Whoo hoo, my composters have just arrived.

aliasojo

Right now, they're sat on the front path, I need to shift them round the back.

It said on the leaflet I read that they should be sited on earth or grass rather than slabs. How important is this? I have more slabs than earth right now. The garden is getting overhauled at some point so it wouldn't matter too much if I had to lift slabs but once the composters are up and running, I wouldn't be able to shift them to do the garden iyswim. If they were in the corner on slabs it would make things easier. Thoughts?

Also, they came with a free kitchen caddy thing to sit on the worktop to collect peelings etc in. There's a roll of bags to go inside, apparently you tie the bag up and put the whole thing in the composter as it decomposes along with the peelings. Have others used these sucessfully?

savemoney

I got mine on slabs and its fine had it 3 years now and have loads of compost, takes around 4-5 months from Spring to early Autumn to decompose

I do use composter maker as said before got it in Wilkos and I put worms in mine and make sure its not to dry by putting rain water in, tap water will do and or paper if its wet and give it a prod with a stick to let air in

Occasionally I do empty it and give it a turn over usually after I taken some compost out to use. In winter it doenst really root much but I find by Spring its okay to get some of it out around 40-50% to sue with plants or mix with peat

savemoney

I also find potato peelings can sprout which can be nuisance at times

balloo_2

I would like to know the answer to this as I have ordered one and waiting for delivery. (sorry to hijack your thread aliasojo) I was disappointed to learn that compost from the com-poster can't be used for seedlings and planting next year I would not have ordered it otherwise thought it was a good idea judging by the standards of some of the composts this year. I thought if I make my own I knew exactly what's in it. I Think a lot

pink_numbers

Our garden is totally concreted over, but we have two composters on them fine. We had lovely compost out of one this year

savemoney

if its only concrete you wont have the possible rat problem often mentioned on here unless they bite into the plastic

aliasojo

Thanks very much all. Will set them up on the slabs in a wee while then. Happy days. I feel all 'Walton-ish' now.

aliasojo

balloo wrote: »

I would like to know the answer to this as I have ordered one and waiting for delivery. (sorry to hijack your thread aliasojo) I was disappointed to learn that compost from the com-poster can't be used for seedlings and planting next year I would not have ordered it otherwise thought it was a good idea judging by the standards of some of the composts this year. I thought if I make my own I knew exactly what's in it. I Think a lot

Lol...agree with the last comment, me too. Sometimes too much for my own good and I get things wrong.

I was intending mixing my own home made stuff with the bought stuff next year. Buying compost this year set me back a fortune so I figured it would lessen the amount I had to buy next year.

savemoney

I seem to be buying more compost every year despite making my own. Although I do have more pots on go for veg etc

I have had around 6-7 x 70 litres from mine in 3 years. I give some away occasionally and always reuse old multi-purpose compost

I also throw green waste away to council recycling like bushes/branches and difficult things that dont compost quickly like ivy

suisidevw

Regarding the food caddies, we have had this in operation in Cardiff for the past year and a half. ALL households have them (they are on top of recycling here!) and as you say, they are indeed compostable and they don't smell. Bags are free as well so just tie up and throw in the bin. As said, make sure you have shredded up paper/cardboard and it is moist too! Variety is the spice of life!

aliasojo

suisidevw wrote: »

....... Bags are free as well......

Are they? From where, pray tell?

Where would I get them from? I got a small roll in with the kitchen caddy but I was wondering where to get more from when these are done.