How to Prepare New Composter?

dogstarheaven

got myself a massive black bin last week with a lid on top and an opening at the bottom. it's kinda conical shaped with a wider bottom. i'm not sure how to go about layering my waste into it tho'. it's sited on top of concrete slabs, so i'm not able to lift them up, but am wondering if worms need access to it so as to help the waste decompose better? would i need to put a mesh or something to collect any residual matter?

help?!:cool:

savemoney

Mine is on slabs I just put all lawn clippings in (small lawn), veg, old weeds that have died, old compost. I also put worms in when I find them and also composter activator

Farway

savemoney wrote: »

and also composter activator

Naughty Naughty, use urine for free :money:

dogstarheaven

so the bottom layer can be either veg waste then as this is all i have atm? there will be semi-decomposed tree leaves when i can get some, and then lawn clippings off a neighbour but that will be some way further in the summer tho'. so none of you guys need to put down a mesh or sheet of something to contain the decomposing waste then? as my garden is really small, there isn't much room for manoeuvre so i wouldn't want to have to clear a mess once i start turning it... has anyone got a bin similar to mine, if so how do you turn it?

btw, i shall be using my own urine for the activator, don't worry! when my daughter was potty-training, i used to tip the excess into the composter!

picnic

another compost question.... Iv also got a black compost bin which is half full of garden & house hold veg.. BUT its full of ants.. is this a good or bad thing?????

Yorkie1

@dogstarheaven, no you don't need to put mesh or a sheet down, though you might find there is some liquid seepage if the bin gets too wet. As others have said, the key to successful composting is a good mixture of soft and browner materials. Soft materials are like veg waste, lawn clippings, and brown waste is cardboard (not shiny), shredded paper, tea bags, egg shells, more woody material. Don't put too much lawn clippings at once as they just go slimy. Aim to have layers (but I never do that and it seems to work ok).

Re turning it over, this will certainly make the compost a bit quicker but isn't fatal to having compost. You could either lift the bin off and just use a fork to mix it before replacing the bin (messy and no guarantee you'll get the bin off and back on), or use something to stir it from the top. A garden fork or you can get a compost aerator, bit like a folding ship anchor which you push down into the compost then lift up, and the anchor wings open up as you retract it).

@ picnic, ants won't do your compost any harm but they don't like it wet if you feel the need to dissuade them...

lovelife_3

Just ordered one today via my local council only £15 can't wait for delivery! i have spent so much on compost this year, first year of growing my own, hoping to have lots of lovely free compost next year:rotfl::T

balloo_2

I ordered one from my local council 2 weeks ago still waiting it was £10 delivered but there is a wait of up to 6 weeks. That gives me a chance to save up stuff for the bin when it comes, then look out i will be asking loads of questions so get your brains thinking :rotfl:

Farway

lovelife wrote: »

Just ordered one today via my local council only £15 can't wait for delivery! i have spent so much on compost this year, first year of growing my own, hoping to have lots of lovely free compost next year:rotfl::T

Hope I am not teaching you to suck eggs here, but homemade compost is for soil improving, and is not the same as the multi purpose or suchlike one buys to sow seeds or pot up plants, that has added nutrients in a balanced ratio

Thus homemade is either dug in or spread onto the garden soil. You may still need to buy a balanced compost for sowing / pots to ensure adequate feeding

But it does make a big difference, my roses, raspberries & goosegogs have flourished since I added the contents of my Dalek this Spring

savemoney

I just used some fresh compost it was left over from last Summer/early Autumn

Basically I dig around half of it from the hatch in composter (plastic dalek shaped) enough to fill two good bags around 50-70 litres before top falls through in the void I created

I never waste soil and garden waste unless I have too, I even give some away when I have surplus

lovelife_3

Farway wrote: »

Hope I am not teaching you to suck eggs here, but homemade compost is for soil improving, and is not the same as the multi purpose or suchlike one buys to sow seeds or pot up plants, that has added nutrients in a balanced ratio

Oh right, thanks for advice, I am a very naive gardener! Ah well, the rest of the garden will benefit