Compost Bin Advice

[SimonSez]

Hi Guys,

Sorry if this is in the wrong area but I was unsure where to post it.

My parents in law want a new compost bin and I saw the Link-a-bord advert in the September issue.

Looks right for the job but does anyone have any experience with one?

As its for the in-laws it needs to be right or I will end up in the dog house!

Thanks

Si

[busylizzy]

Hi Si....I have just bought one of the Link A Bord composters and it looks quite discrete in my garden, as it is green, its double skinned so I am hoping it works well for hot composting...I do have some of the Link A Bord raised beds which I have to say last for years, I have had my 5 years now and each season I just wipe them clean.... the look as new as the day I bought them.

So I feel I can say that this compost bin is built to last for years to come, the only thing I would say is make sure you position it where you want it as moving it afterwards is a little tricky although I managed it, it will take two of you to re position it! Also putting all you waste in it makes you feel good, every little helps save the planet to!

Oh and its a little bit cheaper than the others, win win!

Ta Busylizzy :-))

[Two_Sheds]

you need to think about how they will use it. Will they turn it out regularly, or is it just a bin to put their grass clippings in?

[SimonSez]

To be honest they use it for clippings and some food stuff.

What would you recommend two sheds? Their current one was built 10 years ago and they want, and I quote, a 'modern looking' one.

Thanks

Si

[Two_Sheds]

If they're putting in lots of grass clippings, they need to add plenty of carbon too (rolled up or shredded newspaper, egg boxes, ripped up cardboard boxes etc), to stop it becoming a smelly mess.

If they aren't into emptying it very often, get a big one.

I just use the black daleks, about £3 on eBay

[zazen999]

What's the problem with the old one?

If it's just because it looks old, then doesn't getting a new one kind of fly in the face of the reason for composting in the first place [to save waste etc etc]?

[SimonSez]

To be honest its kind of rotting!

The father-in-law made it with free wood he blagged years ago and it is just falling apart now and he says he is to old to build a new one. They have always composted and I used it when I was 'allowed' to grow in their garden before they recently started doing up the kitchen and garden.

I am also looking into compost bins for myself as I am hoping to move in the new year so any help is appreciated. For example should I look for some which make compost tea and what are the pros and cons of this?

Thanks

Si

[zazen999]

Why not sit them down in front of a computer and show them different composters and wormeries and see what they like the look of? Or order a few catalogues from composting companies and they can have a look themselves. Or try the local council website as many subsidise compost bins so you can get them much cheaper. Or ebay. Or freecycle [even better!].

I'd suggest though if they only use it for grass clippings and food stuff, get a wormery for all the food stuff, use grass clippings for mulches directly onto the soil around plants and use the worm tea as food for your fruiting plants. And reclaim where the compost heap was for growing some veg.

[SimonSez]

As silly as it sounds I had not even considered freecycle which is a great idea thanks Zaz!

I feel like I have compost bins and wormeries coming out of my ears. Why is it that every time the in-laws decide to take on a project, it actually means 'you will be doing this for us'!?

I will sit them in front of freecycle tonight, I do not want to give them too many options as it will take hours if I do which is why I asked for Grapes recommendations as you guys are the best!

Wish me luck but if anyone has any ideas or recommendations please keep them coming as they are much appreciated!

Thanks

Si

[SimonSez]

Also I would like to say thank you for all the help so far. Where would I be without the Grapes!!?

[veggiechicken]

My bog standard black dalek cost £5 from the local council. If yours or your inlaws do the same it may be an easy option for you. Mine also sell wormeries and water butts at subsidised rates.
Freecycle doesn't always have what you want when you need it - its just somewhere to keep an eye on, just in case!!

[taff]

go to yuor local industrial estate, blag 4 pallets, cable tie them together, and the fourth one only on one side, or rope them together, the last on one side only. Then you have ahinged 'door' for the front, it takes no work because it's all self supporting.....why spend money I ask myself

[Two_Sheds]

you haven't mentioned a budget Simon ... what are they wanting to spend?

Have you sat them down in front of Google Images "compost bins" yet, to get an idea of the kind of thing they're looking for?
It's no good us saying what we'd have, it's them who have to live with it.

[SimonSez]

Hi All,

Ok so what I learnt from last night...

They do not want a tumbling composter. There was nothing on freecycle they wanted and they have decided they do not want a wooden one any more.

Their budget is apparently up to £200 which seems alot to me but then again I have not looked into this before.

They liked the sound of a wormery as long as it is not too high maitenence. As well as the link-a-bord composter, which they are still considering, they also liked the look of the hot bin and also the hungry bin from omlet.

Two questions, firstly are wormeries high maitenence and secondly I have read with some wormeries it is ideal to have more then one for rotation purposes? Is this nescisary? If so I think wormeries are the wrong direction.

Thanks

Si

[zazen999]

Hi All,

Ok so what I learnt from last night...

They do not want a tumbling composter. There was nothing on freecycle they wanted and they have decided they do not want a wooden one any more.

Their budget is apparently up to £200 which seems alot to me but then again I have not looked into this before.

They liked the sound of a wormery as long as it is not too high maitenence. As well as the link-a-bord composter, which they are still considering, they also liked the look of the hot bin and also the hungry bin from omlet.

Two questions, firstly are wormeries high maitenence and secondly I have read with some wormeries it is ideal to have more then one for rotation purposes? Is this nescisary? If so I think wormeries are the wrong direction.

Thanks

Si

No, not high maintenance at all

Go for one of these and you need to:
put the worms in at the start [buy the worms from ebay it's much cheaper] with coir and some compost and food.
Add your kitchen peelings [except onions and citrus although small amounts wont' hurt too much]
As the bottom layer fills, start using the next layer up and the worms will move up through the holes.
Once a year, tip out the bottom 1 or 2 layers into a big tray, place a piece of cardboard at one end of the tray and the compost at the other, move the compost around a bit so that the worms move to the cardboard end [they don't like the light] and as the worms congregate, pop them back into the wormery. And then put this tray as the top one again. It's really low maintenance.

You can buy 2 lots of worms, and get 3 or all 4 layers going in the first year - add kitchen peelings to each layer in turn. They eat up an awful lot of kitchen waste for you!

Oh, and buy a small child's watering can to put under the tap and leave it open 24/7 - when it fills [or half fills in dry weather, so add water to dilute it] pour it straight onto your toms as it's a fab feed.