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got a hotbin composter today

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  • #1

    got a hotbin composter today

    I Have spent a fortune on topsoil/compost recently, so thought I'd have a bash at making my own

    I found the hotbin composter, and it seems a pretty interesting way of making compost, so I purchased one

    Got it today. £117 for a bit of polystyrene is first thing my gf said
    Looked at me even funnier after once I filled it I got a bottle of yellow lemonade out to pour in it hehe

    Anyway I'll post in this thread on how I get along with it
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  • #2
    sounds imteresting, might have to look it up.

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    • #3
      Does look interesting. But I thought that the hot initial phase of composting was only part of the process. Is that correct?

      Loving my allotment!

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      • #4
        This one? Compost Food and Garden Waste | Hot Composting Bin


        I have to say, I get usable compost from my (£7) daleks in the same timeframe. The heat produced is the same as with the hot composter, the hottest part being down to thermophilic activity in the top centre area, with the cooler parts being in the bottom and sides of the bin/heap

        It's not just heat that does the composting though, other organisms are crucial and they live in the cooler parts.

        Anyway, not to rain on your new toy, do let us know how it goes
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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        • #5
          We had a couple of those at work - I'll find out how they worked if I can next time I'm in and let you know.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

            Anyway, not to rain on your new toy, do let us know how it goes
            TS, did you not mean pour yellow water?

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            • #7
              Took a while for my hotbin to get going, had a few false starts trying to get it going with the supplied hot water bottle without any luck, but now things are really starting to heat up, I fill it up and the next day the level has dropped by 6 inches, steam is coming out of the top, and I think its going to be hard for the 2 of us to keep it filled up

              not checked if there is any usable compost yet though, I reckon ill give it a month or so yet

              oh top thermometer is reading 60c
              Last edited by Urban; 16-05-2012, 10:17 PM.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Urban View Post
                top thermometer is reading 60c
                That's good ~ is it in the sun? And have you started scrounging veg scraps/lawn clippings etc from your neighbours yet?


                (I'm gathering nettles & borage from the cycle lane today to top up school's lasagne beds: well, the council never bother weeding)
                All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                • #9
                  Do you have much woody waste? I generate quite a bit from my chickens, since then my compost turnover rate has dropped quite considerably despite ramping up on the green ratio/frequency.

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                  • #10
                    No sun, it's on the north side of a south facing 6ft fence, so very shady atm, the only woody waste that's going in is privet edge trimmings and maybe some cardboard.

                    I've got some pruning to do in summer, but I'll shred that and chuck it in I reckon

                    Good idea asking neighbours for there trimmings etc, there a bit too partial to using weed killer though, will have a wander in the woods and see if I can find some comfrey Etc growing wild

                    I did have a few problems with little flys in there to begin with, but I don't think there's anything living in there now that it's heated up
                    Last edited by Urban; 17-05-2012, 03:19 PM.

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                    • #11
                      Had a quick peak yesterday, compost was very black and looks for the most part done

                      only problems egg shells do not seem to of rotted (do they actually rot?) and the bio bags I had the kitchen scraps in are still intact, just going to chuck those in the normal bin from now on I think

                      think ill empty it in july and see what I get

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Urban View Post
                        egg shells do not seem to of rotted
                        They need to be smashed/crushed into small pieces before going in

                        Originally posted by Urban View Post
                        the bio bags I had the kitchen scraps in are still intact
                        Are they photo(light) degradable? I've buried so-called biodegradable plastic bags before, and they don't rot down.

                        Can you wrap your kitchen scraps in newspaper instead?
                        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                        • #13
                          blimey, that was quick
                          egg shells dont really rot, smash them up before you put them in.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                            They need to be smashed/crushed into small pieces before going in

                            Are they photo(light) degradable? I've buried so-called biodegradable plastic bags before, and they don't rot down.

                            Can you wrap your kitchen scraps in newspaper instead?
                            Have just crushed them in the hand, I guess I'll just have to take a bit more time and really break the shells down in the future

                            The bags are called biobags, they say on them they are fully compost able and biodegradeable
                            I use them because I have one of those mini compost bins in the kitchen, would get to much of a mess if I didn't use them

                            I think the bags are actually made out of some type of corn, I'll just empty there contents into the hotbin and chuck the bags into the proper bin, to go to landfill, at least they rot down eventually

                            Can't believe I only just started using biodegrable bags for the dog poop, never considered there'd be poop festering in normal plastic bags in landfill for years

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                            • #15
                              Still only one thread on this new "Hotbin" gadget that promises rather a lot, and no further comments on GYO since early June? I'm wondering how it's been doing longer term and now that it's Autumn/Winter? Recommended?
                              .

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