Compost Discussion Thread (Merged Threads)

jaxxy00

Thats interesting stuff churchmouse. Ive heard of comfrey through dabbling a bit with aromatherapy and herbal products but didnt realise you can find it in hedgerows. I will have to look up what it looks like and keep an eye out when im out and about, thanks.

margaretclare

Hi

Yes, goosegrass (cleavers) soon rots down in the compost bin.

I'm infested with the stuff in the spring - never used to be, think the foxes must have brought it in stuck to their fur.

Margaret Clare

jo_b_2

My compost bin is pretty much full up now. When I've opened the door at the bottom, it's full of what my son calls 'Little Creatures'. There are loads of wood lice and ants in there.

Just wondering whether that is a good or bad sign and whether I need to do anything to speed up the composting process now that the weather's getting better?

Kantankrus_Mare

Well the other half obliged!! lolol:rotfl:

Didnt need much encouragement.

On the downside we had a mouse:eek: (Not at same time I hasten to add)

A pregnant one!:eek:

And she had babies on the heap!:eek:

I couldnt bring myself to kill them so lifted them with fork and threw them over fence and let nature take its cou

leesmithg

Kantankrus_Mare wrote:

Myself and a friend have just started renting an allotment and have started a "compost corner"

We work in a restaurant and have all the staff trained to put everything compostable in a black bin bag for our compost heap.;)

As you can imagine the heap is coming on in leaps and bounds.

I save all the coffee grounds, tea bags, all the veg peelings and the numerous egg shells from the brunches we sell.

I keep turning the heap regularly but as its the first time ive ever done anything like this, Im not sure if I need to add any moisture or activator?

All my grass cuttings are going on as well and bits of newspaper.

Accumulating soooooo much compost stuff that am thinking I may need to start another heap soon.

The idea is that next year we wont have to buy any compost for the allotment but time will tell lol

You will be better off getting some of those composter containers, usually get em for about £10.

The better ones have gas valves.

I bet the heap pen n inks, like sitting under a Cows backside.

Seriously, get a lockable container so no-one alf inches your stash, oops compost.

Kantankrus_Mare

IN good old M.S.E style I picked up a freebie composter (large one)!!:p

Lady advertised it free to good home in the local paper and i snapped it up!!

heatherw_01

I was thinking of getting a compost bin. I was wondering if the bin starts to smell? My garden is not too big and if it started to smell then I would smell it in the house.

margaretclare

heatherw_01 wrote:

I was thinking of getting a compost bin. I was wondering if the bin starts to smell? My garden is not too big and if it started to smell then I would smell it in the house.

No, they do not start to smell. Mostly the ones you get now, encouraged by all the councils at discount prices, have well-fitting lids.

The 'Little Creatures' - ants, woodlice etc - are part of the natural process of material rotting down, nothing to worry about at all, they're doing a good job eating organic material.

Margaret Clare

Debt_Free_Chick

heatherw_01 wrote:

I was thinking of getting a compost bin. I was wondering if the bin starts to smell? My garden is not too big and if it started to smell then I would smell it in the house.

Agree with Margaret. A healthy bin will not smell at all. If you have a smelly compost bin then there's something wrong and you don't have the balance of ingredients right.

Have a look at the link I provided earlier as it gives you a "recipe" for compost. Imagine ... a recipe ... :rotfl:

elliemoo

What about slugs? I seem to have lots of slugs in my bin.