Compost Bin in garden - is it working?

savemoney

I get a full load of compost from my Dalek every year, just by putting in kitchen waste (greens), lawn clippings, weeds, old compost (peat) etc. It doesn't get much sun its east facing behind a wall (west facing) so only gets sun first thing in morning when its not hot. I use compost activator though and put a thick stick in compost and wriggle it around to let air in

I also chop anything thick like stems in as it breaks down quicker

mr_bounce

I also wondered about this. Compost is a great thing and saves having to deal with the horrible brown pot!

savemoney

I also put in soil and worms dont throw much away apart from branches from lilac tree, conifers and anything that thick and woody

Lotus-eater

I've also read about drilling holes in the sides of the dalek compost bins, to allow extra air in, which would probably be a good idea and would add to any help you give it, by digging and moving it to allow air in.
Not making them big enough to allow mice access though.

ginvzt

I only just started composting, only had it for about a month probably, so slowly filling up. I for one from Lidl - it has base, 4 openings (one on each side at the bottom) and holes on the sides. It doesn't seem like much is happening yet, but then there is not so much stuff in there yet.

I put all the kitchen (uncooked/no meat/no diary) waste there, and garden stuff. Haven't put any newspaper/paper yet, apart from a few kitchen towel. It is a great place for all our coffee grounds, as we have a fresh coffee every morning and as for the teabags, it is mostly camomile tea we have!

I am contemplating if it is ok to add a few lumps of turf (ok, old lawn dug up in lumps with a lump of soil stuck to it), but I am worried these might be too heavy. I have added a few pots from old chilli/pepper/etc plants. Need to get more stuff in it!

Sambucus_Nigra

Lumps of turf are fine; the same applies though - the quicker you break things up the quicker things get moving.

ginvzt

Great - I will put them all in one spot and use the cultivator to break them up. How mush can I put so it is not too much?.... I have quite a bit of it, so some of it will be taken to the recycling centre, but if I can do my bit and put some in my compost bin, it would not only help to reduce the stuff taken to the skip, but also add more volume to my bin! Plus - less trips to the HWRC, less pollution!

Olokia

I have had my dalek for 1 1/2 years in the shade. I filled it up regularly but I wasn't caring about any ratios and I definitely had more greens than browns.

I opened up the bottom for the first time and it looked like compost but then I poked it slightly and it is just sludge . One good thing though is that when I poked it, I found two small red worms .

I'm going to try to mix it this weekend and add some newspaper. Will this fix the sludge?

Lotus-eater

Olokia wrote: »

I'm going to try to mix it this weekend and add some newspaper. Will this fix the sludge?

If you take it out and mix it up with alot of newspaper, or even better cardboard, it should.
Next time you add some green waste try and add the same amount in weight of browns.... and yes it does seem alot!

Sambucus_Nigra

Olokia wrote: »

I'm going to try to mix it this weekend and add some newspaper. Will this fix the sludge?

See post 21.