Thank you both. I used to have a hotbin, which is totally sealed on all sides, and the worms still got in so I’m not worried about that. I will slab the bottom to attempt to foil the trees and see how it goes for a season. I do have another spot I could relocate to once the summer season is over if this site proves too problematic. I’m hoping that land slippage will not be a problem because the slope is very well compacted, pretty much pure clay and gravel. I’ve only dig out a little, and I will have the structure of the bins pushing back against it. I’m very much not an engineer and hope that I’m not going to make my whole garden collapse... concrete slabs back, bottom and sides it is!
The information about the concrete base for compost bins is jolly useful as I want to rearrange my 3. The only area I have available is in front of a hedge and near a big tree whose roots kept infiltrating. I've got plastic underneath but concrete slabs sound a much better idea, so thanks.
The hotbin - I never managed to get it to stay hot. I read all the info but I don’t know if I’m precise enough. So it worked for me essentially as a dalek, and while I got two lots of ok compost from it, I didn’t really get on with it. Hence the switch. Also I wanted more capacity.
yes, topbird good advice, ours are on slabs, you dont get critters if you dont use cooked products. , down the veg plot now, makes sense. They are those plastic things, we inherited them, thought they were a really stupid idea, because you have to open underneath, however, hubby solved that, cut, "doors" in the front, little wooden edge. You are right wood would eventually rot, how about a plastic dustbin, cheap as chips, cut out the bottom, they already have a top, Dont worry too much about weeds,critters,tree roots, you can over egg something, get that compost going! Unless you live at Chatsworth, there will always be problems to overcome.
Ha! Yes I do want to get it going, I’m sick of seeing all that lovely green food waste going in the bin and green garden waste going to the council heaps so I can buy it back again...
Have you found a good new home for the Hotbin? I have one too and it generally stays above 30oC but hard to get it to stay up to 70oC. It still works a treat and I am very happy with mine. I use two regular plastic dustbins with clip lids. But I have a small space.
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concrete slabs back, bottom and sides it is!