I must admit I do find compost making a bit daunting. I know what to put in it but it's one of those ugly Dalek looking things with a small flap at the bottom which you have to take off to get some of the compost out with a trowel!!!! We put stuff in it but it's easier to buy bags of compost to be honest. Which I don't like doing.
I'm also confused because a lot of people say to empty it out in the winter but then where do you put all your peelings etc??
I've never heard anyone saying "empty it out in the winter" Most folk either have more than one "bin" or store excess somewhere else, ( builders dumpy sack kinda thing ) Please don't be put off. It's not confusing, honest. Persevere and you'll get there.
Monty IS great! However, as with ZeroZero1, I do sympathise with those who don't have the facilities to compost as well as Monty. He does give lots of tips for reducing waste material, and mowing prunings and cuttings is a good way of providing compost for your bins, together with vegetable peelings & teabags from the kitchen.
In Winter I put all the kitchen waste in the top of one of the daleks. It turns in to a sort of worm bin, but doesn't rot down well. As soon as Spring comes and we have grass cuttings again, the wormy not very well rotted bit gets mixed up with it and it gets composted properly.
I'm also confused because a lot of people say to empty it out in the winter but then where do you put all your peelings etc??
I think it’s to use it up when it’s ready - usually autumn to mulch everything before winter sets in.
Have at least two heaps. I have one open, about half a cubic metre that should be easy soon. And one dalek. I’ll use up the open one in the next couple of months, empty out the dalek in its place, then start the dalek afresh.
I think a good bin should be one that you can easily get at the bottom, or if necessary all of hte compost. Daleks are not good. Some form of box shape with a flat floor and a cross member at the top so that the sides don't shift and a set of slats at the front to lift away when getting at the goodies. Knocking one up from wood (often pallets) is not too hard. I used scaffolding planks. Also a shovel, as opposed to a spade or fork, is great for getting the compost out.
I made these with slots for removable planks at the front. These aren't my actual ones but almost identical. I had to put a cross member at the top front to stop them splaying. I cover them in off cuts of new carpet scrounged from the recycling centre and old doors to keep the torrential rain out.
Posts
Please don't be put off. It's not confusing, honest. Persevere and you'll get there.
Have at least two heaps. I have one open, about half a cubic metre that should be easy soon. And one dalek. I’ll use up the open one in the next couple of months, empty out the dalek in its place, then start the dalek afresh.
These aren't my actual ones but almost identical. I had to put a cross member at the top front to stop them splaying. I cover them in off cuts of new carpet scrounged from the recycling centre and old doors to keep the torrential rain out.