Composter Bin

[Bex]

Hi Everyone

After trawling round the garden centres today looking for a composter bin (without any success in my price range) I decided to come home and look on the recycle now website as recommended in the GYO magazine where I've ordered one for £6 - What a bargain!

Do any of you make your own compost and if so are there any definate no-no's?

Thanks

Becky

[OverWyreGrower]

We've got 3 compost bins on the go....

We've made the mistake of putting too much "green" and not enough "brown" in one, so can't put anymore "green" in... grrr!

Don't put meat/animal waste (e.g. dog poo) etc in and don't put too many grass cuttings in, it gets slimy and smelly! The only thing that goes in our council "green recycling" bin is lawn cuttings now!

HTH

OWG
x

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Bex - try this thread - one the plot, vegging out, "How to" by Geordie - dated 26.1.06 - loads of useful info! DDL

[Bex]

Thanks OWG & Dex

Will look at the thread you mention.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Actually, OWG - I've got too much green and not enough brown! has anyone any ideas how we can remedy this? Are shreded bits of paper any good? yes, I know, I've read all the info, but sometimes I'm a bit slow!..................comments to..................on a postcard! DDL

[nick the grief]

the easy way out off this problem ( especially if you've got as Dalek Bin) is lif it off & re site it, take all the stuff from the top & put that in the bottom & mix some straw (or strawy muck) or shredded paper in with it. Basically you are turning the heap - which you should do anyway to ensure it all rots down & gets a bit of air in the for the Aerobic bacteria (needs oxygen)

[dexterdoglancashire]

Oops! Can I get away with a "reet good dig and fertle" through my contents, adding shredded paper as I go? DDL
Can you just see it? me stood on the bin with my "fertling tool" (my four pronged digging fork, mentioned previously) digging away whilst OH puts in the brown stuff? (no rude comments please!) No photos will be available either! Not with my back in the state it's in!

[nick the grief]

ypu can do DDL just so long as you mix it up well & get some air in to the mix.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks Nick - will do. DDL

[NOG]

Actually, OWG - I've got too much green and not enough brown! has anyone any ideas how we can remedy this? Are shreded bits of paper any good? yes, I know, I've read all the info, but sometimes I'm a bit slow!..................comments to..................on a postcard! DDL

I get 12-15 bin liners of grass cuttings a week from the local gardener and it all goes in the compost. I also get shredded paper from the local school and put a bag of grass in then a layer of shredded paper and then a bag of Grass.

These are FULL bags of Grass. It all rots down and If it getts to wet I add more paper and fork it over.

It all composts never had any real problems.

[Silverfox]

Does anyone add anything to there compost or do they just let it rot down on its own?

[multiveg]

Bob Flowerdew would say recycled beer. Well, as far as I'm concerned, lager looks like it could be urine and some say it tastes like it.

Re animal poo - horse and grazing animal & other vegetarian animal droppings is great for compost. Carnivorous mammal poo can harbour nasty organisms that do us harm but they can be composted if that compost is not used for edible plants - perhaps tall fruit trees or ornamentals where splash isn't going to come into contact with edible parts of the plants.

If you can guarantee rat-proof, and can obtain a high temperature in the middle of the heap, meat scraps can be put in the centre (along with sawdust or grass clippings). The het should kill off maggots. Cooking oils can also be added. Beware of flies.

[Lesley Jay]

Silverfox we don't add anything to the compost. Just leave it to rot down by itself.

[Earthbabe]

I add rabbit droppings and bedding and will add guinea pig droppings etc when they arrive. Our bins need moving so will give them a good turn when doing so. Have been known to add boxed activator. I keep asking Mr E to oblige but he forgets and uses the hedge!

Thanks for the spelling of "fertle" DDL I love that word.

[martini]

Now it's getting a bit nippier my OH has stopped going out to the bin in the dark