does compost 'happen' in winter? - geordie?

[fruit&vegvirgin]

hi guys, just searched, with no luck, for geordie's famous "how to make compost" thread, which now lives on my kitchen pinboard in a place of honour!!

so, sorry to start another thread but here's a question about my dalek bin: its now about half full of veggie bits, twiggy bits, eggshells, etc etc, and I started it about mid-Nov. however, I opened the door at the bottom today, and it is all still clearly identifiable as what it went in as - do I need to add some accelerator, or am I being too optimistic in expecting anything to happen, given that its winter?

[Jaxom]

Hi fruit&vegvirgin
I have put all of Geordie's info on composting in a new sticky thread in "Vegging out" it is called "How to by Geordie"
Jax

[fruit&vegvirgin]

thanks jax, I'll c&p my question...

[Geordie]

F&VV,

If you are really keen to start making compost, simply move your dalek into the front room and that should do the trick.
Otherwise just wait till weather warms up slightly. If still slow in April use an accelerator or manure etc.

[fruit&vegvirgin]

ah but, geordie, you're making the assumption I've got heating then!! pmsl, I can just see the other half's face when I tell him that I've been advised to make compost in the living room - he'd probably use it as an excuse to complain about the housekeeping!!

[Cab]

Well, sometimes I get my compost to heat up and get going in winter by adding some readily available, free, liquid, nitrogen rich compost activator. Really speeds things up. Only trouble is, I'm a bit shy, so I can only pee on the heap when I think no one is looking...

Really, the best compost activator I know is to pee on it once in a while. My kitchen/garden compost at home happily chugs away all winter, and the pile at the plot gets a measure once a every couple of weeks.

[Nicos]

Would bubble wrap around the bin help it to warm up quicker?

[Jaxom]

Would bubble wrap around the bin help it to warm up quicker?

If Bubble wrap helps keep a greenhouse warm then I am sure a compost bin would also benefit from a winter coat made of the same nice air bubbles.
Jax

[nick the grief]

I do the same as you cab, but for modesty I use a watering can to transfer the amber nectar to the heap

[Nicos]

activator

.......and when your compost is well activated - save your pee for the lawn - well watered down it'll produce better and greener results than any commercial stuff! But you have to be discreet and not tell the neighbours you pee in a bucket !

[fruit&vegvirgin]

its alright for you blokes, having a handy 'utensil' so to speak!!!