Compost

dpatel2130 · June 2023

Hello fellow gardeners, finally I got some compost from dalek composter. Took too long and not easy job.... But kitchen waste and grass clippings, cardboard and papers we all have and little room in the corner.. Worth trying. With g investment of 15 quid for 2 dalek I think it is worth efforts. Sieve is table fan's cover.

Occasional turning or leave them open for few hours and nature did the job. In no time there was plenty of worms in.
Happy with it, what you think?

nick615 · June 2023

If you think the cost and effort worthwhile, that's what matters. I don't bother, but that's not to say my lazy approach is best.

dpatel2130 · June 2023

@nick615, as you said it is labour of love. Cost is minimal but it take efforts. I won't say people don't do because they are lazy... Probably they have different priorities.
This is first time and I will keep going.

Fairygirl · June 2023

Looks great @dpatel2130. No wonder you're delighted.

Compost can be made without huge effort, and the bulk of that effort is turning it, but it also doesn't matter because it will all break down eventually anyway, as long as the basics are there. It's mainly time, and it can take a couple of years to get it properly broken down, depending on conditions etc. It also depends on how much suitable material you have to put in it, and how much you'll use, as to whether it's worthwhile. If you don't have loads of suitable material, you won't get loads of compost.
The more room you have, the easier it is, but it's just a question of fitting it all to your site - you can have several small containers if there isn't room for a couple of big ones.

Dovefromabove · June 2023

I agree … great result and well worthwhile doing if you’re able. 😊

muckyhandsmike · June 2023

Yes looks good to me !
we moved house 2 years ago so I had to start from scratch again. Just started using my first bin full a few weeks ago. Wasn’t sure if it would be good enough so used it in one of my hanging baskets … the other 3 are in bought compost but it’s looking better than those

job done I think

JennyJ · June 2023

Your compost looks great @dpatel2130 , and what a good idea to use a fan cover as a sieve! Just the right size mesh for taking out the residual twigs and other lumpy bits.

nick615 · June 2023

dpatel2130 Thanks for letting me off the hook. On another forum some years ago, I was heavily criticised for even suggesting I wouldn't turn my heap, but my overall attitude is to achieve as much yield as I can with a minimum of effort. If it offends, so be it!

Fairygirl · June 2023

It's often about how much room you have @nick615, when it comes to turning it frequently. I've frequently had problems just because the sites haven't always been perfect in that respect, and it can be a chore to empty it into a wheelbarrow or similar, and then get it back in, and you sometimes have loads of material to fill a bin, but not the space at that point to have two or three bins to put it in! We don't all have a large acreage to have umpteen heaps, and we have to work with what we have, and what suits our day to day lives too

We had loads of room at the last house, but that had it's own difficulties too, so it isn't always straightforward.

Lyn · June 2023

Daleks are not the easiest, very difficult to turn and not as warm as wood, but you’ve got there in the end. What are you going to sow in it?

nick615 · June 2023

Thanks, Fairygirl. I've got more space than I know what to do with, so it's simply a decision not to turn it in my case. On the other hand, a 5-6 year old heap of mowings has just provided me with lovely deep brown, crumbly material, and a year's putrid, soggy kitchen waste in its separate bin has given my runner beans a healthy start. I may be a Phillistine.....but each to his own.

Compost

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