Inherited compost

[Poddington Pea]

We recently moved into our new home and with it came a full 'Darlek' style compost bin.
The house had been empty for a year previously and so I assume the only things to be put in there would be grass cuttings and apples from the 3 apple trees in the garden.
Upon emptying it there was an awful smell and the compost is sludgy. I spread it out to air it and let it dry out a bit, but it's still really slimy.
Question is, would you use it on your crop?

[binley100]

You could try mixing some brown waste in with it, like shredded paper and card, straw etc.........should help to dry it out .....

[Poddington Pea]

I thought that would probably be the cause - lack of 'browns' and also lack of air, it definately wouldn't have been turned!
I had hoped to use it in my raised beds now, do you think I should hold off?

[binley100]

Not sure on that one.......maybe if you spread it and layered other stuff on top ?

[Two_Sheds]

lack of 'browns' and also lack of air, ... do you think I should hold off?

Exactly that, lack of browns. I inherited 2 daleks full of black sludge. It took about 18 months of turning and adding shredded paper before it was in a fit state to add to the garden, and even now I have lumps of solidified grass clippings

Yes you should take the time to rot it down properly, or you'll just end up with rock hard lumps of sludge

[zazen999]

I'd pile it back in layered with cardboard/newspaper/shredded paper etc. Then turn it again in the autumn.

Or - dig a trench and half fill with it, put a layer of shredded paper forked in and then refill.

Depends on how much space you have .

[Kristen]

I'd get it out of the Dalek and make an pile in the open so the air can get to it (adding other materials will help).

I wonder if it cold just go in the bottom of a trench then used for Runner Beans?

Its rotting down, just its using Anerobic bugs rather than Aerobic ones ... my grass clipping "heap" is like that, but it makes compost in the end.

[Bigmallly]

Question is, would you use it on your crop?

I was wondering if it could be used to grow Cougettes, squashes etc.

[Kristen]

I wonder if it will use up Nitrogen to complete its rotting process? (Hence suggestion for Beans as they won't mind, but Courgettes more likely to be effected)

But I dunno if it will use Nitrogen, or not.

[King Carrot]

A number of years ago I ended up with brown sludge when I emptied a dalek for someone else - I used it all in some trenches for french and runner beans with no problems - however the sweet sickly smell is something I'd rather not smell again ever, so I leave offers from other peoples daleks now!

[Poddington Pea]

Thanks all!
There's a charity local to me that has a community growing scheme, so I got their horticulturist to pop over. He thinks it's nearly ready to use, he agrees with what's been said on here. He suggested mixing it with cardboard, paper etc. and putting back in the dalek. I've had it out for around a week now. I was pleased to have him confirm we've done the right thing so far in our garden. He also said our soil is really rather good (I thought it was awful being so heavily clay, but he thinks it's a good clay/loam mix and is happy with the way it's broken down after digging.
I feel very privileged to have this brilliant resource on my doorstep. I'm in south Somerset, if any of you are and would like more info pm me and I can tell you all about it!