I was looking at daleks - are they ok on concrete rather than soil?
Yes @Topbird is a very experienced composter and frequently states this. Hopefully she'll see this tag and look in. I also use one on concrete slabs without any problem. It's more about managing it than anything else, and adding enough of the different materials to get a good mix.
I was looking at daleks - are they ok on concrete rather than soil?
Yes. The reason I said to ensure you get one with a base is that you mentioned you only had concrete to place it on and it would keep your yard cleaner/tidier. Placing directly onto soil where possible does help but if you have a Rat problem too, they would be capable of digging thru the surrounding soil and under the base rim of the dalek to make a nice warm house for themselves. As I said tho, if you can add a layer of top soil (from the garden preferably ), that will help to build up your system. A few Woodlice wouldn't go amiss either
Rats are supposed to be attracted by cooked foods and meats. I would guess starchy foods also. Does your council do food waste recycling? That might be better than putting that in the composter.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I don't think anyone is suggesting that cooked food waste should go in a garden compost bin. I think most people realise that by now. There are specialised Hot bins for cooked waste. Rats are attracted by anything remotely edible - including bird seed - so best not to be too complacent.
Rats are supposed to be attracted by cooked foods and meats. I would guess starchy foods also. Does your council do food waste recycling? That might be better than putting that in the composter.
Unfortunately they don't. I don't eat meat anyway, and was aware of the cooked food rule, so that's all ok
Potatoes in particular apparently @philippasmith2 . I remember @Dovefromabove mentioning that. I never put any meat in mine. Very bad idea. It goes in the council bin for their composting, where the heat can safely break it down. Everything else though - veg peelings, apple cores, banana skins, eggshells, tea bags, paper - including hankies and toilet roll inners, all the prunings from perennials, etc etc.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes - absolutely no problems using compost bins on concrete slabs. All of mine are on concrete and they are full of brandlings (red worms) and other creepy crawlies which help the composting process. I am convinced there must be worm eggs in the soil still attached to the plants when they're put in the bins - because I can't think how else they can get in there!
Mine are on concrete partly because I'm rat phobic (they can easily burrow into bins directly in contact with the soil) but it also makes life much easier cleaning up the area after you've turned or emptied the bin. A small dalek type bin would probably work for you.
The most important things (IMO) are to get a nice balance of green and brown material, to keep the moisture levels right and to chop plant material up to provide lots of surface area for bacteria and fungi to work on.
I LOVE composting (sad isn't it?) and would encourage everybody to do it. However, I wonder what you plan to use your compost for? Do you have any borders (homemade compost makes the best mulch) or do you plan to use it to top dress pots etc? It's not really suitable for use as a seed sowing medium or as a potting compost on it's own in the form it leaves the bin.
If you have pots with shrubs and perennials you could could certainly use it to top dress those. Or you could mix it with shop bought multi-purpose compost to fill containers.
Personally, I'd go a bit easy putting too much kitchen waste straight into the bin - it might attract rats. I think you now know to never add dairy, meats or cooked food. You might like to consider a Bokashi bin to semi-process the kitchen waste first (including some of the otherwise forbidden items):
The bulk of material in a compost bin would ideally be plant / garden derived mixed with browns like cardboard, wool, paper etc as previously listed. If you don't have a lot of garden / plant waste of your own, perhaps you could persuade any neighbours who also grow plants to make regular donations to your bin. Better for them to help out your composting than sending it to landfill.
I really hope you can find a way to start composting. It's quite a fascinating process when you get into it. Good luck🙂
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Rats are attracted by anything remotely edible - including bird seed - so best not to be too complacent.
I never put any meat in mine. Very bad idea. It goes in the council bin for their composting, where the heat can safely break it down.
Everything else though - veg peelings, apple cores, banana skins, eggshells, tea bags, paper - including hankies and toilet roll inners, all the prunings from perennials, etc etc.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes - absolutely no problems using compost bins on concrete slabs. All of mine are on concrete and they are full of brandlings (red worms) and other creepy crawlies which help the composting process. I am convinced there must be worm eggs in the soil still attached to the plants when they're put in the bins - because I can't think how else they can get in there!
Mine are on concrete partly because I'm rat phobic (they can easily burrow into bins directly in contact with the soil) but it also makes life much easier cleaning up the area after you've turned or emptied the bin. A small dalek type bin would probably work for you.
The most important things (IMO) are to get a nice balance of green and brown material, to keep the moisture levels right and to chop plant material up to provide lots of surface area for bacteria and fungi to work on.
I LOVE composting (sad isn't it?) and would encourage everybody to do it. However, I wonder what you plan to use your compost for? Do you have any borders (homemade compost makes the best mulch) or do you plan to use it to top dress pots etc? It's not really suitable for use as a seed sowing medium or as a potting compost on it's own in the form it leaves the bin.
If you have pots with shrubs and perennials you could could certainly use it to top dress those. Or you could mix it with shop bought multi-purpose compost to fill containers.
Personally, I'd go a bit easy putting too much kitchen waste straight into the bin - it might attract rats. I think you now know to never add dairy, meats or cooked food. You might like to consider a Bokashi bin to semi-process the kitchen waste first (including some of the otherwise forbidden items):
https://www.leangreenhome.co.uk/guides/composting/bokashi
The bulk of material in a compost bin would ideally be plant / garden derived mixed with browns like cardboard, wool, paper etc as previously listed. If you don't have a lot of garden / plant waste of your own, perhaps you could persuade any neighbours who also grow plants to make regular donations to your bin. Better for them to help out your composting than sending it to landfill.
I really hope you can find a way to start composting. It's quite a fascinating process when you get into it. Good luck🙂