Top Tips for composting

[Cabibel]

My objection to slugs and snails in the bin is mainly aesthetic! I'm not personally aware of any harmful effect, except to my nerves when I touch a slug in the dark! I have wondered if snail casts are as nutritious for the soil or the heap as worm casts. Maybe someone out there knows?

What it does tell me is that the compost material may not be hotting up enough, which is a common problem but only really significant if you're in a hurry. My 'holistic' viewpoint is that an upturned lid covered in 'slimeys' is fodder for thrushes and hedgehogs if you're lucky enough to have them, or it might even attract them to your garden. Overall, an organic garden will, long term, strike a balance between the goodies and baddies of flora and fauna.

[tommygreen]

Hi,

Very interesting tips over here... thanks a lot guys...

How about using rotten fruits or vegetables?? just a hunch....

[slazanger]

The corner of our garden where we had the composter was super green compared to the rest. I guess rotten tea bags and banana skins make good worm food :)

[Cabibel]

Originally Posted by slazanger

The corner of our garden where we had the composter was super green compared to the rest. I guess rotten tea bags and banana skins make good worm food :)

Any site where a composter has been will be rich in nutrients. I try and grow a courgette plant there afterwards, as they are greedy ' feeders,' or a 'tepee' of climbing beans. I have been meaning to try courgettes in half rotted heaps as well. I read somewhere that you can put a young plant into a heap to which you have added a top layer of well rotted compost or manure mixed with soil and they will flourish, but I have no personal experience as yet.

[ngaire]

I find that when the compost gets a bit wet, I add paper to moisten it up, the biodegradable bags made from cornstarch are great and break down quite quickly.

[Green Beginnings]

Hi there,

has anyone tried to compost a Moltex biodegradable nappy in their compost bin?

[Mike]

I havent unfortunately, hopefully someone may have!

[accountantpete]

I got really lazy last year and just used one of those big builders bags for my compost. The kitchen stuff goes into a bin near the kitchen which is then emptied into the bag when full. The red brandlings loved the warmth and protection offered and have just emptied the well composted results onto the garden.

[ngaire]

Some Schools I know which have compost bins have suffered with rats and subsequently do not use the compost bins anymore.

I have found that if you use chicken wire and wrap it around the base of the compost bin, ensuring that it is dug about 5cms into the ground that it helps in keeping the rats away. Additionally, look at where the bin is positioned - not too close to fences, shrubbery etc.

An excellent compost bin that my parents used when I was a child was one that was built with a frame and you could turn it around 360 degrees - enabling the scraps to blended into the compost. It was off course off the ground and thus also ratty proof! :thumbup:

If anyone has seen them in the UK, please do let me know!

Happy Composting!

[whodefu]

we are lucky in that we have a local village composting site, it you do not have one locally it would be a good idea to start one, everyone adds and anyone can take away, gotta be the way 2do it !!