How do I make successful compost in my compost bin

asks MissDon:
A. There�are four vital ingredients for making good compost: organic waste (fruit and vegetable peelings, newspapers, prunings, leaves and grass); soil; water and air.

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Basically, compost is the result when living organisms from the soil eat the organic waste and break it down into a fibre-rich, carbon-rich humus which contains inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. To do this they need oxygen from the air, which they get when you turn the compost. They also need water to live.

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Q. What sort of living organisms live in a compost heap

A. First, bacteria and fungi break down the organic matter. Then single-celled organisms (protozoa), small worms (nematodes) and mites feed on the bacteria and fungi. Finally, predatory nematodes, predatory mites and other invertebrates (millipedes, beetles) feed on the protozoa, mites and nematodes

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Q. Sounds like they're busy So does the compost need much looking after
A. Yes. It needs to be turned every one or two days to let air in. And it should be watered as often as necessary - there should be enough water to keep the mixture moist but it shouldn't be soaking wet. You also need to add new layers of fresh soil to the top as well as your composting material.

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Q. Where should I place my compost bin
A. Nowhere too windy or sunny, or it will dry out quickly. On a well-drained area of soil under a deciduous tree is best: it will get shelter in summer and sunlight in winter.

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Q. How long before I get compost
A. It can take a matter of weeks if your compost bin is well-managed. Otherwise, it could be a few months.

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Good things to put in your compost bin:

• Coffee grounds (including paper filters), tea bags, used paper napkins
• Eggshells
• Fruit and vegetable peelings
• Grass clippings - but not too much
• Leaves
• Newspapers
• Pine needles
• Sawdust
• Seaweed - rinse thoroughly in fresh water first
• Straw
• Weeds
• Woody materials (branches, twigs)

(Break up large pieces of waste so they take less time to break down.)

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Avoid putting the following in your compost bin:

• Charcoal ashes
• Diseased garden plants
• Glossy paper
• Invasive weeds
• Pesticide-treated plant material
• Pet litter.

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By Sheena Miller