Composter on concrete?

[JamesM]

As some of you may be aware, I have recently moved house and a major downside is that the garden is lawn and not to be dug up for veg.

To combat this i'll be growing in pots this year but have a bit of a predicament with my compost bin. I've read some say that it has to be on grass/earth to allow bugs, worms etc in to break down the waste, but is there any benefit of siting it on our concrete path? I realise it won't be as effective but if i add compost accelarator/a handful of worms etc etc will it be worth my while? I'm fed up of throwing bits in the bin!

Any advice as ever greatly appreciated. James

[ginger ninger]

James, I garden in pot's and tubs on a slope. I have 1 raised bed made out of old house bricks which is 2 ft deep at one end & 3 ft deep at the other, 4 ft wide by 6 ft long. I can grow more than enough veg to keep me happy. My compost bin is also on a concrete base as is all my garden and believe me the worms will find a way of getting in. I've had 3 lots of good quality compost out of mine. I started mine off with about 8 ins of compost from mi dad's old allotment in the bottom and a bag of horse poo. And as I find a worm here and there...I pop them in. I've never used a compost accelerator so I don't know if they work.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Found exactly the same as Ginger with the exception that I use garotta instead of horse dung. Good garotta carries useful trace elements and in my experience does speed things up. It will also help if you can find a crack in the concrete to place your bin over as the worms will find their way in. I also place my planters over cracks were possible, move occassionally and harvest the worms.

Another tip I picked up somewhere is that if you sieve your compost use the left overs to start of your next bin, something about carrying necessary bugs over.

As you are no doubt aware the summer makes for faster composting and last year I was bagging compost within 10 weeks.

Colin

[JamesM]

Great thanks- i'll get sorted with it on the weekend i imagine. Hopefully will be able to get a shovel or two from my girlfriend's parents as they've got a couple of bins worth to get me started. Thanks guys

[VirginVegGrower]

We are getting hens at the weekend...wahoo...and we have just bought something called Bokashi Bran which you use to make chicken poo smell sweeter; the added bonus is it can be used as a compost maker/accelerant (help speed up the process) - hope I have used the correct term there. Our composter on the lottie is on concrete slabs. The one in the garden is on grass.

[Two_Sheds]

I use garotta ... does speed things up.

Or if you wanted to save six quid, use nettles/comfrey/grass clippings/urine as a compost accelerator - anything high in nitrogen

[Florence Fennel]

My bins are on open ground, but my friend only has a small back yard so hers is on concrete and she has no problems making good compost. Hope yours is a success.

[Potstubsdustbins]

2 Sheds that very interesting will try the first three suggestions but I can't see the lady next door chatting over the fence whilst I wee in my composter. On the other hand it might give her a good laugh.

Colin

[chris]

Or if you wanted to save six quid, use nettles/comfrey/grass clippings/urine as a compost accelerator - anything high in nitrogen

Can vouch for wee, I often wee in my daleks - really heats them up fast. I dont bother watering down to wahtever the dilution is recommended, I jsut chuck a bucket of water in afterwards, or if the hose is handy and on, squirt some water in after.

Mind you, I've been caught out a couple of times - couple of weeks back some old chap started chatting to me (from chest up was visible over fence, as I was standing on top of another dalek - weeing into another one (was bit tipsy - don't ask!)) during the process.

[Kristen]

I wee in mine each night when I close up the greenhouse (so not during Winter ) I don't bother to dilute, or put more water on (as I think that would be too much moisture for my compost heap)

Although it would be more of a convenience if I moved it to the middle of the front lawn - what do you think?

[garlicgirl06]

hi. much weeing going on but i was of the understanding that it was only mens wee that was any good in the composter. Please correct me if i'm wrong so i can have a go, and not have to ask the neighbour.......

[Bigmallly]

hi. much weeing going on but i was of the understanding that it was only mens wee that was any good in the composter. Please correct me if i'm wrong so i can have a go, and not have to ask the neighbour.......

You can use both male & female urine, males is slightly less acidic which apparently is better .........don't know why.

Urinate on the compost heap to save the planet says the National Trust - Telegraph

Back to the OP, my bins are on concrete and are fine.

[garlicgirl06]

Thanks Bigm. Yeah sorry i couldn't contribute to the compost on concrete thing i was just following the thread with interest when the wee issue cropped up

[ginger ninger]

My Gardens overlooked on 3 sides and I don't think mi neighbours would be impressed with mi backside stuck up in the air ... there enough with 1 full moon a month .

[Two_Sheds]

Ginge, that's why buckets (potties) were invented