Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

Penelope_Penguin

lupyloo wrote: »

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?

Have you got any twiggy/plant stem type stuff garden material at all Adding that to kitchen waste will help your heap no end. I add old egg boxes, too.

We have a long thread on making compost, so I'll add this and you can browse that for more hints.

Penny. x

lupyloo

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Have you got any twiggy/plant stem type stuff garden material at all Adding that to kitchen waste will help your heap no end. I add old egg boxes, too.

We have a long thread on making compost, so I'll add this and you can browse that for more hints.

Penny. x

Thanks for that will. have a browse now.

lupyloo

stilernin wrote: »

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.

I meant the paper that the children put into the recycling box, I will ask the office if they shred though, thanks:T

Rosie

Hi All,
Could anyone tell me please if it is ok to put rhubarb leaves in my compost bin as I have heard that they are poisonous

Lotus-eater

Only if you eat them, they compost beautifully.

bonsibabe

Hi Rosie

I would say old rhubarb leaves should be okay. I'm new to composting but have just watched the beechgrove garden (!) and they said all fruit and veg peelings are okay so I would think that the leaves would be okay.

Although I'm sure someone with a lot more experience will be along shortly with more detailed knowledge.

Yesterday I took DD2 with me and we got 1/2 a carrier of seaweed, washed it all off and fed our compost bin (lovingly named Derek by the kids!) and we have some mussel shells to crush and mix in. And I conquered my fears and picked up about 20 worms this morning and put them all in Derek. So hopefully we are going well. My bin smells like mulch and hubby was turning it all over yesterday and getting plenty air in!

bonsibabe

thanks Lotus-eater! I thought they would be okay xx

Rosie

Thank you Lotus-eater I will put them in from now on.

Lotus-eater

bonsibabe wrote: »

Yesterday I took DD2 with me and we got 1/2 a carrier of seaweed, washed it all off and fed our compost bin (lovingly named Derek by the kids!) and we have some mussel shells to crush and mix in. And I conquered my fears and picked up about 20 worms this morning and put them all in Derek. So hopefully we are going well. My bin smells like mulch and hubby was turning it all over yesterday and getting plenty air in!

Relax, you are more highly strung about composting than a high wire act.
Do not get too excited, it takes too long for that, begin a gradual build up to excitement towards the end of summer, don't let it go over the simmer mark in case it goes wrong, then you will be totally despondent.


You don't need to put the worms in, as the saying goes, if you build it, they will come. Keep shoving stuff in it and give it a stir when you add something, don't do anything else to it, stirring too much is not good for it. Give it a good stir a few weeks into building it.

Re the worms, when you first put the right sort of stuff in, in the right quantites, the heap will heat up, that's the first stage of composting, the heat will kill any worms in there, so they won't be. When it dies down, the worms will come in themselves. I see people go and buy these worms and I just can't work it out. If you want to waste your money, let me know and you can send it to me. Worms, the right kind of worms, will from most gardens come by themselves.
Of course if you shove loads of chemicals on your garden and try to get rid of the worm casts in your lawn by killing the worms, it might be another thing, but then you are going to be shoving loads of chemicals in your bin as well, so that will either kill or drive away any worms you put in it anyway.

End of lecture :rolleyes:

Takana

I'd love to start composting, but the money side is an issue atm. I've had a look on my local councils website but its much cheaper to buy one through Recycle Now.

I have a concrete garden, so will a compost bin sit ok on it as it has no bottom? I have worms in the garden as I have some cardboard out there left to rot down in the rain, and there are masses under it! Could I put them in the bin, even though they can't get out? Or is that cruel?

I was also thinking about building my own. My mum made herself a small tool tidy box using left over decking boards. They are about 18" square and she's just nailed them together. It looks very nice in the garden and it's recycled too. I am wondering whether to make something similar, but for compost instead.