Homemade compost is so exciting! (MERGED)

Lotus-eater

Try freecycle first for a bin before you pay any money out.

You can compost on concrete, I have done in the past, it is a good idea to have some twiggy bits at the bottom to help with drainage, so the bottom bit doesn't just become a soggy mess because the water can't drain away on the concrete.
Do not worry about the worms! You can have a compost bin right in the middle of a clean concrete garden and worms will still get into the compost bin, I don't know how they do it, but they do.
Still sticking the cardboard that you have outside in the compost bin seems a good thing to do

You will have stuff draining out of the bin though, so make sure you are OK with that before it starts leaking all over your prized crazy paving or something.

Primrose

Haven't had time to read through all the many responses here but one important point is worth making about the location of your compost heap. I know they're not very elegant things but if you can locate them in a warm sunny spot rather than a hidden cold corner of your garden your compost will warm up and decompose much more quickly. Mine though necessity is in a shady corner so takes a long time to heat up and therefore much longer for everything to rot down.

dixie_dean_2

Wowsers...this is a lot to read through and sorry to be lazy but TOO much. Just a few quick questions. I have a disused waterbutt thing and have just started chucking all my bits of food in there - will that work? I know you're supposed to be able to take the bottom layer off first and the waterbutt only has access at the top but i thouight if i mixed it fairly regularly it would be ok? Also, is there a list of things that you shouldn't put in? I had heard about citrus stuff but other thasn tyhat have been putting any wasted food or trimmings, cooked and raw, as well as a bit of card and paper. Am I destined to fail?

Primrose

We never seem to have any cooked waste food but everything else goes in our compost heap. I even put my prawn shells in but am careful to poke a hole in the heap and bury them because they pong rather badly in hot weather if left exposed. However I suspect once they start decaying they probably help rot everything down and in the finished product there's not sign or smell of them left. Orange and lemon peel is also put in unless it's just before marmalade making time, in which case I save it and chop it up to put in the marmalade because we like lots of peel in ours. However, if there's no way of getting your rotted compost out of the bottom of your waterbutt I think you're going to have problems because ideally you need two heaps/container - one full one covered and in the process of rotting down and the other one which is compost in progress to which you are regularly adding stuff. Stirring it up regularly will help but sooner or later you'll have to decide when to stop adding stuff so that the existing contents can continue rotting down to the point when they are decomposed and can be used. Your method will mean that you will always have partly decomposed material in your compost. You might be better investing in some very thick polythene bags and filling each bag with stuff, then sealing it and leaving it until it has rotted down, and starting another bag. That way you will have separate containers of compost that eventually will be fully rotted down. Also your water butt when full, may be too heavy to pull down and handle when it needs to be emptied.

SAMHP_2

There is a school of thought that says that too much citrus fruit peel will reduce worm activity and I have to say this is something that I experienced one Christmas when I put in a load of oranges that I had been using within decorations. However, if you can leave your citrus waste somewhere (in a bucket for example) until they have actually started to produce mould, this apparently means they can be safely put in the bin. I've followed this recommendation and it does seem to work!
SAM

bebee_2

:j My compost bin has arrived. but now my head is spining with questions so as a total novice can i ask you to indulge me a while and maybe answer my questions.
Q1. I now it is best to put it onto a soil area but do i have to losen the soil first ie digg it up a bit as it is fairly compacted down and at the moment has pea like gravel on top.
Q1a. i have a meduim size plastic tub with bits of pebbles/old grass/weeds/soil can i add this to the bottom or would it be best to add a little bit at a time.
Q2.can you put any paper/cardboard in the bin our is best to just use brown cardboard
Q3. I know not to put cooked food or meat in but can you put bread into it.
Q4 is it true you can empty your hover bag into it ???

Many Thanks i am so happy to be joining the compost gang ( sad aren't i :rotfl:)

Lotus-eater

1. I would move the pebbles first, as it will be easier to sort the compost out afterwards. You don't have to loosen the soil, but it might not be a bad idea to aid drainage.
1a, Take out the pebbles, let grass and weeds die down and dry a bit on a path or the same sort of place, then add them, soil can go in now if you want, although it is better to add some sort of twiggy waste to the bottom, again to aid drainage.
2. You are not supposed to add glossy or shiny paper or cardboard, however no print today is supposed to have much (if any) harmful chemicals in it, so it is up to you.
3. No bread, attracts vermin.
4. Depends what you hoover up! If you have synthetic carpets, not a good idea IMO.

bebee_2

Thank you Lotus-eater that has helped enourmously. and i didn't realise about the printed paper or glossy paper so that will continue to go into the re-cycle bin.
I had to laugh as my DD think i have lost the plot " not another bin thats not fair we don't know what goes where anymore "
although youngest has named the compost bin the Master from Dr Who...

hcg_2

I'm very new and very excited about my compost bin - as yet it is a vision in my head, but feeling confident about making a wooden one. Big bank holiday plans are forming in my mind - wooden stakes in the ground with wooden slats around the sides. Just wondering if someone would mind answering a novice question - does it need to have a lid, and should it be water tight? I guess the air needs to get in, but is it ok if it fills up with rain water?
Thanks!

emptygrape

My Granddad used to have an open compost bin like the one you described. It was under a tree so had some protection from the elements, but one advantage to a lid could be to keep the heat in to speed things up. Saying this tho it seemed to work fine.