burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes; children used to go around the houses asking for a ‘penny for the guy’, but that has largely died out – possibly because more kids are Trick or Treating these days, and possibly because the British are not overly fond of beggars. A modern Bonfire Night celebration requires a lot of fireworks, sparklers and a baked potato. There will be health and safety warnings on the tv, the fire brigade will be on alert and wildlife campaigners across the country will be encouraging people to check that there’s nothing living in their bonfire (particularly slow worms and hibernating hedgehogs) before they light it. For an interesting take on Guy Fawkes, watch V for Vendetta – one of Pete’s favourite films.
A bonfire is also a traditional way of disposing of trash, particularly on allotments, although my dad used to have one regularly in the garden as well. Bonfires can be very dubious on the safety front (don’t light one on a windy day, use accelerants or put anything plastic/ toxic on there). Keep enough water on hand to put your fire out if it gets out of control. Bonfires have fallen out of favour quite considerably – they’re a menace to line-dried laundry in urban areas, and a source of air pollution.
The organic answer to garden waste is to compost it – once it has rotted down happily on your heap it will add a great deal of life to your soil and help you to grow healthy plants without the need for fertilizers. Burning is only really recommended for disposing of perennial weeds, seeding annual weeds and diseased plant material that you wouldn’t want to put on the compost heap.
During the Second World War when Britain was blockaded, one of the things that was in short supply was potash (potassium) for the amateur gardeners digging for victory. They were encouraged to use wood ash as a potassium source, and in The Wartime Kitchen Garden tv programme, Harry Dodson could be seen sprinkling ashes around his tomato plants. These days Garden Organic recommend putting wood ash on the compost heap instead, as the nutrients it contains are very soluble and easily washed away. The composting process stabilizes them.
You could consider turning your woody garden waste into biochar – fine charcoal that’s dug into the soil to help maintain fertility. But it’s usually best to avoid using the remains of your BBQ on the compost heap or the garden unless you know your charcoal was free from chemical additives.
And if it’s fallen leaves that are cluttering up your garden, have a look at my latest City Planter article on Six ways to use your fallen leaves before you kick them to the curb.