New allotment

[sowitgrowit]

you may be able to pick a cheap compost bin on ebay? or try freecycle. anyway goodluck with the new plot.

Good point - I'm on Freecycle and will check eBay. Thanks!

If you have pallets, use those. I prefer them to those Daleks anyway because its almost impossible to aerate it through the narrow neck, or take the compost out of the little door at the base. You end up having to lift the whole thing off!

I was told that there are pallets on the site (apparently broken up and used to get fires going when people have them) - not sure if there are loads but if there are then three or four could make a decent DIY composter - good idea.

I will look into it, I have no prior experience of home made vs. dalek, though if it is affordable and works it's good enough for me!

I'll look for weed control fabric too on Freecycle, though may go with cardboard.

[Matt94]

aaah yes the wormery hahaha - i can now understand why you dislike darleks!

[seasprout]

Hello Sowitgrowit.

Just a thought, but try and make a note of whats currently growing where, such as Brassicas, as you dont want to grow the same palnts in the same areas next year.

It will help you with crop rotaion.

[singleseeder]

Looks a great plot Sowitgrowit.

Daleks? I prefer them to pallets. Once full ( and the contents are not sinking any more), I find it easy to just lift the dalek off, put the uncomposted stuff to one side, bag up the composted stuff, replace the dalek and chuck the uncomposted stuff back in. Job done.

[Bigmallly]

I will look into it, I have no prior experience of home made vs. dalek, though if it is affordable and works it's good enough for me!

Here's a thread SIGI about Daleks v Pallets

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ins_62925.html

[horticultural_hobbit]

I got my dalek BOGOF from Brummieland council. Two, as you fill one, and let the other cook. Best of luck, my sweet. Here's to the fun

[sowitgrowit]

After the first 2 hours:
The first 2 hours work at Plot 10B. Cleared sprouts and weeds; potato trenches dug. Phew!

You can see where my plot ends - one of two big heaps of weeds, rotten sprouts etc in the far corner with my bag of tools (I'm in walking distance of the plot). These piles will hopefully form the basis of a compost bin/heap or two.

I had a little stint after this photo was taken too - I've probably cleared an area as big as this again (totalling 5 or 6 metres wide (as wide as the plot) by 10 or 12 long). I'm very happy with my progress so far after 1 day of work.

Clearing the whole thing is the aim, then I can get fabric down to keep any weeds at bay (if I can afford enough!) and uncover sections as I need them.

Thanks for the advice and support so far,guys!

[Kaiya]

I have three daleks, one we bought ourselves, two BOGOF from the council. One full, cooking, one filling, and one with horse manure and leaves in (leaves slow to decompose as they are oak and manure kept separate so it can be checked for aminopyralid before use). I do envy the bays other people have, but we wouldn't produce enough waste to fill them.

That's an impressive lot of work!

[sowitgrowit]

I have three daleks, one we bought ourselves, two BOGOF from the council. One full, cooking, one filling, and one with horse manure and leaves in (leaves slow to decompose as they are oak and manure kept separate so it can be checked for aminopyralid before use). I do envy the bays other people have, but we wouldn't produce enough waste to fill them.

That's an impressive lot of work!

I'm sure I did what most new allotmenteers do; tackled a larger area than I thought I would in an effort to make a visible impact. I will probably only get to have a 2-3 hour bash at it once a week so I want to know that I've definitely done something in that time.

[veggiechicken]

Clearing the whole thing is the aim, then I can get fabric down to keep any weeds at bay (if I can afford enough!) and uncover sections as I need them.

Thanks for the advice and support so far,guys!

I'm exhausted just by reading what you've done!
See if you can get hold of big sheets of cardboard (think Bike shops, or kitchen cabinets). Put that down on your cleared earth instead of buying fabric. Its free & it'll rot down over time. Theres plenty of discussion on here about cardboard mulches!

[Bigmallly]

If your local hospital is owt like ours, we throw hughmongous boxes away.

[sowitgrowit]

I was thinking of this - I used to work for Currys and they would throw boxes from display 'white goods' - fridge freezers, etc. I might go and have a look if I can some of their cast-offs when I've cleared a bit more space.

Still lots of clearing to do though - I don't want to leave it and let it become an even bigger job when I do get chance to plant the whole thing.

Just wondering if 2x 330l composters (daleks) are too big... Two for £34 delivered from my council.

Also - are the base plates a waste of time? I would have thought straight onto the ground would be best (let it attract wiggly composting worms)?

[veggiechicken]

If your local hospital is owt like ours, we throw hughmongous boxes away.

I can just imagine going to my local hospital and asking for their old cardboard boxes! Apologies - my mind is in overdrive again

[Kaiya]

Just wondering if 2x 330l composters (daleks) are too big... Two for £34 delivered from my council.

I'm shocking at making compost, none of the kitchen waste goes in - just grass clippings, leaves, horse bedding and plant debris from the plot itself and I have 3 of that size, two now full. I paid that sort of money for mine, but I do believe if you can be bothered to look around (I evidentally could not!) you can source them cheaper.

I think the base plates are for if you put them on patio really. The worms will probably get in if you did have base plates - I had grow bags sitting on raised bed walls over winter and found worms in them a few weeks ago - no idea they could fly or climb up rock! I can't really believe the base plates truly stop rats either - if they can't get through the holes in the base plate they are more than capable of squeezing around the gaps in the door anyway. I also bury the edges of my bins a touch, as we get some wicked winds (lost the lid of one a few times) and I don't think that would work so well with a plate on.

[sowitgrowit]

Thanks for the info, I don't think I will bother with the base plates then and will probably go for two 330l.

I paid that sort of money for mine, but I do believe if you can be bothered to look around (I evidentally could not!) you can source them cheaper.

I will keep looking around before I commit - I have seen lots of them at about £20 (220l) or £30 (330l) - two for £35 seems the best locally, though I'll give it a while longer. Unless anyone else has any suggestions?? (Freecycle ad is already on!)