Composter.

[tiggerblue10]

I'm going to get a composter tomorrow but I'm not sure how they work. All I want to do is put peelings in it but I will not be using the end result for gardening purposes. I have a phobia of worms but I want to do my bit by recycling fruit and veg waste. Will it get full if I don't empty it out or will it just disintegrate into the ground? I'm hoping it is the second one but sense it will be the first one. Ugghh!

[geff_p]

u av a phobia of worms! allow me to b the first to say ... LOL!

[tiggerblue10]

I knew someone would find my woes amusing!

[geff_p]

sorry i jus find the notion of u runnin away from a wiggling worm quite funny!

[sense4all]

This makes a liquid so you might prefer it, the W word is mentioned though.

[tiggerblue10]

I know I'm a pathetic excuse for a human being running away from wormies! Lol lol

I just can't look at them, they make my skin crawl, however, having said that I can pick up a spider or a snake no problem! Lol

[sense4all]

Could you not pretend that they are all teeny tiny snakes then, lol...

[tiggerblue10]

You would have thought so wouldn't you Sense! Sadly I can't, its a psychological issue I've had since I was about 4 or 5. My dad takes the pee out of me.

[jake-the-peg]

I think you've got the wrong end of the stick with regard to composters.

They basically turn waste into ..well compost.

You then use the compost to increase the fertility of the soil, if you don't empty it at the bottom it will get full.

The other issue is that in order to work effectively they really need to be a certain size and if you're just putting in the odd set of peelings they will just rot to a bit of a slimey mess, they really need a good mix of things like grass cuttings and newspaper and other garden waste.

When there's a good pile the heat produced from the rotting is kept in which keeps the whole thing going nicely.

Worms also get in and hurry the whole thing along further.

I really think that from the sounds of what you've said that composting is probably not for you.

[tiggerblue10]

Thank Jake.

Can anyone suggest what I can do with my peelings etc., please as I would rather it didn't go towards landfil. I know its a drop in the ocean but I would like to do my bit.

[Ethel]

Peelings and vegetable matter are not a concern in landfills.

They naturally rot and disintegrate, so are no problem at all.

Plastics and so on are the real worry.

[logic]

jake-the-peg is spot on with his answer,tigger maybe composting is not for you, but surely there is someone near you that could use it, i myself have a very large composter, and i cant fill it, as it is working so well,
I am in fact going to ask the nieghbours for their organic waste, as the finnished compost is perfect for growing runner beans of which i am passionately fond,

pete.

[tiggerblue10]

Thanks everyone,

Can I just put the veg and fruit waste at the end of the garden and let it do its thing without the use of a bin?

[ceejay123]

Regards the last question Yes I was going to suggest this.. cut the bits up small and scatter 'em on the soil.
Your phobia (strange one though it is) solved
Chris

[tiggerblue10]

Thanks ceejay. I think thats the best option for me.

I try as much as possible to recycle. My weekly rubbish has decreased by over half in the last few months.