Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

lupyloo

I got my bin through the council last summer, it came with a list of what to add into it veg peelings, fruit peelings, old veg n fruit, and that was about it. After starting to level our garden today, I decided to check my compost, I dug the spade in to turn it, I nearly vommited:eek::eek:, it is all gooey and disgusting. I have since read a few hints on here:j, but my big question is....



is it too late too save it. Its about half full. Please help:o

annie123

I'd say your missing dry ingredients.

Do you have anything that needs shredding? I put all of our shredded stuff into the compost bin, if not add some torn up bits of news paper, egg boxes etc, give it a good mix up then carry on all through the summer layer of wet, layer of dry and fork over once a month, then by autumn you should have lovely compost.

It does need warmth to get the bacterial action going does the sun reach it?
If its tucked away in a dark corner then start again and move it to somewhere warmer.

hth

ixwood

As mentioned, sounds like it's got too much "greens" (nitrogen) and not enough "browns" (carbon). Add leaves, paper, sawdust or cardboard.

Some air wouldn't go amis either, as the slime is caused by anaerobic bacteria (without oxygen), rather than the areobic (with oxygen) ones you want. include some sticks and branches at the bottom to leave air pockets next time if you can. The cardboard helps with this too.

I tear up all junk mail, waste paper, cardboard packaging and boxes and throw it on my heap. That goes well with the grass clipping I add.

savemoney

I mix a bit of cardboard/paper in some times along with some compost maker you can buy at Wilkinsons

Its best to have layers of different material where possible. I sometimes also stick worms in and turn the compost with a stick to allow air in

lupyloo

Thanks so much annie, ixwood and savemoney for your help, I was really worried it was too late to save it. I have plenty of newspaper I can use, and also hoover bag contents too. Will add grass cuttings aswell. Do you think I should try and get all of the dry stuff near the bottom? This will be quite a chore in itself because of the smell and weight of the veggies etc. Or should I move the bin over and give it a good dig over and put it back? And also never heard of compost maker, what does this do? Sorry for more questions, totally new to all this x Loo

Also is it only cardboard without any print on thats good i.e egg boxes, not cereal boxes?

stilernin

If you can find a supply of shredded paper, this is good for mixing 50/50 with grass cuttings to stop it turning into a wet, solid mass. I keep a sack of it next to the compost bin ready to use.

lupyloo

How do you 'find' a supply, I was going to invest in a paper shredder. Do businesses part with this too?

stilernin

I bring sacks of it home from the office and was even thinking of offering surplus sacks of it on Freecycle. I can't bear to think of anything going to waste.

Try putting a 'wanted' post on Freecycle or you could ask around any friends who work in an office perhaps.

lupyloo

Thanks will do. I work in a school, but we dont shred our paper, I suppose I could do it myself though.

stilernin

A bit off topic, but......... a school? what about data protection? is everything archived off site and then destroyed? I work in an education dept at the council and we send letters with very sensitive info about children to schools. If you aren't working in the school office, you might not realise that there is some stuff that is shredded. It could be worth asking.