Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

Lotus-eater

Pure urine is fine for the bin.
I try to put in half green waste and half brown waste, ie cardboard, shredded paper etc, when you put it into the bin (not at first because it will be such a small amount) just give it a little mix up with something.

If I put in a large plateful of green waste, at the same time I throw in about the same amount of shredded paper etc, try and layer it, paper, green stuff etc, then mix it up, I find it really works well that way.

Btw, once a week for urine is way too much, I would fill it up quite a lot before putting any on it and then sparingly, you only want it to give the heap a kickstart, not to over waterlog it.

buggalugs

Hi there I haven't contributed to the thread as such but I read it avidly.I just wanted to say my new compost bin arrived today :j :j so I am looking around for things to put in it , I have some rose prunings and some prunings from a euonymus will they be ok in the bottom? I read in the booklet that came with the bin that I can empty the hoover into it too is that right?
Any help would be appreciated, I am growing things in containers this year, apart from onions whih I have managed to dig a bit of ground for, so I am hoping that this bin will be just about righ to use next year when I start to dig over my ickle baby ( only 6'x 6') plot.
Jacqui

bonsibabe

Hi buggalugs,

I'm a composting newbie like you, I only just got my bin the other day too! Am off in the morning with my kids on a foraging exercise to get some stuff to start the bin off for drainage!

If you can empty the hoover into the bin that will be a big bonus as well! Just think of the amount that the wheelie bin will not be getting!

We are hopeing to grow a lot in containers this year and then sort the garden properly for next year. Just as well as we are having drainage problems between our drain and next door - looks like the council will be round tomorrow to dig up half the garden to try and sort it out!

Joolzr68

Contents of the vacuum cleaner are fine for the compost bin it's contents are all compostable appart from the odd lego brick or two ..lol:rotfl: . I put on a pair of rubber gloves, rip the bag open,(it's paper) empty the contents in to the compost bin and then tear up the bag (removing the plastic bits) and leave it all for the worms to turn into lovely soil for my garden. If your bags not compostable you can still cut it open and put in the contents and throw the bag in the normal bin. Bagless vacuums are even easier.

Don't forget if you cut your familys hair at home the clipppings from that can go in the compost as can natural fiber worn out items of clothing i.e cotton, linen and wool can all be ripped up and put in there too.

I've also had some very old feather pillows that had seen better days so I slit them open and added the feathers to the compost...please choose a day thats not too windy if you want to do this because the feathers fly everywhere otherwise:eek:

:EasterBun :easter:

bonsibabe

Joolz - Many thanks for that!!

My hoover is bagless and we have minimal carpets as its only really the stairs that need hoovered and a few small rugs! That is great news that the hoover contents can be put in the compost bin as well! My goodness come next week (my bin gets emptied tomorrow morning) my waste that goes into the bin should be greatly reduced!

Melonade

I've been reading this thread (slowly, wow it's quite long) and have been undecided about composting. Made my mind up today and clicked the link in my favourites to get myself a bin from the council The price has gone from £17 delivered to £22 plus £5 delivery :eek: WOW I shouldn't of been so undecided in the first place

Has the price gone up in other areas? Shame really... wether it's costing more to produce the bin or that more people are getting involved in gardening/growing ... who knows I'll check out freecycle and see if I can get one there.

Happy composting :j

buggalugs

Thanks for that Joolz the extra bit of info also means that I have somewhere to put my little tiny offcuts of cotton from my quilting :j and my bits of wool? will they be ok in there too?
I have a site all sorted out for it on a patch of gravel right next to my new to be veg patch lol;) so in future, down the garden goes the Dyson to be emptied and my egg shells and my left over fruit and peeling............... you get the picture lol
Good luck Bonsibabe hopefully this time next year . r mabe a little earlier lol we can be using the compost on our new patches
JAcqui

absfabs

I've never done the "twiggy layer". I suppose it's to help with drainage and aeration. If you haven't got enough twigs, I'm sure you can eek them out a bit with other things that create air pockets, such as egg shells, egg cartons, firm veg/fruit peelings, toilet roll innards. You just don't want a bottom layer that goes slushy right away.

After that, a good mixture of green and brown(also grey like cardboard) stuff, and you should be well on your way.

Even with 4 bins I still have to buy lots of compost in. I prefer the bought stuff for pots, or at least the top third in large pots, as my home made stuff is a bit rough. Great in the veg beds, though, and good for top dressing/mulch.

Also buy in some fertiliser, add that about once a year before planting. We have been able to get free tubs of this from -


wait for it


the local sewage works!

Not as disgusting as it sounds, it's properly processed and sterilised pellets, we discovered this when visiting sewage pant on an "open day" a few years back.
They sell it commercially, but on open day you can take some away.

It's okay, really, but you need quite large quantities. I don't use it on salad veg like lettce or radishes, just in case, but with veg where it's kind of filtered by a larger plant, I'm happy with it. And as I said, it has been sterilised.

bonsibabe

Well the nature ramble really didnt happen today lol, the council came to "fix" my overflow which has been overflowing lol. They came at 8.20am, dug a huge hole in the back garden, stayed till 11.30am then went on lunch and never came back. And to top it off they used OH's spade to dig the hole, and a spare bit of fencing we were keeping for something to cover the hole! So hubby not best chuffed with them. I called the council and asked if they were coming back and was told that the job should have been all done in one day so I think someone may end up with rapped knuckles!

Aw thanks buggalugs and you too! Hubby has promised to help me on saturday do the inside of the house! and then on Saturday afternoon and Sunday he is going to be tackling the disgusting mess that is our back and side garden. We are lucky that the garden goes from the front all the way round the side of the house (we are an end terrace). He uncovered a path at the back today after work but those paving stones will need lifted and relaid as the garden is not level. And the first thing to get put in place will be ... the compost bin!!! He's off after work tomorrow to get some fine wire to put under the bin and then it will be getting placed.

And as for the twigs ... I have some!!! I know the nature walk didnt happen but my mam came round and told me that she has 4 bags of them from pruning in her garden! So she is taking them round tomorrow for me! And my kitchen caddy is almost full so am really looking forward to it. I have to say that my wheelie bin gets collected in the morning and it is already looking better. It is normally a struggle to get it closed (hubby usually has to jump on the bags to squash them a bit) but there is room for at least one full black bag left in the top this week! Probably because as soon as I found that hoover contents can go in the compost bin, I havent emptied the dyson (thankfully I don't have much carpets and can go a good while before it needs emptied). And my newspapers are in a box, my tins are in a bag all washed and crushed, and my glass jars are all washed and sterilised and stored in a cupboard ready to take all the yummy homemade things that will go in them! Starting tomorrow with 2 big jars of pickling vinegar getting used to pickle some eggs!

Now off to post on freecycle for a water butt! Just can't justify the cost of buying one. The kids have been making their own water catchers so they are getting put out tomorrow as well!

Hubby was well chuffed when I told him he could go down to once a fortnight for the wee or poss once a month, depending on the weather and the bin! I'll just wait for him to get a bit tipsy one night and then persuade him that its good for the garden hahaha.

I'm really enjoying the thread, thank you all for making me feel so welcome and thank you for all your advice. I'm not really very greenfingered so all advice is gratefully received and listened to xxx

mardatha

I just ordered a compost bin from our council, its £6 inc delivery !!