Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

olibearhorse

Sweet_Pea wrote: »

This year I have dug some of our home made compost into my veg border for the first time. It was so exciting! It looked just like the "real" thing, all dark and gorgeous looking! I cant believe we made it out of stuff we would normally have put in the bin.
However - it obviously wasnt quite well rotted enough - (although the stuff I spread around was 18 months old) as we now have a few rogue spuds that have popped up in between the sweet peas! I am torn between whether this is a good thing or a bad thing!

I have some rogue spuds as a result of composting but I rather like it and am hoping I can eat what I have accidently grown!

~Chameleon~

Oh wow, just noticed this thread, although I've not yet had chance to read through it all ... sorry

However, I have a question that I'm hoping one of you might be able to answer ... I started composting a year or so ago but used an old black plastic bin in abscence of a "real" composter, and once it got full I sprinkled some compost activating agent (sorry not sure of the exact name of it) and left it to do it's thing.

Having checked it recently, I find the volume has reduced to about half, but it is rather smelly and appears quite wet/slimy :eek:

I'm not quite sure what to do with it now or if it's actually ok to use being as it's been stuck in a black plastic bin for nearly 18mths lol

Would appreciate some advice please


Oh, forgot to say that the sort of stuff I stuck in there was fruit/veggie trimmings, egg shells, teabags, egg cartons, grass clippings, shredded paper etc, so there's quite a mix gone into it.

LJM

Hi ya did you put holes in your bin?i think it lets the air circulate and try turning it with a spade/fork every so often this is supposed to mix it up and to help it break down.i used to have an old dustbin too before i got my £8 composter,i also have the list stuck up of what you can put in.its amazing how little actually goes for the binmen now as all food waste uncooked of course goes in plus all my cereal boxes/egg boxes loo and kitchen roll tubes/shredded paper.its all rotting down nicely:j

Dragon_Lady_3

rosiebean - when I phoned about my compost bin they told me 28 days delivery. It arrived on my doorstep within 1/2 hour after phoning. :j

rosieben

Dragon_Lady wrote: »

rosiebean - when I phoned about my compost bin they told me 28 days delivery. It arrived on my doorstep within 1/2 hour after phoning. :j

I've read other posts that say the same thing - wonder how long before mine arrives! Could be just co-incidence or maybe I just have a suspicious mind! As long as it gets here though! :rotfl:

just-saving

yay, after sleeping all day today (due to night work) I went to collect my bins back from the kerb as it was bin day today and there was a HUGE MASSIVE dalek on my porch. Yes, its arrived. We ordered ours on the 20th April so I think that was pretty good going as I was beginning to believe I would be waiting for months. I shall be transferring everything from the homemade waterbutt bin to the dalek in the morning.

olibearhorse

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Oh wow, just noticed this thread, although I've not yet had chance to read through it all ... sorry

However, I have a question that I'm hoping one of you might be able to answer ... I started composting a year or so ago but used an old black plastic bin in abscence of a "real" composter, and once it got full I sprinkled some compost activating agent (sorry not sure of the exact name of it) and left it to do it's thing.

Having checked it recently, I find the volume has reduced to about half, but it is rather smelly and appears quite wet/slimy :eek:

I'm not quite sure what to do with it now or if it's actually ok to use being as it's been stuck in a black plastic bin for nearly 18mths lol

Would appreciate some advice please


Oh, forgot to say that the sort of stuff I stuck in there was fruit/veggie trimmings, egg shells, teabags, egg cartons, grass clippings, shredded paper etc, so there's quite a mix gone into it.

As LJM says, you need a bottom to your composter to allow for air and also for worms to get into to do their stuff!

If it s slimy, you probably just need to add some more dry stuff like paper, cardboard etc. You need a 50/50 mix of dry and wet. I am sure it is absolutely fine. Add some dry give it a good mix and get the bottom off it if you can.

olibearhorse

just-saving wrote: »

yay, after sleeping all day today (due to night work) I went to collect my bins back from the kerb as it was bin day today and there was a HUGE MASSIVE dalek on my porch. Yes, its arrived. We ordered ours on the 20th April so I think that was pretty good going as I was beginning to believe I would be waiting for months. I shall be transferring everything from the homemade waterbutt bin to the dalek in the morning.

:j :j :j nice one!

~Chameleon~

olibearhorse wrote: »

As LJM says, you need a bottom to your composter to allow for air and also for worms to get into to do their stuff!

If it s slimy, you probably just need to add some more dry stuff like paper, cardboard etc. You need a 50/50 mix of dry and wet. I am sure it is absolutely fine. Add some dry give it a good mix and get the bottom off it if you can.

Thanks, having read a bit more of the thread I've found I can order a cheap composter from the local council so have done just that this evening! :T

I'll try mixing up the old compost with some shredded paper and cardboard etc and see how it goes in the new bin. I hadn't drilled any holes in the bin so this is probably why it's all gone slimy lol

C_Ronaldo

Can i ask if theres an order you put the stuff into your composter ?
or
do u just chuck it in ?