Compost bins...

[ummmm]

I've read the dos and don'ts of what you can put in them but can anyone advise me on how to start one off?

And can you use any container, like an old bin?

[TonyV]

Ummmm - composting can be done in black sacks - its a matter of air / water / and veggy matter - if you got a bin - you meen plastic one - a few holes in the bottom - - and sides ( about 25 mm dia) raise it of off ground level - and some lime

[Maydup]

I used to have home made bins, but rats got in and I've now switched to the less attractive plastic darleks. You can order them at recyclenow.com and they deliver for free. I came home from work and they had landed!

I stuck them in a corner of the garden and just started to fill them up. Its importnat not to have a base. The best ingredient for compost making are worms and the bin needs to be on earth for them to come up into the contents. If yiu build your own, do the same and site it on earth in a spare corner in slight shade.

Anything from the garden that's not too twiggy, anything form the house that's not been cooked plus the contents of the hoover, lawnmower and if you have them rabbit hutches, can go in.
Once one is full leave it alone and start another one. The first one will sink and by the autumn or next spring, should me ready to empty. There are many theories, but the best thng to do is to have a go and see how you get on.

[mrs_overall]

Tip - put all your food waste in your compost bin but NOT meat - it attracts vermin

[ummmm]

Brilliant...

Helen...Helen Helen Helen....Build a wall? It took me two months to get him to move the old washing machine so I could get in the garden...!! :-) x

Lime Tony? What does that do?

[mrs_overall]

It might be worth checking with your local council - ours sell huge compost bins for £9.99

[hc4361]

I put meat, fish and poultry in my hot composter. It is fantastic - lots of worms, no rats.
http://www.foodwastem...uk/Hot-Composter.html

[ummmm]

maidup- Thanks, I'll have a look at that site :-)

MrsO - Will get onto them as well...

HC - I think that's something I will aim for 'in the end' but I'm trying to sort the garden that hasn't been looked after for 15 years. It's not a very big garden...but it will be nice in the end...I'm a novice as well...

[ummmm]

Lol Helen...Ok...I can do that :-)

[TonyV]

ummm - if you get the bin from local council - get some worms from from local fishing tackle shop - they are called "brandlings" they will munch up the compost

[ummmm]

I've just looked a the council site...they look really reasonable.

Helen - they sell one a bit like you described. Do they get really smelly?

[mrs_overall]

I told a lie - out council sells 330L compost bins (RRP £50) for £8. I am going to buy one!

[woofgang]

I had to give up composting ANYTHING even garden waste because the rats would get in the bins. They appered to be able to get nourishment from the bins our council sold because they ate bug chunks of the actual bins :-(

[boxtops]

Ummm, I compost everything green - veg and fruit waste, insides of toilet rolls, the odd bit of newspaper, soft clippings from the garden. We have just opened last year's bin and the soil is lovely. Don't put in eggshells, they never break down - don't put in any protein, so no meat or fish leftovers. Dont put twigs, they will still be there next year. Put it on soil, so the worms can get in, and it gets quite hot in there - sometimes I've opened the bin and loads of little red worms are resting in the lid - just leave them there. It's a great way to recycle, and you will feel very virtuous when you don't need to buy compost next year. BTW we have two bins - one being filled up, and one being turned into compost. When bin 1 is full, we shut the lid and tip the compost in bin 2 into sacks (or a dustbin) until we need it, then start filling up bin 2 again - don't look at bin 2 for another year, except for giving it the occasional watering if the weather is very hot.

[boxtops]

^^ bin 1 I meant, leave it several months to compost down

[ummmm]

I'm actually looking forward to this :-)

Thank you so much everyone for your answers....

I'm sure I'll be back with more questions :-) xx

[DEN53]

I tried the composting thing a couple of years ago - I had the proper bin and just put vegetable waste in it and the odd dead flower. I was inundated with little black flies - no matter what I did, everytime I took the lid off, I had swams of them in my face.

I dumped it in the end.

[ummmm]

Well.....I have a big hard cat. Other peoples cats bring them birds and mice. Mine brings me flies....!! that might keep him occupied for a few hours...

Did you put anything in it to start it off DEN?