slimy compost in bin

[janeyo]

Hi We have moved to a house where I have inherited the compost bin. After looking inside it I am not surprised he left it here! lol

It seems to be full of wet half rotted grass cuttings and not much else.

It is a plastic bin with a lid, the base is in contact with the ground.

Is there any way I can salvage the gunk to use it at some point?

Advice please - it's gross!

thanks, janeyo

[Geordie]

The main problem is your compost is to green (ie grassy). Mix in some brown stuff...anything from leaves to shredded cardboard to help aireate it. As your garden produces more waste the mixture will get better.
Am sure there are one or two posts on here that will describe how to layer a compost heap for best results.

[Two_Sheds]

As Geordie said, you need to mix in some "brown" - I rescued a Dalek last year: took the whole thing up (don't kill yourself trying to dig out thru the wee hole in the bottom); re-site it somewhere warm/sunny; pile the sludge back in but layer it with shredded newspaper/cardboard/straw etc. Its hard work, but think of the calories burned.
If you do a Search on this forum on "compost" lots of advice comes up.
this might help:
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ity_11839.html

[bluemoon]

We use the wood-shavings from our rabbit hutch as 'browns', they help make a lovely compost and the poo acts as an activator. If you know someone with a rabbit I'm sure they'd be more than happy to give you this 'resource'.

[janeyo]

I have chickens, they have woodshavings and straw mix. Can I use this?

janeyo

[bluemoon]

Even better. I'm really jealous now.

[cottage garden]

I tear up all old cereal packets, loo rolls etc to put in the compost and use twigs and cuttings to mix with grass cuttings but as two sheds says, having it in the sun is really important to get good compost.

[janeyo]

Hmm it is in the sunniest place now, but I was going to move it dor my son's swing!
He might have to have a different spot now lol.

Will try and sort the bin at weekend. I will prob empty it, and then put it all back with 'brown' mixed in.

Thanks all, janeyo

[bluemoon]

I read somewhere - sorry, can't remember where - that egg boxes are great to use as browns as, not only are they cardboard, the shape allows air-pockets to form, presumably helping the bacteria to access oxygen and thus allowing the heap to heat. I haven't tried it yet as all our egg boxes are currently on chitting duty, but will definitely be giving it a go soon.

[cottage garden]

I read somewhere - sorry, can't remember where - that egg boxes are great to use as browns as, not only are they cardboard, the shape allows air-pockets to form, presumably helping the bacteria to access oxygen and thus allowing the heap to heat. I haven't tried it yet as all our egg boxes are currently on chitting duty, but will definitely be giving it a go soon.

How frustrating, there I have been carefully tearing my egg boxes into small bits. That will save time

[Cutecumber]

janeyo - a useful rule of thumb for making compost is 50:50 volume, green to brown.

green ("nitrogen") includes all the soft, quick rotting stuff - grass cuttings, vegetable waste, young green cuttings.

brown ("carbon") is your woody stuff, including cardboard.

Chicken poo is quite potent - and of great value - but may be adding to the problems at this point unless you add more "browns" too.

It sounds like a good idea to turn it out and mix it all up with some woody waste, cardboard and the chicken litter.