Compost Maker

[Frana]

Has anyone ever used any compost maker in their bins or heaps before?

I bought some in Aldi for £3.99 the other day to try. It looks like a light brown powder and says it should be added a few ounces at a time whenever I add anything to my bin.

As I have never used any before, I am sceptical as to the benefit it may provide.

Any info folks?

[esrikandan]

No harm in using it, but most people probably don't bother - it's probably just an accelerator which can speed up the composting process. Urine is a good (and free) alternative, otherwise time combined with the right mix of ingredients will do the job (not that I'm an expert mind).

Let us all know if it make any difference.

[jackie j]

I have used it but my mix wasnt right anyway I added too many leaves, now I dont add leaves and just put them in bags ( loads on site as near woods ) will let you know.

[Rossa]

I have a wormery so the wriggly wrigglers do all the work.

When I got it 2 years ago I thought I'd killed off the worms after leaving in shed so frost wouldn't kill off the worms over winter. Kept finding dead worms on floor of shed...confession - I didn't put it together properly in the first place!! Think it was a worm version of the Great Escape but the concrete floor was too much for them.

So dumped the wheely bin that they're in outside against back wall of my garage and left it thinking I'd just use it for kitchen scraps (got a compost crock in my kitchen). Had a look a few weeks ago as I was going to turn the stuff in it over and found loads of worms busily working away at it. So looks more like a proper compost bin now.

Some hints I got from a friend with an allotment are: add strips of newspaper from time to time as the kitchen waste etc can be a bit damp and add some soil. Don't add citrus i.e. lemon, or meat products (also animal waste like cat litter), be careful which weeds go in as you could end up with a bumper crop and avoid twiggy bits as they don't break down as easily.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Noodles]

I add Garotta to mine. I never used to bother with anything but then saw how much quicker my Mum's compost was breaking down than mine and this is what she uses.

http://www.gardencentre.co.uk/shop.asp?action=search&uid={B93B4C78-A875-4D5B-8CF8-B41D62FFD99B}

[Oleander]

I add organic garotta to mine, and it really does make a difference to the composting process - certainly speeds it up.

My security conscious OH shreds all the bank statements, bills etc in a home shredder doodah, and the shreddings go into the composter, which helps with the 50/50 dry/wet mix too.