Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

olibearhorse

Why didn't I know about this before???

Anyone else posting on this thread got one?

beer2006

We throw away very little cooked food and the compost bins do the rest, so I can see very little use for one of those bokasi things for me.

I just thought I'd let you all know, after around 3 months of using my new black plastic composters, one of them is so hot its steaming and I can't put my hand in it! I am very impressed I must be doing something right.

teapot2

Am still experimenting with what to put in my compost bin as its the first time this year that we've had one. Have seen a few posts about it being a good thing to have slugs in the bin - does anyone know if this is correct? I could put plenty in as I'm always collecting them off my poor plants but don't want to mess up the bin if its not a good idea.....

Any thoughts?

beer2006

My compromise, slugs and snails get cut up with a pair of scissors and together with the ones from the beer traps, get put in the compost heap, it all helps.

There are different types of slugs, some eat new growth and some eat older stuff, thats all I remember, so don't ask me any more.

If they get in there by themselves I wouldn't worry about it, but I wouldn't put live ones in there myself.

olibearhorse

I put worms, snails and slugs in mine. My view is that you will never escape the slimey little !!!!!!s either way so I may as well get some use out of them!:D

olibearhorse

How's you new bin doing Rosieben? Getting as addicted as the rest of us yet?:j

rosieben

olibearhorse wrote: »

How's you new bin doing Rosieben? Getting as addicted as the rest of us yet?:j

Not been able to get out there yet, I was unwell and now the weather is so lousy!

I've talked to the guy who cuts my grass (of which there's a lot!) and he's leaving it piled on the concrete slabs behind my shed so I can feed it in gradually; I've been collecting papers and cardboard too so I have a lot of stuff to start off with when it finally stops raining - hopefully early next week! :j

I'm still watching this thread though! good stuff!

madmum33

We've been feeding our bin regularly with grass, vegetable peelings, hedge trimmings, paper and card and it is just half full (it had reached the top at one point, so something is happening!) OH has contributed occasionally too, and we've stirred it to combine the woody stuff with the wetter stuff.

Can't wait to get some usable compost from it!

teapot2

Hmmm having read all the slugs-in-compost bin replies think I'll err on the side of caution for the moment and won't add any in.... its so cold and wet here still I don't think theres any danger of the bin 'steaming' even though i know thats to do with internal rotting down and not external temperature just wanted to have a moan about the weather

Thanks for your thoughts folks

olibearhorse

madmum33 wrote: »

We've been feeding our bin regularly with grass, vegetable peelings, hedge trimmings, paper and card and it is just half full (it had reached the top at one point, so something is happening!) OH has contributed occasionally too, and we've stirred it to combine the woody stuff with the wetter stuff.

Can't wait to get some usable compost from it!

Isn't it just so satisfying the way it can shrink to half full within a few days! I love that. (I do have a life outside of my compost by the way)