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compost bin

b2gnt45b2gnt45 Posts: 3
in Problem solving

we thought we would get a compost bin from the council so we put things in it like bannana skins fruit peelings and skins grass cuttings ect but when I tried to use it its absolutly crawling with what looks like ants magots everytime we found worms we dropped them in dont know if I can use it can anyone helpimage

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    So long as you keep food out of the bin you'll be fine. All sorts of creatures will be in there working away to turn your banana skins etc into useful compost.
    Ideally 2 bins are best. When the 1st one is full, turn it out into the empty bin so that the stuff that was on the top is now at the bottom. Then in a few months you'll have some lovely compost to treat your plants with.

    No point in putting earthworms in there, as far as I know they'll die as it's not the right conditions for them. The right worms will just arrive and do their stuff.
    As so often with gardening, patience is required :)


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    You also need a  mix of materials in the bin, as well as some air. If everything is wet and soggy, it will tend to stay in a big lump. Having said that - if you have a colony of ants, that tends to suggest that the mix is dry. If so, give it a soak and mix it all well.

    Adding things like shredded paper, cardboard, and twiggier material will help create air around the mix and aid the process. If you can get your hands on some manure ( guinea pig, rabbit, horse etc) it will be a good addition. If you give it a good stir every now and again with a fork, that will also help. There are different actions by different creatures in a compost bin which combine to break everything down. The bigger the pile, the greater the heat generated, and the quicker the result.  

    As Pete says though - patience is the most important factor  image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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