Problem with my compost!

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Problem with my compost!
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judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 1:35 pm Post subject:

The problem with most of the plastic compost bins is that they just aren't big enough to create the critical mass needed to really get cooking. The recommended volume is something like 1 - 1.5 cubic metres - most compost bins are less than half of that. Insulating would certainly help, but then you get into problems with the composition of the bin. If you are just adding the composting material in dribs and drabs, rather than in bulk, again you won't get it to heat up enough.

Any pile of organic matter will compost down eventually, but unless you get the balance of air, heat, moisture just right, it won't create enough heat to kill off weed seeds. The compost will be fine - just not sterilised.

On the up side, weed seedlings in compost are usually pretty easy to hoe.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 1:37 pm Post subject:
And of course, tomato seeds are rather tolerant things. You need a really good heap to kill them.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 3:24 pm Post subject:

Please correct me if I'm way off target!

I think the rule of thumb of a minimum of a yard/metre on each side is so that there is enough heap to provide sufficient **insulation** to get the temperature high enough in the middle of the heap.

Geometry means that smaller heaps not only have a shorter distance from the middle to the outside (less insulation thickness), but also that they have a proportionately higher surface area (losing heat) to their volume (making the heat).

Even in a big heap, the outsides seldom rot down properly. This is one of the reasons that "turning the heap" is recommended. It mixes the uncomposted material with the stuff that 'has what it takes'.

Knowing that one's small heap isn't going to get hot enough to rot properly quickly, allows one to correct matters by insulating it.

It may sound strange, but I think for a small heap/garden, its actually better to collect one's materials for a while, before mixing together into an insulated heap, getting from nothing to a decent little heap instantly.

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 3:28 pm Post subject:

One way of doing it is to have two bins, use the one to collect all of your material and once full throw it all into the other bin, resist the urge to add to this heap as the stuff rots down and creates space in the bin. This way you will mix up the different stuff which helps it to rot down and you will airate the heep. Then add an activator, human urine! can be used but chicken poo does a good job you can even buy activators at garden centres. And never let the heep dry out. Pretty soon you should have all manner of stuff living in the heep helping to turn it into compost and you will even be able to see it steaming.

otatop

Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 1425
Location: North London

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 4:40 pm Post subject:
Thanks for starting this thread AnnaC - I have compost questions. Can I compost - boiled egg shells, labrador hair, dead snails, egg boxes. and what about human urine? I think my son and his mates might rather enjoy that one if they can aim high enough to get it in the top of the bin.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 4:42 pm Post subject:

otatop wrote:

Can I compost - boiled egg shells, labrador hair, dead snails, egg boxes. and what about human urine?

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 4:44 pm Post subject:
And get the kids to shred the eggboxes...

Lozzie

Joined: 25 May 2005
Posts: 2595

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 5:14 pm Post subject:
I also compost tissues, the inside of toilet rolls and even an old cotton pillowcase (cut up first!)

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Aug 09, 05 5:58 pm Post subject:
I hope everyone's read this article. https://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Growing_your_own/Basic_home_composting/ With the bins and small heaps plenty of seeds will survive. You can either ensure weeds don't set seed and no fruits are put on or just pull up any seedlings and bung them on the new heap.

Andy B

Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 3920
Location: Brum

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 05 11:32 am Post subject:
Their is a good article in the September issue of Country Smallholding mag for anyone interested.

mags

Joined: 02 Aug 2005
Posts: 21
Location: Devon

Posted: Wed Aug 10, 05 6:25 pm Post subject:
Fantastic. When I get my chickens their litter will be a good activator then.

karl

Joined: 10 Aug 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Nottingham UK

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 05 6:35 am Post subject: flies
I have been using a plastic compost bin for several years and it always seems to be full of small flies, hundreds of the little gits, which then seem to find their way into the house all the time. Is it normal to have hundreds of flies or is there a problem with my compost?

ele

Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Posts: 814
Location: Derby

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 05 8:01 am Post subject: Re: flies

karl wrote:

I have been using a plastic compost bin for several years and it always seems to be full of small flies, hundreds of the little gits, which then seem to find their way into the house all the time.

Is it normal to have hundreds of flies or is there a problem with my compost?

If you mean the little teensy fruit flies (or vinegar flies) then that's not a bad thing as they're hatching from things like fruit skin and feeding on the mould and helping the composting along.

I've never had problems of them getting in the house*, I'd suggest you either site your bin away from the house (assuming it's really close) and make sure the lid is on properly or always make sure the surface layer isn't kitchen waste but something like grass clippings / shredded paper as the flies don't like this and they can't dig, so it means you won't get a swarm hit you in the face when you take the lid off.

*If you have any over ripe fruit or anything mouldy sitting about in the house you'll get them anyway compost bin or not, we once had a colony in a mop which needed cleaning!

culpepper

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 05 8:35 am Post subject:
We noticed that they seem to go for yellow things.When my son had a yellow Tee shirt,they were all over him! We also had a yellow garden parasole which attracted them.

karl

Joined: 10 Aug 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Nottingham UK

Posted: Sat Oct 08, 05 8:09 am Post subject:
thanks for the reply's, they might be fruit flies as the ones in the house seem to like hanging round the fuit bowl or my daughters juice drinks.

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