Dalek

[HotStuff]

A bit over a year ago I got one of those Dalek black plastic compost bins. And for the past year I have thought it was more of a Tardis than a Dalek, whenever I thought it was full I just had to wait a couple of weeks and there would be more space at the top.

Today for the first time I decided to get some stuff out of it, so I took the sliding panel off the side at the bottom and managed to get a few forkfulls out, but what a pain. What am I doing wrong?

[FionaH]

Nothing, they are a PIA to empty!

[Jeanied]

The thing with compost is that it rots down so the best part is at the bottom. The pain it getting to it! If you can heave your dalek up and take it off the contents, re-position your dalek beside - then tip the top uncomposted layers back so they now form the bottom, you will gradually re-mix the contents to form the basis for the next composting sequence, leaving some good stuff at the end. The mixing process is quite difficult in the dalek without this tipping out and replacing - you can get a compost turning tool but I feel I need the compost turning workout using a fork (did it today! Puffed out!) The more you mix, the quicker the heap works to form compost.

[rogesse]

Can't say I'm impressed with my dalek, the Heath Robinson doda made of old pallets down the allotment does a quicker job!

[HotStuff]

Nice to know it's not just me, thought I was being really thick and missing something

And yes, Jeanied, I know what you mean about the workout with the fork, I have been doing that, but probably not as often as I should.

[FionaH]

With three full daleks in a small garden I just dont have the room to move 'em and turn 'em like that

[Bren In Pots]

Last time I emptied my dalek it took 2 of us to rock it side to side before we could finally lift it free of the compost. So next time I'm not going to let it get that full, hopefully it should be easier.

[HotStuff]

Last time I emptied my dalek it took 2 of us to rock it side to side before we could finally lift it free of the compost. So next time I'm not going to let it get that full, hopefully it should be easier.

So when you did lift it off, what was inside just stood there, like when you upturned a bucket of sand and lifted it off when you were a kid on the beach? Or did it go everywhere?

[Bren In Pots]

The contents stayed put like a giant blancmange and it was easy enough to fork away the un-composted stuff from the top.

Thinking about it there's no way you could have ever got it out that lift up panel, not sure why its there unless its so you can peep and see if your compost is ready.

[Two_Sheds]

I love my Daleks, I find them much quicker & easier (and tidier) than any other system (I've got a pallet-wood heap too).

You have to lift the whole thing off, though, the bottom panel is useless. If it's hard to lift, slip a spade under the bottom and lever it loose all the way round.

I have my Daleks dotted around my plot: it's easier to empty one right where it's needed than shovel it out and cart it round the plot

[bobleponge]

I have 2 daleks and a square composter, as well as a couple of home made ones, and the home made things are far easier to empty. I just unscrew the front panel and shovel what I need into the wheelbarrow.
To empty the daleks, as has been said, I lift them up, place them next to the pile, chuck the uncomposted stuff back in and shovel the compost into the wheelbarrow.

[lottie dolly]

Can't say I'm impressed with my dalek, the Heath Robinson doda made of old pallets down the allotment does a quicker job!

same here,we got 2 at home,and square wooden ones at the lottie,the later is far better,NOW what to do with redundant darleks lol,wonder if it wastefull cutting holes in them,for likes of,flowers,herbes,strawberrys,even a mixture,with smaller squash in the top,it could be moved about the plot to where you wanted it each year,

[Jeanied]

With three full daleks in a small garden I just dont have the room to move 'em and turn 'em like that

I know what you mean Fiona - but I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages sometimes! My dalek on the lottie is the 'fast reactor' - as long as it gets turned. Maybe in your garden you could use a tarpaulin or anything to tip it all out into - shove the best part at the bottom into your wheebarrow, tubtrug or whatever, and use it. Replace the daleks in original position and re-fill with the uncomposted stuff. My dalek was tipped over by vandals a month or so ago - I now have a 'cone' of compost ready to go. And the last - best- bit is that my daleks always have slow worms in! I'm always finding caches of empty snail shells showing how clever they are!

[FionaH]

I have slow worms in one of mine too

[Jeanied]

I have slow worms in one of mine too

Wow, Fiona - maybe we're onto something!!