Advice needed on compost daleks

[george356]

I have ordered 2 compost daleks from our local council site, waiting for them to be delivered, and in the meantime I have amassed some stuff to start one of them off (a good mix of greens and browns.)

I have a question which won't bother me for some time, but I like to be prepared (and no, I wasn't a Boy Scout )

As I understand it the compost will need turning a few times before it's done, how do I do this when it's in a dalek?

Thanks in anticipation.

[Bren In Pots]

Easiest way is to lift the bin to a new position, do this by levering a spade all around the base to loosen it from the ground. Then add the contents back into the bin.

[george356]

Right - that means I will need to make some sort of hard standing for it?

[Veggielot]

If you are getting two, fill the first when full transfer to the second starting from the top so it becomes the bottom. Start filling the first one again. With luck the second will be ready to use by the time the first is full again, just keep repeating.

[Bren In Pots]

Right - that means I will need to make some sort of hard standing for it?

George you don't need hard standing your bins will work better if they're in contact with soil. have a read at these two links :-

How to make compost - full instructions

Composting / Royal Horticultural Society

[Bill HH]

There are tools designed for turning your compost i have one of these.

Compost Aerator £10.99

It is well made for £11. I think and works well. Sometimes I fetch it all out as has been said, but for a quick stir this tool is brilliant. Watch you knuckles as you pull it upwards, they catch the edge of the bin every time. If you chop your compost up a bit (which is good practice anyway) it makes it easier to use this tool.

[bearded bloke]

Nice find Bill not seen one of those before ^^
As Bren said they do work better on soil rather than a hard standing,a word of caution though,ifthere are moles in the area they will be visiting to rummage for worms,a piece of chicken wire under the base will stop that happening

[george356]

Thanks for all the advice guys, just waiting now for them to deliver the daleks

[Glutton4...]

Because we back on to fields, and we have Chickens, there is a higher risk of Ratty making a nice warm winter home in my compost. So I always stand my Daleks on Chicken mesh, and fold the excess mesh up and around the bottom lip of the Dalek.