Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

helenhugs

Hello compost excitable people lol.
I recently got myself a compost bin & have been excitedly filling it. despite there being 6 of us it seems to be taking forever I just want to be able to look in & see the fruits of my labour lol.

I haven't been washing the egg shells, I hope I've not done too much damage. Will wash them from now on though. I assume it doesn't matter if I hard boiled the eggs first, the shells would still be suitable wouldn't they? We get through lots of eggs in this house for some reason.
So it should be a 50/50 mix hmm i might need to hunt out more veg peelings, we buy the bags of frozen veg a lot so don't tend to have much fresh peelings avaliable.
Really hope we can get things going because I'm getting such a buzz from being able to recycle the waste bits now.
Hubby has a job tonight aswell by the sounds of it lol. I'll try & get him to pee on the compost once a week at least, shame mine isn't good enough (sure make me feel inadequate why don't ya ) to do the compost any good.
Look forward to the future tips.
hugs
Helen

nevetsD

Hi, Just joined the forum and this was one of the first post I've read - all 12 pages of it :eek: .

I've had a compost bin for about 6 months and it seems to be doing OK. Got to say this has been one of the funniest and yet informative threads I've read on a forum for ages. :T

Top Composting !!!

I've had reoccurring problems with maggots and fruit flies but just keep adding a layer of soil, grass cuttings or unused compost that I've bought from the shops (looking forward to never having to buy the stuff!)

olibearhorse

Hi and welcome Helenhugs!

For extra 'wet' matter, don't forget those coffee grains and teabags, they all help!

I thought mine wasn't working until I pulled the whole thing off and found the middle of the bottom stuff was absolutely perfect. It took over 6 months though.

Happy composting!:j

olibearhorse

nevetsD wrote: »

Hi, Just joined the forum and this was one of the first post I've read - all 12 pages of it :eek: .

I've had a compost bin for about 6 months and it seems to be doing OK. Got to say this has been one of the funniest and yet informative threads I've read on a forum for ages. :T

Top Composting !!!

I've had reoccurring problems with maggots and fruit flies but just keep adding a layer of soil, grass cuttings or unused compost that I've bought from the shops (looking forward to never having to buy the stuff!)

Thanks nevetsD, I am glad you have enjoyed reading all our mad and slightly weird and wonderful ways of composting!

I've never had such an indepth discussion about horse poo, chicken poo and human wee before - who said toilet humour wasn't funny?!

olibearhorse

hi Rosieben,noticed you are online - how's your composting going?

sb44

It said on my paperwork that I got with our composter to put in apple peelings, does that also include the core?

When you put in things like peppers, do you also include the seeds?

I did put some grape stalks in our caddy but my husband took them out saying you don't put twigs and things in, was the right?

Last question (for the minute) is it correct that I can't put cuttings from our privet hedge in it?

Ta!

rosieben

olibearhorse wrote: »

hi Rosieben,noticed you are online - how's your composting going?

Hi

I'm still waiting for my bin to be delivered! I've been chasing them up so fingets crossed it wil be here soon. I'm getting some great information from this thread!

Kay_Peel

sb44 wrote: »

It said on my paperwork that I got with our composter to put in apple peelings, does that also include the core?

Definitely. Any raw vegetable bits should be included.

When you put in things like peppers, do you also include the seeds?

Yep. The whole kit and caboodle goes in.

I did put some grape stalks in our caddy but my husband took them out saying you don't put twigs and things in, was the right?

Wrong! :rotfl: Those little twiggy bits are vital. They will stop the green stuff getting all soggy and put some bulk into the compost. Just cut them or snap them into bite size pieces

Last question (for the minute) is it correct that I can't put cuttings from our privet hedge in it?

Absolutely right. Cut the clippings into smallish bits, though. (When no-one's looking, I lay them out on my lawn and run the lawn-mower over them - wish I had a shredder!)

But here's the important thing. Be sure and mix the hedge clippings into your grass clippings - don't just dump it into the dalek in one big layer. If you have a lot of hedge clippings - don't put them all in at once or the compost will get very dry and brown. Put them in a dustbin bag and add them gradually, whenever you cut the grass or put in your vegetable peelings.

Good luck!

k.

olibearhorse

rosieben wrote: »

Hi

I'm still waiting for my bin to be delivered! I've been chasing them up so fingets crossed it wil be here soon. I'm getting some great information from this thread!

cool, hope it arrives soon!

olibearhorse

I have had the pleasure of purchasing nine bins to distribute to our tenants as part of our 'green' strategy. They have all just arrived outside my office, I felt like I was in an episode of Doctor Who! :eek: