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Ok please don't murder me but we have a compost heap at the bottom of our garden well it's like a block bunker. We use it for grass cuttings etc we just bung it all on but that's all we use it for which is really bad!

I want to get it up and running and working properly soooo can someone tell me what I need to do. I want all my organic stuff to go on not just the garden stuff.

crawls off to hide under rock................

Hi - It's like confession time isn't it I'm only just getting the swing of it, but with regard to compost, a really easy rule is to remember that 'wet' stuff like grass and kitchen waste such as teabags and veg peelings and flower stems need to be layered with 'dry' stuff, like shredded, non chemically paper (the normal stuff and newspaper is good), guniea pig or rabbit bedding, hedge cuttings and even the odd shovelful of compost that is already rendered down. We are a few years down the line with compost and we also wee on it - it's a great activator!!!

If this is not to your liking, stuff a bucket with nettles, cover with water and a week later you have another great activator. Some of the green water that is made can be reserved and used to spray your plants with to deter aphids too. Well, it works for me, so far.....

Good luck and I'm sure there will be loads of other tips - can't wait to read them myself

CC

Personally I have neither the time or inclination to faf aboot with layering... everything gets bunged in... mixed every time I can be bothered (every 4 or so months)
Plenty of wee, plenty of nettles and weed water*

All our waste that was once alive gets composted - including paper, cardboard, all kitchen waste, etc (my mother refuses to put tea bags or potato peelings on hers )

*weed water comes from a big water butt (old fertiliser drum) where all my weeds go and I allow rain water to get in there - Mine has been going for a year and I am going to empty it soon (about 2 months since last weed went in) The weeds break down and make great feed for plants and for you compost.... but I warn you, it flippin' stinks. someone here (was it Muddy?) said it smelled not unlike sticking your head up a cows bottom.

Annpan wrote: (my mother refuses to put tea bags or potato peelings on hers )

I can understand potato peelings - they may harbour blight or other diseases.

She is more concerned about hundreds of potatoes growing in beside her hydrangeas

Annpan wrote:She is more concerned about hundreds of potatoes growing in beside her hydrangeas

I'd prefer potatoes to hydrangeas any time!

Hi - yes, after having nettles in a bucket of water for the last week, I can vouch for the smell - we thought the drains had collapsed! Still, will continue to do it and then contain the results....

The only reason I mentioned layering is because KellyB has only used grass cuttings so far - I agree, if it was strict layering, it would be a faff, but it just stop it all going slimy and smelly.

I'd never thought of blight off of the potatoes either....

I think we will start again and take what we have to the amenity center where they compost everyones organic matter and then give it away once it's done!! Then I know where we are with it. Not fussed about using the compost we'd use a little then give the rest away as we have a basic garden cause we're selling the house soon and moving back to Cornwall. It's just making me feel bad throwing composting items in the bin

Don't suppose we've got quite that far yet that a decent compost heap increases the price of the property...

KellyB wrote:I think we will start again and take what we have to the amenity center where they compost everyones organic matter and then give it away once it's done!! Then I know where we are with it. Not fussed about using the compost we'd use a little then give the rest away as we have a basic garden cause we're selling the house soon and moving back to Cornwall. It's just making me feel bad throwing composting items in the bin

I run 3 bins, and from what you describe I definitely wouldn't waste what you already have! Just start throwing in the other stuff you want to compost and once a month or so give it all a big stir up. Try and keep it all loose so that the air can circulate through it.

If it's all slimy and yuk, then you need to add more drys such as paper, dead leaves etc, if it's too dry add a bit of greenery and some water, there is a lot of science behind it, but it is going to make compost no matter what you do (eventually).

Happy composting!

Okay, same subject, different question:

Lifted up our compost lid the other day: full of ants, running everywhere looking worried (honest, you could see little frowns on their little faces). Do I need to worry, is it time for finding an organic ant powder or should I live and let live?

Mal wrote:Okay, same subject, different question:

Lifted up our compost lid the other day: full of ants, running everywhere looking worried (honest, you could see little frowns on their little faces). Do I need to worry, is it time for finding an organic ant powder or should I live and let live?

oooh, same problem, will look forward to the advise!

I never worry much about any kind of insect in the composter. I figure they're all doing their bit to break the material down and turn it into compost.