Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

dora37

WestonDave wrote: »

Assuming there isn't any ready compost which can be removed from the bottom and stored seperately ready for use, then you need to find ways to improve the composting speed. Mine has been in use for 6 months - has hit the top occasionally but normally when I go back a week or so later its back down nearer the 2/3rds level. Composting will slow as the weather cools but it may be possible to speed it up.

Try ramming a spike through it from the top in a few places to generate some air flow through the heap. Ideally you should have a layer of twigs etc at the bottom to allow air to get in from the bottom. Male urine acts as a accelerator so if you have a source of this then it may be worth a try - you can collect it and pour it in, the male in question doesn't have to revert to pre-war bottom of the garden habits! You can also buy accellerators from garden centres but it seems a bit wasteful to buy something to put in the rubbish!

Are you putting anything other than peelings in - if you don't have twiggy garden waste then egg boxes, brown cardboard and even shredded paper will help make a balanced mix (again allowing air pockets) - too much wet peeling type material will slow the process down - grass cuttings come into the same type so need to be put in a bit at a time mixed with other stuff.

We mainly put in it - peelings (this is probably the bulk of the compost), egg shells, teabags, egg cartons, cardboard rolls etc. We don't tend to put the grass cuttings in as we have a specific bin for that from the council.

Will try turning it over to generate air and hopefully that may solve it.

Thanks.

katskorner

Try the male urine - it does work!

Turning it will speed the process of composting up for certain. You need to get it heating up ad a good slug of grass cuttings will do that well - just make sure you add some cardboard to balance it out.

alanobrien

Definately aerate it that will help you could also try to raise its temperature a little by insulating it with bubble wrap.

As a last ditch thing you could introduce additional worms.
They can be bought from wiggly wigglers and the like.

jimbo_the_jetset

The only real way to know it to empty it all out. It's a messy job but somone's gotta do it. As said above you need to turn it every so often to aerate it.

You'll only know what state it's in when you get it out and have a look. We've been filling ours for a year and never really turned it much apart from a rummage around with a fork. Pulled the top off the other week and 3/4 was compost about ready to use, so we bagged it up (11 bags!!) for general use.

Debt_Free_Chick

dora37 wrote: »

We mainly put in it - peelings (this is probably the bulk of the compost), egg shells, teabags, egg cartons, cardboard rolls etc. We don't tend to put the grass cuttings in as we have a specific bin for that from the council.

Without grass clippings, you are always going to struggle to get "quick" compost. You essentially have a "cool heap" which takes longer to break down.

Grass clippings create a "hot heap" - and if you've ever had one, you know that when you turn the heap, you see the steam rising as it really is warm/hot in the centre!

Garden Organic explains all this and has tips to speed up the process. But it will always be a little slower in the Winter, simply due to the lower temperatures.

I think your options are limited - either a second bin, or the wheelie bin :eek:

Zazen999

Hi
I agree with jimbo - the only way to get it down in size is to take it out and give it a good mix/mashing. Put back in the stuff that hasn't rotted and bag the rest up. Other solution of course is another bin...and leave his one until spring to reduce down.
I really enjoy the mashing/mixing process - even on a cold winter's day it feels like you have worked really hard and earnt that cuppa when you are done. that reminds me, we are about due a mix soon.

dora37

Thank you for all your replies.

OH is going to fork it/turn it tomorrow and see if that makes a difference and have noted regarding the grass cuttings - however I don't think we are going to get another cut this year. Might get him to pee in it too!!

I have also ordered another compost bin as we seem to throw so much into it!

nodwah

My 2 bins were chokka a few weeks ago but I had a look today and they'd reduced abit, so I emptied them and put the most rotted down stuff in one bin and put the least back in the other, it's now only 1/2 full so I can start adding again. (this is very hard work, i'm jiggered now!). They were both quite dry so I watered them (with water)- I can't get OH to do the honours!
If you have a fish tank, put the water from that in when you're changing it, it's a good accelerator too.
I could really do with a third bin but I don't have the space, it pains me to put stuff in the council brown bin but I just have to sometimes. They stop collections next week but I have a lot of stuff that hasn't died back yet and I don't really want to cut it down yet so I'll either have to take it to the dump or put it in the ordinary bin.

chunkymunky_3

When i first heard that urine was an accelerator i thought the old boy telling me was having a laugh, but soon found that it works a treat, i keep a "special" watering can in the shed and apply it to the compost heap in a 1 part urine 3 parts water mix.
I now also have a compost turner (a kinda barrel thing in a frame) turn it every day and ive found it can speed up the composting process from 6 months to 6 weeks! its my must have tool these days
I also have a wormery, you cant put that much in but the juice collected from the tap makes and unbalievable plant food.

Jolanta_Nowak

I'm the proud possessor of a new compost bin but it seems, no matter what I try, I can't get the thing to start heating up.

I don't want to start buying expensive 'activators' and I've already tried the 'urine' method.

What do people suggest?