I built a large compost heap at the allotment, measures 10ft x 15ft x 5ft high, using fence posts, infilled with pallet planks. It's split into three separate compartments, so each one is at a different stage of maturity. Everything from kitchen and garden,except very woody stuff, goes on it, and the non-current bins are covered in old carpet. In the autumn I mix in old straw scrounged from local farmer after harvest is done, and this helps everything to blacken up very quickly.
Heaps are full of worms, including several little slow worms, which I am careful not to damage, although they move pretty quickly
Try not to add leaves as they rot down due to fungal action - they should be given their own heap, corner or sack, and left for a year or two.
If you make your own wooden compost heap, you have three fixed sides, whilst the front has sliding planks. If you fix two vertical battens on both side uprights, you can slide the loose planks down and the front can be opened at will. If you only want the bottom few inches of compost, wedge the planks up with a brick or two.
which ever design you decide. make sure you install a wire mesh / grid underneath. The consequences of not doing this is that you will ultimately have a family of rats burrowing under for a free meal.
It does frequently go out of stock, but keep checking back. Far and away the best composting tool I think for darlek bins. I was really chuffed with mine, it's the sort you'd never need to replace, stainless, one piece and a doddle to use. I have also noticed that I'm probably going to make decent compost in about 4-6 months by turning it once a week. Can't recommend highly enough.
a good place to try is GETCOMPOSTING.COM if your local council is paired with them you will be given a discount on compost bins and they even have a buy 1 get 1 half price... all you have to do to check if they are paired is enter your post code, this is where i got mine from
we built two out of pallet and an old shed.. they have lift up fronts to get it out and lids to keep the heat in.. we turn it regularly and empty one each year.. gone in veg bed this year.. then turn the other one into that and start filling the empy one.. has taken 2 years to get the cycle going but now its up and running it is great..
get compost for post, mulch and veg.. throw in paper, veg peelings, toilet roll tubes, and garden waste. it is good idea to minimum of two going if possible
The wire under the bin to deter vermin is a brill idea.
There is a new type of bin that I saw on the recent compost course; a 'hot bin'. It is £129, gasp, I understand it is being made by one guy in a shed, so hopefully the price will come down when Dragons Den or similar fund him. It is made from very sturdy polystyrene type material, it is 3 or 4 cm thick, about the size of a domestic wheely bin. The heat enables you to put in ALL kitchen waste as far as I understand. I have seen it for sale in some catalogue also.
Posts
Heaps are full of worms, including several little slow worms, which I am careful not to damage, although they move pretty quickly
Try not to add leaves as they rot down due to fungal action - they should be given their own heap, corner or sack, and left for a year or two.
I've got dalek bin and I got some lovely compost out it this year.
with regards to the wooden compost bins with no hatch - how do you go about getting the compost out from the bottom?
The secret to making compost -
.
In order for a compost bin to work it needs 3 things. The correct ingredients and moisture / air, otherwise the decompostion stops.
which ever design you decide. make sure you install a wire mesh / grid underneath. The consequences of not doing this is that you will ultimately have a family of rats burrowing under for a free meal.
we all went for this type : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dolmen-Compost-Mixer-and-Aerator/dp/B0050I2FB4
It does frequently go out of stock, but keep checking back. Far and away the best composting tool I think for darlek bins. I was really chuffed with mine, it's the sort you'd never need to replace, stainless, one piece and a doddle to use. I have also noticed that I'm probably going to make decent compost in about 4-6 months by turning it once a week. Can't recommend highly enough.
a good place to try is GETCOMPOSTING.COM if your local council is paired with them you will be given a discount on compost bins and they even have a buy 1 get 1 half price... all you have to do to check if they are paired is enter your post code, this is where i got mine from
hope this helps
we built two out of pallet and an old shed.. they have lift up fronts to get it out and lids to keep the heat in.. we turn it regularly and empty one each year.. gone in veg bed this year.. then turn the other one into that and start filling the empy one.. has taken 2 years to get the cycle going but now its up and running it is great..
get compost for post, mulch and veg.. throw in paper, veg peelings, toilet roll tubes, and garden waste. it is good idea to minimum of two going if possible
The wire under the bin to deter vermin is a brill idea.
There is a new type of bin that I saw on the recent compost course; a 'hot bin'. It is £129, gasp, I understand it is being made by one guy in a shed, so hopefully the price will come down when Dragons Den or similar fund him. It is made from very sturdy polystyrene type material, it is 3 or 4 cm thick, about the size of a domestic wheely bin. The heat enables you to put in ALL kitchen waste as far as I understand.
I have seen it for sale in some catalogue also.