Compost help please!

[mrbadexample]

Evening all.

How can I improve my compost please? I took the front off today:



I dug a bit out from about a third of the way up. The horse manure I put in hasn't broken down very well:





It seems a little wet, but not slimy. It's much drier on the top of the pile. There's not very much heat coming off it. I did turn it once last year, by taking it all out and putting it back in again. That was hard work and made a hell of a mess.

I did stick my Mantis tiller in the top of it last weekend. That might have worked better if it hadn't been so full - it did get a little messy.

Does it just need a good mix up, or is there something else I could do to improve it? I can't really turn it properly until I've got a second one built, so I can get some in the new bin and give myself more space to work.

Or does it actually look ok? This is my first compost heap, only about a year old, so I'm not too sure.

Thanks,
MBE

[Bren In Pots]

It might be an idea to make a second bin that way you can move the contents over and that will aerate it.

[Tadpole123]

It needs turning, shouldn't take a year to make compost.
Take it all out mix it up and pop it back in, you need to get some air in there, it looks a bit compacted to me.
This should make it heat up shortly, then when it starts to feel cool again, repeat, should be ok to use then.
I know how much you like exercise

[Glutton4...]

I was going to suggest a second bin, as that's what I use. I put layers of grass mowings and horse dung in the bottom, then turn out the compost bin on to the top, and let it rot. Unfortunately, my bins are in a sheltered position, so don't get enough 'weather' but I am hoping to start using it next year. Good luck with it.

[mrbadexample]

I made such a mess last time I'm reluctant to try it again. However, I do have a galvanised dustbin, so I could shovel the top stuff into that, then try to mix it up a bit. I'll have a bash at it tomorrow, and let you know how I get on.

[mrbadexample]

I know how much you like exercise

So do I.

[Glutton4...]

Just lay a tarp down on the ground, and chuck the compost on to it randomly, then chuck it all back in!

[mrbadexample]

If I only had a tarp...

I did that last year, but just chucked it out onto the patio. Took months for the rain to wash it clean.

[Two_Sheds]

You don't want to get a dalek or two? I find them much easier to work with than wooden pallet bins.

What also really cuts down the work is to site the dalek on the bed that I want composted. Then when I turn it, a lot of the compost can just be left where it falls, then raked about a bit. Big lumps get chucked back in again

[mrbadexample]

You don't want to get a dalek or two? I find them much easier to work with than wooden pallet bins.

Got any free daleks? I'm far too much of a cheapskate to actually buy stuff!

Anyway, my Uncle Bob's got one and he reckons he's never had anything worthwhile out of it.

Hmmm...I wonder if he wants to get shot of it.

[taff]

it doesn't look too bad.
Horse droppings don't break down that well unless they're moist, yummy!, I used to have a separate box for it, kept it wet, and let it do it's thing anaerobically. I do the same with cow stuff now, chuck it in used compost bags and leave it for a year on the side somewhere.
like everyone else has said, it just needs turning and some moisture. I've just turned the last of the nearly ready stuff and wet it, and covered it with a bit of plastic to keep it moist for longer, but I wouldn't have bothered if we'd had some damn rain....grrr angry smiley....

[zazen999]

I'd use most of that - I'd dig it all out, put the darker stuff somewhere [in the bottom of those recycling tubs you are reusing] and just put the stuff that hadn't rotted down back in.

*Note, I can't smell it from here but from the looks of it, it just needs more water and some regular turning - you can just shove a fork in and twist it about if you have a lack of space to turn it properly.

[mrbadexample]

it doesn't look too bad.
Horse droppings don't break down that well unless they're moist, yummy!, I used to have a separate box for it, kept it wet, and let it do it's thing anaerobically. I do the same with cow stuff now, chuck it in used compost bags and leave it for a year on the side somewhere.

I think you have something there - the problem is with the horse muck. I've dug down into it today, emptying the top layers into two dustbins. There was a little heat in there, but not much. Once I got down to the horse muck, it was cold, wet and slimy. When I put it in last year, I did try not to put too much in at once. I put a bag in, then layers of shredded paper, grass clippings, kitchen waste - the usual stuff. A couple of weeks later I'd put another bag in. Obviously, I haven't done this well enough. I think if I get some this year I'll keep it separate.

I'd use most of that - I'd dig it all out, put the darker stuff somewhere [in the bottom of those recycling tubs you are reusing] and just put the stuff that hadn't rotted down back in.

I'm not even going to ask how I'm supposed to get it into the bottom of the tubs. You know, those nice, FULL tubs.

But I'm glad you said that because the stuff above the horse muck seemed half decent. I've chucked a load on my third raised bed & planted another row of spuds (still waiting for the Blue Danube from T&M ).

The cold muck layer looked like this when I got down to it:



So I filled a compost bag with it, ready for delivery of the Stockbridge Arrow rhubarb that I've just ordered. I'll dig that in when I prepare the hole for it.

Then I stuck the Mantis tiller into the top of it. So it now looks like:



The bottom foot is still untouched, but that's about all I can do for the moment.

*Note, I can't smell it from here but from the looks of it, it just needs more water and some regular turning - you can just shove a fork in and twist it about if you have a lack of space to turn it properly.

I think now I've given it a good mix up it doesn't need water. It was only the top layer that was dry. I will stick the Mantis in a bit more often though - does a lovely (albeit somewhat messy) job.

[mrbadexample]

After I posted these I fished out all the partly broken down woody bits (last year's cauli & kale stems etc), hammered them to break them up and chopped them into little bits with secateurs. There was a lot of it. I've got a blister on my thumb now from doing it.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Yups, gardening is hard work innit. . The suggestion that you totally empty your compost bin and then reload it is the best advice you can get. Aeration is extremely important and turning once a year really doesn't cut the mustard. I use a three bin system. The one I am using is two years old, last years one is cooking nicely and I'm loading this year's material into the third. Works great for me bu I do have the space.