@Wilderbeast I figured that being thick, waxy, evergreen leaves that they would not break down quickly or effectively... Brilliant news that I can add these, You've just increased my input materials by about 30%, and maybe it might even assist heat production. I shall go and chop up a pile of laurel prunings that I have sitting on the lawn tout suite... I think that you swear by large volumes of material to generate heat, and add everything to your bins. Where are your bins sited, in full sun, shade or somewhere in between?, Mine are sited at back of garden beneath a full canopy of trees so fully in the shade, does this make a difference to heat production?
That's approaching an industrial process @Wilderbeast !! I don't generate enough material to approach that kind of output. I'm happy with my 1 cube p.a. Cheers Owd
Ayup @JoeX I began my composting adventure in 2018, when we moved into a new house. I began using a dalek and got exactly the same poor results that you describe, just turning out a pile of dry leaves and grass with zero worms. Too dry, not enough moisture. Thanks to the input and advice of the knowledgeable folks here, I then constructed 2 pallet bins of about 1m3 each, which I lined with old cushionfloor. I cover with a square of old carpet. Into these bins goes all fresh kitchen waste, teabags, grass cuttings thro summer and any cuttings and pruning material that comes off the garden, plus brown and corrugated cardboard, any old compost and surplus garden soil occasionally. I don't add woody or twiggy stuff as it doesn't break down quickly for me. I also do not add privet, holly or laurel hedge cuttings or evergreens, which unfortunately reduces the composting material available to me quite a bit. I also use the active bin for 'relief' whilst I am in the garden to save me trudging thru the house. I believe this is a great help to the heap, it is certainly a great help to me. I try to use my 2 bins much as @Posy says above, using one for filling and the other I leave full to cook. I turn the active one about once / month chopping up any large stems, leaves etc using garden shears. The other bin I rarely turn. I have by no means achieved perfect results yet, and I cannot seem to generate heat, but things are much improved and I get about 1/2 a bin of reasonably good compost per year now. As @Wilderbeast says, it can become addictive. Stick with it, it's satisfying when you do get good material out.
Yes I tried the open 1m3 approach in 2019. Just looked bad and took up precious space, so its back to daleks for me
I do tear up and add a lot more cardboard now, limit the grass going in, and periodically water them.
@owd potter why do you leave out the privet and laurel ? I always add such stuff after mowing and it breaks down brilliantly. In fact I ask my tree surgeon if he is doing any big any laurel jobs to call and he then will shred this straight into my trailer and I can fill an entire bin, it's brilliant it will heat up very fast and breaks down too an amazing mulch. Holly and Hawthorn go in too but only when summer cut so soft and always after being mown up twice. Keep on composting.
@owd potter why do you leave out the privet and laurel ? I always add such stuff after mowing and it breaks down brilliantly. In fact I ask my tree surgeon if he is doing any big any laurel jobs to call and he then will shred this straight into my trailer and I can fill an entire bin, it's brilliant it will heat up very fast and breaks down too an amazing mulch. Holly and Hawthorn go in too but only when summer cut so soft and always after being mown up twice. Keep on composting.
@JoeX I've no experience of composting In a dalek bin and they are a very different route to my large set up. The laurel does work brilliantly in my large bins, as with many things there are different ways to compost
Well I have no experience of composting laurel as yet but following Wilderbeast comment earlier I added a pile of it that I had lying around, chopped up, like everything that I add, with shears. We'll see.
I have daleks and a lot of grass clippings. They are in sun. One of the bins is dryer than the others because the lid doesn't fit properly so i use that one for storage of "cooked" stuff. The others keep wet because of the amount of grass and it heats up due to the same, i see steam when lifting the lid and water drips off the lid.
I take the dalek off the pile set it on a space and mix the pile as i mow and refill. If the bottom is cooked, i use it or cover it with the old dalek.
I use a paper shredder in the home office and put old bills receipts toilet roll innards etc through it. I use a garden shredder for clippings prunings. I empty the dog hair filled vacuum cleaner and mostly wool carpets cleanings into it.
The output is variable but suits me sir! Don't give up. My neighbours gave up after making smelly sludge. I think turning is key but i realise i am blessed with enough space to move them around. I have six daleks including the useless one! 😊
I have two bins. One is cooking away and hopefully will be ready for spring(ish) the other bin I am currently working on.
I have square plastic 300l bins. I started composting in 2018 when I had a bin bought for me as a gift. I started with gusto but had not done much research, just thinking you sling everything in, leave it and in a few months and you have compost. I soon realised this is not the case 🤣🤣 I ended up with a horrible smelly mess. I had to start again so along with good old Google, you tube and of course here, I learnt a lot. It's about balance and what you heap needs. I make sure i have roughly 50/50 brown and green (i find it doesn't have to be exact), regular turning and making sure that it isn't too wet but not too dry. Like @Wilderbeast if you can get some compost ingredient donors on board that helps. I have a couple of friends with Guinea pigs and rabbits so I get used bedding to add. I have pots at work for used tea bags, banana skins etc... which I bring home and add.
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I figured that being thick, waxy, evergreen leaves that they would not break down quickly or effectively...
Brilliant news that I can add these,
You've just increased my input materials by about 30%, and maybe it might even assist heat production.
I shall go and chop up a pile of laurel prunings that I have sitting on the lawn tout suite...
I think that you swear by large volumes of material to generate heat, and add everything to your bins.
Where are your bins sited, in full sun, shade or somewhere in between?,
Mine are sited at back of garden beneath a full canopy of trees so fully in the shade, does this make a difference to heat production?
I don't generate enough material to approach that kind of output.
I'm happy with my 1 cube p.a.
Cheers
Owd
I do tear up and add a lot more cardboard now, limit the grass going in, and periodically water them.
No chance that stuff going in my compost again!
We'll see.
I take the dalek off the pile set it on a space and mix the pile as i mow and refill. If the bottom is cooked, i use it or cover it with the old dalek.
I use a paper shredder in the home office and put old bills receipts toilet roll innards etc through it. I use a garden shredder for clippings prunings. I empty the dog hair filled vacuum cleaner and mostly wool carpets cleanings into it.
The output is variable but suits me sir! Don't give up. My neighbours gave up after making smelly sludge. I think turning is key but i realise i am blessed with enough space to move them around. I have six daleks including the useless one! 😊
I have square plastic 300l bins. I started composting in 2018 when I had a bin bought for me as a gift. I started with gusto but had not done much research, just thinking you sling everything in, leave it and in a few months and you have compost. I soon realised this is not the case 🤣🤣 I ended up with a horrible smelly mess. I had to start again so along with good old Google, you tube and of course here, I learnt a lot. It's about balance and what you heap needs. I make sure i have roughly 50/50 brown and green (i find it doesn't have to be exact), regular turning and making sure that it isn't too wet but not too dry. Like @Wilderbeast if you can get some compost ingredient donors on board that helps. I have a couple of friends with Guinea pigs and rabbits so I get used bedding to add. I have pots at work for used tea bags, banana skins etc... which I bring home and add.
Keep going with it