The papercrete bed covers are working

[Jay Blair]

I decided to cover one of my outdoor beds with a papercrete style cellulose base made of mixed paper shred and water only.

I layered this to about 3 inches deep over an out door windrow with some 2 liter bottles with the bottoms cut out as watering funnels.

I use this same mulching in my garden to beat our summer heatwaves and noticed the worms there maintained nicely so I decided to try it on a wormbed also. The results seem so much better than just using grass thatch.

[neuwirth]

What is this papercrete that you speak of, and where do you get it?

[Jay Blair]

Papercrete is a paper cellulose based masonry mixture. The recipe is very similar to the brick making techniques of ancient Rome but using shredded newspaper and modern cement mixing techniques.

Papercrete in varying mixtures will function as mulch all the way up to household building materials.

I have read accounts of portland cement mixed papercrete being used as the finishing layer of strawbale construction house and barn structures.

I will try to find some links on the technique for you and post them here.

[Jay Blair]

Here is an informative site describing papercrete basics.

www.livinginpaper.com/

Also mixing in borax to the mixture when used for building structures increases flame retardant capabilities and acts as an insect repellent to fight termites , roaches, etc.

Of course when used in vermiculture applications you wouldn't want to add borax to the mixture.

[neuwirth]

I must not be understanding something here. Papercrete is a mixture of paper and cement, right? If you are using it over your beds, what keeps it from getting hard, once the chemical reaction between the water and cement happens?
Or are you just using paper and water, sort of like papier mache'?

[Jay Blair]

I am using standard papercrete mix for the side and bottom barriers already and replace it when I harvest out the pits and prepare them for new bedding. The top layer is only mache' mix.

[neuwirth]

Gotcha.

[Jay Blair]

I only use the mache on the top to both reduce expense and make more of a neutral finish indicator as it breaks down more synchronous with the bedding mix than the papercrete barriers do.

[priswell]

I found the papercrete concept very interesting. Thank you for including a website link.

[Jay Blair]

Glad you like the papercrete information. I find papercrete appealing as it incorporates recycling aspects . Recycling and vermicomposting in my opinion go together like peanut butter and jelly