Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

kellybigboobs

hi,i've just been given a compost bin by a freecycler,now i need to know exactly how to start it off please.it's a black one,looks like the old black bins but upside down and with a dome lid.i've been collecting raw and cooked food waste since i knew i was getting it,do i just chuck it in?!also as there is no 'bottom' to it,will animals/rats be attracted to it?and can i deliberately lob some worms in?i know they're good for cleaning it,or something like that!i want grow my own veggies this year so i'm gonna need a lot of advice about a lot of things......!:D

Magpye

I got one from WasteAware Scotland which looks a bit like a Dalek, sounds similar to the one you have. We sited it straight onto the soil so the bugs can get to work and started adding our raw food waste immediately - I was recommended not to add cooked food waste to avoid attracting pests. You can also add shredded newspaper and eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags. My DH went in once a fortnight with a garden fork and turned it over which is supposed to help I think.

Unfortunately mine blew over at the start of the year (stupid windy garden!) but there was quite a lot of nicely rotted compost there which we just dug in. I'm fairly new to composting too but it's really not complicated.

When I was looking I got so much conflicting advice regarding 'hot heaps' and 'cold heaps' that I just gave up looking and went to it! But no doubt someone much more knowledgeable will be along in a minute to help.

sadie22

you can compost :
banana skins
vegetable peelings
grass cuttings (but avoid it u have weeds in your cuttings)
dead plants
cardboard egg boxs
leaves fallen off the trees
kitchen towel
tea leaves or tea bags

kellybigboobs

thanks for the tips magpye and sadie,anyone with anymore is very welcome to share.magpye,you're right it does look like a dalek,the freecycler that donated it to me was gonna make it in to a costume for a fancy dress party!

arkonite_babe

kelly, have a look at the useful links sticky, it's at the top of this board. Listed under "c" you'll find lots of links about composting do' and don'ts.

HTH

Joolzr68

Compost anything organic but definately not cooked food, you don't want to attract RATS!
Don't put in citrus peelings as they are too acidic and the worms won't like them.
Don't forget to add your old cotton or woollen clothing that are not even fit for the rag bag, you can also compost the contents of your vacuum cleaner bag and hair trimmings if your into home hair cutting!
I would also recommend getting a garden shredder if you have alot of shrubs that need pruning. Just shred up the prunings and compost away.
Remember to never have too thicker layer of any one thing and turn your heap regularly.
We produce loads of compost every year but there never seems to be enough! Mind you our garden is quite large.
Happy composting!

squiggle37

I chuck in anything that not been cooked or raw meats etc im no expert only had my bins for 3 weeks you will also need a compost activator male weeee it costs nowt LOL
good luck composting

cheeks

Hi all, I also have a compost bin which is full of worms, but i also find huge fat slugs in there. I know slugs eat eachother but do they eat worms? if they do i'll turf em out!

onamission_2

sara_501 wrote: »

I
can banana skins be composted?

make sure you pull the black end off them or they take forever to break down. this advice was given to me by old organic gardner friend!

thanksalot

cheeks wrote: »

Hi all, I also have a compost bin which is full of worms, but i also find huge fat slugs in there. I know slugs eat eachother but do they eat worms? if they do i'll turf em out!

Mine's like that too.
I generally remove the slugs because I don't want to encourage them in my garden.