Yes.. but only in the fall so it can further compost before spring. My issue is that it's super dry here.. I spent my first year watering my compost bin more than my plants.. and didn't have nice compost to show for all the effort (despite also adding shovels of soil for bacteria and bugs/worms, and mixing it around once a month). So I just collect up kitchen compost in two rubber garbage cans with lots of drilled holes, sitting on soil. It's handy to drag one bin next to the back door in the winter for easy access, rather than hiking through the snow across the yard. Most things are fairly recognizable when I dump it out over my raised beds in the fall, especially as things are separated by the newspaper I line my kitchen bucket with. I just fork it apart, spread it around, and cover it with grass clippings mixed with mowed leaves, as mentioned. The worms, pill bugs, and other things do their work in situ, and by spring planting time it's only egg shells, avocado skins, fruit stones, and a few bits of newspaper left. I only compost kitchen scraps, as grass clippings are either left on the lawn or bagged and spread as mulch. Same with leaves. I do wish I had a shredder, as currently tree pruning go on a wildlife pile, and last year's tomatoes, pea plants, corn, etc are burned in the spring and the ashes spread around the garden. Weeds get thrown on a dry pile behind the rhubarb as a sort of mulch/slow compost. It all works for me, with minimal effort aside from the single spreading and covering. I am envious when I see the compost spread by Monty or Jim, lovely rich black goodness. I just don't have the moisture, material, or manpower to make it happen.
It's good that you are working with what you have, Blue. I guess it all works its way in, in the end. My issue is space. I have two regular rubbish bins with clip lids and drainage holes, that have a three month turn around or so (in the spring/summer) mostly kitchen scraps and paper. Now I also have a big green bin and a hotbox, all in less than two metre squared and it's working for me. I tend to empty one into another for good aeration.
One thing I realise is worms don't like heat. I have always kept one bin for my lovely worms, like a vermibin. But they can't stand the Hotbin and pull a mass exodus if I try. So tipping everything into the Hotbin to kill eggs isn't going to work. I guess I'll have to end worm breeding, much as I love it. I don't think it makes sense now.
I used to use it on my garden years ago. A farmer used to come around selling it (in kent) but ive never seen it here in Belgium even in GC's. Cant find blood fish and bone mix either. Or liquid seaweed. Only bonemeal on its own. Most of the feeds and compost are aimed at what you are growing. I. E. Camelias, geranium, hedges, grass. My shed would be full of bags if i went on like that! I have to pick stuff up In the UK when on a visit.
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