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  • Buying a compost bin question

    I posted some questions about a new compost bin in an earlier thread and got some answers, I am just posting this to get some clarification. I've never had a garden before so am completely new to it all

    I have found a cheap-ish compost bin sponsored by our local council - the question now is how many to buy! It is this one, they come in two sizes, 220 litre and 330 litre:

    Blackwall 220 litre Black Compost Converter HomePage

    I posted my plans on here recently and was advised to get two, and get ones as big as we have room for. I just want to make sure I do need them. We have space but I don't want to get two if we won't fill them (we are a family of three, hoping to become four ) or don't need all that compost. They are currently on offer, buy one get one half price.

    To put things into perspective, our back garden is about 5m by 8m, and mostly paved. Plans are:

    1. A border next to the south facing fence, about 1m by 8m; I plan to plant a fruit tree at the bottom of this border, raised beds at the end nearest the house, and maybe some flower bushes in the remaining space (if there is any). Hanging baskets on the top of the fence.

    2. Plant some climbing plants (e.g. berries, peas, beans) along the north facing fence, either in pots or will remove some paving to create a border.

    3. Plant crops in pots on the east facing side (next to the shed) and on the west facing side (next to the wall of the house), hopefully including some potatoes (I know these need a lot of compost).

    We also have a small front garden, which I plan to pave and grow more things in pots and windowboxes.

    Finally, I should mention that the compost bin/bins will be situated in the shady area next to the house, on paving - I know this isn't ideal but I want to save the sunny spots for the plants.

    So, my questions are:

    1. What are the advantages of having two bins?
    2. What size should we get for our plans?
    3. Will one be sufficient or might we need two for our garden?

    Thanks in advance for the advice

  • #2
    How much garden waste do you generate? You don't seem to have a lawn so no grass cuttings to go in it. Which brings you down to prunings and kitchen scraps. If its not much, it will take you for ever to fill a compost bin. they take up quite a lot of floor space.
    Have you thought about a wormery instead? Or making a bin from pallets?

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    • #3
      My garden is very similar to yours, it's either concrete or water and everything is grown in containers of one sort or another.

      I grow a lot of spuds and use 10 80ltr dustbins on top of other containers. If it were not for my two composters it would cost a small fortune in commercial compost.

      If you have room for two then that is the way I would go, you do not have to use the compost as soon as it is ready you can leave it in the bin until required.

      Done properly home made compost is very rich and can be added to old compost to make a good growing medium.

      I will attached a couple of pic's pf my setup.

      As an aside both my composters are now full and I am sending away spare plant material to the council.

      Potty
      Attached Files
      Potty by name Potty by nature.

      By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


      We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

      Aesop 620BC-560BC

      sigpic

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      • #4
        Well, after stumbling across this thread, I think I need more than two

        http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ave_18896.html

        Veggiechicken, I don't have a lawn but think I should have enough to put in my bins. Once I have started growing things properly, there will be all the discarded plants after they have been picked, plus I have a lot to get rid of now that will help to fill them. We cook from scratch a lot, and eat a lot of fruit and veg, so generate a fair bit of kitchen waste. And I believe there are other things we can compost too:

        Getcomposting.com's Composting Guide - What can I compost?

        Failing that, our next door neighbours have a lawn, so I could always ask if we can have their grass clippings

        On balance, I think two bins are a good idea, as we have the space - now I need to decide whether to get the 220 litre or 330 litre.

        Potty, what size are your bins? Your garden looks great, by the way! Think it's bigger than mine though.
        Last edited by IndigoElectron; 24-08-2013, 10:11 AM.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by IndigoElectron View Post
          Failing that, our next door neighbours have a lawn, so I could always ask if we can have their grass clippings
          Don't use their grass clippings if they use weedkiller on their lawn though.

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          • #6
            Thanks Rustylady, didn't think of that. Judging by the length of their lawn and the state of their garden in general, I don't think they do! Seems like they just mow it now and again.

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            • #7
              Two bins will allow you to turn the compost which speeds up the rotting process. Size, as big as yu have room for.
              Gardening requires a lot of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson, critic and poet

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              • #8
                Oh, and I was wondering if I need these:

                Compost Aerator Composting Accessories

                Garland Compost Sieve Composting Accessories

                Be Green 500ml Compost Maker Composting Accessories

                (the last one comes free with a bin and base plate, but it's not organic so not sure whether to use it)

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                • #9
                  Thanks Roitelet, I'm leaning towards the bigger size, after doing some poking about on the web.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by IndigoElectron View Post
                    Oh, and I was wondering if I need these:

                    Compost Aerator Composting Accessories

                    Garland Compost Sieve Composting Accessories

                    Be Green 500ml Compost Maker Composting Accessories

                    (the last one comes free with a bin and base plate, but it's not organic so not sure whether to use it)
                    Nope - save your money

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                    • #11
                      Thanks Rustylady, I thought they looked a bit gimmicky and that I probably wouldn't need them. The only one I was really tempted by was the aerator - if I don't use this, how do I get air to my compost? Or don't I need to, i.e. can I just let it get on with cooking?

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                      • #12
                        Hi Indigo

                        There's a link on the 1st page that I've copied and it's really helpful x
                        Getcomposting.com's Composting Guide - What can I compost?
                        Be kind , for everyone you meet is fighting their battle too.

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                        • #13
                          Thanks Wildolive, it was actually me that posted that link, I will take another look

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                          • #14
                            Just ordered my bins

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                            • #15
                              I had 3 large bins and have now ordered two more, it is amazing how much waste a household produces. It is also amazing how much you can spend on commercial compost which is probably inferior to home made anyway. I now add newspaper and cardboard to mine which I wet very well. One of my bins has a colony of ants in it a huge pyramid, they make brilliant compost. The other day I looked and due to the heat they had brought all their eggs out to cool off! As for the original question i would start with one and work my way up according to need.
                              photo album of my garden in my profile http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...my+garden.html

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