Very small composter?

Gingham_Ribbon

I have a 330litre composter that is far too big for our needs. It is taking up a lot of space in our small yard that would be perfect for a lilac to brighten the place up. It also still only has about 6" of stuff in it although we've had it for months. It's not composting and I suspect it's partly because there is too much room in there for it to generate enough heat to work effectively.

I'd like a MUCH smaller one. Preferably one that I can put on the tarmac out of the way a bit. Although I can extend the border out over the tarmac if that won't cause problems, so it has some soil to sit on if that's essential.

Does anyone have any suggestions? DH wants to get rid of it but I think it's important to have, if only for our son to learn about reusing waste and give him a sense of pride in our efforts to reduce our burden on the environment.

So to clarify (and apologise for the ramble) I'm looking for a small composter, preferably one that I can put on tarmac. Or details on whether extending the border over the tarmac would be a bad idea.

Thanks.

ChocClare

Do you actually need a "bought" compost bin? Could you not use a small(er) dustbin with the bottom cut out, standing on bricks to let the air get in underneath? Or a version of this one http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/techniques/compost1.asp , adjusted to the size you want?

I have to say my compost bin filled up amazingly quickly: I bought a big one like yours for £4 (including free home delivery and a free 7-litre kitchen compost caddy!!!!!!) from recycle now. Having the small bin on the worksurface is brilliant - you remember to put peelings, eggshells, torn-up egg cartons in it - rather than looking out of the window at the teeming rain and thinking "I'll be green tomorrow"...!

tru

We've got a 'proper' compost bin but it wasn't enough so we bought 2 plastic bins (the type we had before the council gave us wheelie bins) and drilled holes in it. We didn't cut the bottom off because we move them around. There's always one under the kitchen window so when it's raining we don't have to go outside, we can just throw the leftovers out the window lol. When it's full we drag it to the bottom of the garden and put the empty one in it's place.

Gingham_Ribbon

Troo, do you mean that it's not always on soil? And that it still composts well?

tru

It takes a bit longer to compost but because we rotate the bins it doesn't matter. We swapped them yesterday, the last time was just before Christmas.

It's never on soil, the bin just sits on a patio slab til it's full then gets moved. When we need it (mostly for the veg patch but plant pots and borders too) we tip it all out and dig it in. We've stopped using growbags in the greenhouse, we use the compost and the veg is better.

Gingham_Ribbon

Thanks, Troo.

Okay, so I just need a cheap bin, drill some holes, chuck in my paper and fruit and veg waste, egg shells and prunings and I'm away then. I can sit it on the tarmac out of the way too.

If it's not on soil, how do you attract worms? Do you put some compost in the bottom first?

(Sorry for all the questions. I just REALLY REALLY want a lilac where the big bulky one is at the moment.:o )

tru

I don't know, they just seem to find their way in We always start with an empty bin.

Mr troo pees in it though

Gingham_Ribbon

LOL I was going to ask about pee, but didn't know if I should ask by pm.:rotfl: :j

beverleyhills

Take some of the partly composted waste out of your previous bin to start the new one.

Seakay

We've got our compost bins (lidded plastic dustbins with holes drilled in) on a concrete surface, and the only problem is the goo that comes out while decomposition is going on. We just shift the bins slightly every now and then and have a bit of a scrape/scrub at the same time.

Rachie_B

ive ordered a compost bin from the council and cant wait to start using it.
is that sad ? lol

ive only got a patioed "yard" so mine will have to go on there too ,will i have to sit it on something to lift it up a little ??