I second @JennyJ's suggestion. I'd love to get rid of my dalek for something more like that. The problem with the little hatch is that you can only scrape out what you can reach and before you get to the back the top lot falls down. Lifting the whole thing up to get the compost at the bottom is not an option for me.
I’d buy one of those @JennyJ … or even two if they weren’t expensive. They could be made from recycled pallets or similar. The design you describe is just what’s needed and they seem unavailable in the garden centres or online.
I suspect that the ones that are available are designed by non-gardeners.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I’d buy one of those @JennyJ … or even two if they weren’t expensive. They could be made from recycled pallets or similar. The design you describe is just what’s needed and they seem unavailable in the garden centres or online.
I suspect that the ones that are available are designed by non-gardeners.
That seems to be the case with a great number of things for sale in garden centres 😞
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
How about a reasonably-priced but nice and solid flat-pack compost bin (square shaped not the daft round/cone "dalek" ones) without gaps in the sides (they light and air in so the compost dries out and weeds grow), and where the whole front opens up for emptying/turning? Not everyone has the skills to build one from wood (and it's expensive these days) and many people will prefer to buy one, but most of the ones available these days just have a tiny hatch at the base that you're supposed to get the compost out of, and it doesn't really work. I have two very old ones that are as I describe but they don't seem to be available any more.
Thank you very much for your suggestion is seems to be a popular problem, if possiable can you share images of the old one you had, or any examples I can find online.
Agree about square compost bins. Square shapes are generally easier to maximise space. Also, what about rotating mirrors that catch the sunlight, to give shady garden areas more light? Could it work?
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
I agree regarding the compost bins @didyw has explained the problem perfectly. You really need to see one as the doors on them are almost all the same width. It is difficult to get a spade in.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@moymoycr102337918 just an idea, maybe something like research into heating for commercial glasshouse growing in northern climates. Heating is (next to wages) the greatest cost for commercial growers in winter.
Such technologies as wind and solar to charge large battery storage banks to provide electricity for heating maybe... or ground source heat pumps possibly...
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
How about a reasonably-priced but nice and solid flat-pack compost bin (square shaped not the daft round/cone "dalek" ones) without gaps in the sides (they light and air in so the compost dries out and weeds grow), and where the whole front opens up for emptying/turning? Not everyone has the skills to build one from wood (and it's expensive these days) and many people will prefer to buy one, but most of the ones available these days just have a tiny hatch at the base that you're supposed to get the compost out of, and it doesn't really work. I have two very old ones that are as I describe but they don't seem to be available any more.
Thank you very much for your suggestion is seems to be a popular problem, if possiable can you share images of the old one you had, or any examples I can find online.
Thank you!
Here's a pic (please excuse messy compost corner, it's worthy of the old "garden of shame" thread). I bought them from B&Q around 25 or 30 years ago. They were on
clearance if I remember rightly, and I've never seen anything similar
online or in shops since then.
It's four panels, each of which is a side and a curved "corner", which slot together. The slot-together mechanism (near the right-hand side of the front panel in the picture, and the same on each of the four "joins") isn't perfect, they tend to pop apart when the bin's full of heavy damp stuff, which is why I've got the strap around it. The lid is in two sections and tends not to fit too well, and sometimes falls into the bin in rough weather - so that's two possible improvements . The plastic is thick and sturdy, maybe something like 1cm at a guess (you can see the top edge of one of the panels at the right side where the lid isn't fitting well). The ridges add strength and there are some small holes, but nowhere near what you see in the types that are available these days (like the flimsy newer one on the right of the pic - I just use that to store cardboard and paper ready for mixing in with green waste for composting, as and when needed).
When I want to empty it or turn the compost, I take off the lid, undo the strap and lift out the front panel.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I was not thinking of indoor flat mirrors, but something specifically designed. Also something designed not to cause fire. Maybe a glitter ball type of thing..
Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You really need to see one as the doors on them are almost all the same width. It is difficult to get a spade in.
just an idea, maybe something like research into heating for commercial glasshouse growing in northern climates. Heating is (next to wages) the greatest cost for commercial growers in winter.
Such technologies as wind and solar to charge large battery storage banks to provide electricity for heating maybe... or ground source heat pumps possibly...
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'