Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (Mrs Muggleton) — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:02:36 GMT

We've got a "beehive" style bin that we made ourselves and it works a treat. We get compost fairly regularly - 2 -3 times a year maybe, which is fine it never fills up even when you think you've run out of space! We put everything in it except cooked food (the RHS adviser said this was a bad idea as it attracted vermin). We put torn up cardboard in ours too, and cut flowers. I don't put much "woody" stuff in it, that goes in the green dustbin.

Edit to...

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (bilnrobn) — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:33:26 GMT

The top one Pip. Ours is poly plastic and that one appears to be metal, but that isn't a problem; our first one was sheet metal and I thought it would rust out but it lasted for about 15 years. The one in the lower picture would be more work to empty as you can't get your wheelbarrow under it.
From my experience, people who say they don't work don't understand how to use them. The thing you don't do is just keep adding stuff to it. The correct way to use them is to do...

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (Christine Ann) — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:16:13 GMT

We hd one of those once but couldn´t get it to work properly, may be we didn´t turn it enough.

Three wooden slatted bins for us. Must rush as I´m running out of computer time

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (Pip at Home) — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:35:15 GMT

Sounds fantastic Bill. Just looked on the internet and seen just the thing - barrow fits underneath - 14 day turn around and only £345. They do give you a free instruction manual though

I looked here -

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (bilnrobn) — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:22:43 GMT

Compost heaps take too long, need turning and it's hard work, sometimes smelly and (here at least), flies breed in them. If they are available in UK buy a big compost tumbler. If used properly you avoid all of the above. We have compost in two weeks. (It might take a bit longer in your colder climate, but ours does work through our mild winters almost as quickly as the warm summers. Outside temperature doesn't seem to make a lot of difference.) The turning is done via crank handle...

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (Pip at Home) — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:40:29 GMT

It seems that people with larger plots tend to do composting more successfully from what has been said here. My problem is that I don't have a great deal of 'soft' garden waste, apart from grass cuttings and I generate two large binfuls of these a week during the summer and one a fortnight throughout the winter. As I live by myself I don't get much kitchen waste and I don't have a newspaper.

I'm definately bothered by the weeds MammaJ. You are talking to...

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (Jean78) — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:09:12 GMT

I use red worms and they get through a lot of un-rotted stuff - I have 2 blackplastic bins 'dalek' style but years ago I had 14 bins as I sold the red worms to fishermen and had 2 x 175ft gardens
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Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (mammaj) — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:05:11 GMT

Well having the space I just chuck everything in a huge mound & once it's gone down dig thru the top & hoick out the underneath stuff but I don't suppose that's of much use to you. I don't know why people don't add stable/farmyard manure to their heaps surely they'd rot down quicker? I chuck the fresh stuff in, it keeps everything moist. I find that mine does tend to sit there over the dry months but from the start of autumn it goes down enormously so perhaps...

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (scissorhands) — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:50:56 GMT

I have 4 wooden bins 2 daleks (black plastic bins) and an Anderson shelter.
I agree with Pens the wooden ones are my favourite. I dont routinely turn but in effect I do as I take the top off them and put them in an empty bin when I want to get at the good stuff underneath or all my bins are full (like now) and I need to create space. I do this about twice a year with everything but the Anderson shelter which I do rarely. The compost is no worse for not being turned it just takes longer...

Re: Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (Laura Penstemon) — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:23:21 GMT

Well blow me down with a feather

I have found wooden slatted compost systems to be the best. Have three, then you can rotate them.. Trouble is you will need loads of stuff to fill that many, so maybe one or 2??

Put in a good mixture of grass cuttings (mixed with shredded paper is good as it...

Setting up a composting system

feeds@yuku.com (Pip at Home) — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:58:44 GMT

I definately need to get myself organised with composting. At the moment I do not have a compost heap at all. What I need to know is:

1. What have you found the best type of bin to use?

2. What do you put in it?

3. Do you turn your compost?

4. How long do you have to wait for something decent to come out of the other end?