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Post by Chuckles on Oct 29, 2006 11:41:54 GMT
Thought it would be a good idea to have a thread related specifically to ANY composting questions. Anyone could then add their Q's to it.
My Q's is.......I burn junk mail and any thick branches that are too big for shredder in a metal dustbin, it's raised off the ground on bricks and has a few holes drilled in the side and bottom. Would it be ok to empty the ashes into my compost bin.
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Post by Dr Bill on Oct 29, 2006 14:16:57 GMT
I don't see why not - good source of potash I understand
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Post by netherfield on Nov 4, 2006 18:04:54 GMT
Can I compost Ivy,given that it seems to root wherever it touches the ground is it better disposed elsewhere.
I can shove it through the shredder but worry that little bits may survive and start growing again.
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Post by Dr Bill on Nov 4, 2006 18:29:16 GMT
Can I compost Ivy,given that it seems to root wherever it touches the ground is it better disposed elsewhere. I can shove it through the shredder but worry that little bits may survive and start growing again. I wouldn't. I think it would take an age to decompose anyway. Ivy goes in the brown bin |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 6, 2006 21:20:18 GMT
Whoops to late, put some in compost bin a couple of months ago, it was chopped up though. Will be emptying it soon and digging it all into a bit of gdn I'm turning into a veg plot. I'll let you know how much it has decomposed or grown  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 17:46:53 GMT
I put ivy in my compost bins. If it is left long enough and the bin gets hot enough, the ivy will decompose just like other materials. I don't waste anything - anything green :)that has grown goes into the compost bin.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 12:23:35 GMT
Hello Hope this is the right part of the board for this. Just been checking up on my water bill and there was a link to waterbutts and composters. As it seems to be a great offer I thought I'd let you all know A 330L Compost Bin - Normal RRP £49.95 (seen it for £40 though) is being sold for £6 through Blackwall. I'm think this offer is for Yorkshire Water clients only but it might be worth checking out your own suppliers? At £6 its too good an offer to pass up on (for me) my other compost bin gets full to quick so this way I can leave one to rot and the other for the newer scraps. Link is here: www.trycomposting.co.uk/yw/index2.htmPaul |
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Post by Dr Bill on Nov 9, 2006 17:29:09 GMT
A number of councils seem to be doing the same. I have got one through Notts county council and my daughter has ordered one through Derbyshire CC. It's an excellent opportunity to get composting.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 18:24:47 GMT
Hi Paul ... had a look at the link and it looks like the same one Dublin City Council was giving out last year. If so, there's just one downside: the hatch at the bottom (for removing the compost) is TINY - you have to sort of wriggle a trowel into it. Having said that, it's a great deal financially ... cheers ...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 19:16:44 GMT
Yes! Good bargain.
ORDER NOW FOR 2008
I ordered two last May, in July I cancelled the order. The bins arrived in August (although cancelled) . I phoned them and told them to collect the two bins, what happened, two more bins arrived daren't tell them again in case I got two more. They eventually collected all four towards the end of August.
That firm are in utter chaos.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 17:18:28 GMT
We got our bins through our local council. Write to yours and see if they are operating a similar scheme. compost bins for £6, yippee!  |
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Post by Dr Bill on Nov 10, 2006 19:55:24 GMT
We got our bins through our local council. Write to yours and see if they are operating a similar scheme. compost bins for £6, yippee! Visit this website www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/Enter your postcode and it will tell you whether your council is operating a low-cost compost bin scheme. You can order via the site as well |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 10, 2006 20:42:10 GMT
I checked local council on line and nothing, tried your link and BINGO Severn Trent are doing them. Your a star drbill  Just ordered 2 as my wooden one is at the end of it's days. Already have one of the black plastic ones, prefer my old wood one but they are OK, better than nothing. Whoops nearly forgot............your a star too paul for starting the thread |
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Post by piggingardener on Nov 13, 2006 12:06:22 GMT
I just checked mine too. My council aren't doing them but South Staffs Water are: £25 + £5 p&p. Not bad but not £6!! I already have a water butt I bought through them and it is very useful. My current composter is a pain as it doesn't have a hatch to remove the compost. We have to tip it and fork the compost from the bottom. Very labour intensive and messy. I may well take up South Staffs offer!
PG
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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 13, 2006 12:14:53 GMT
Coo - just checked drbill's checker and we've got them in Norfolk for £6. Perfect timing!! Thanks, all/both/whatever...
OM.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2006 21:36:22 GMT
Over the years, I have had 6 subsidised composters via my Council - two were obtained for me by someone who did not want their full allocation of 3. My first - before I got a Lotty, was from Original Organics and the subsequent five have all been Blackwall (220l) I have never had a problem with either company, in fact all the composters came within a week and the 4 that came to my door cam next day. I have read criticism of Blackwall before but they do supply a lot of subsidised composters - and I should think they get less for them that they would selling them privately (although I know they will get more than the £4-6 that we pay) Demand as a result of these prices is certainly going to be very high whenever a local authority does a promotion - and I should think Blackwall have little say over the timing of LA promotions. Personally, I think they are doing a great job and feel it is a bit trite to criticise them because some very cheap bins didn't arrive at a set time and they then cocked up collecting them a bit.
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Post by sleepysunday on Nov 14, 2006 22:14:09 GMT
It good to hear you say that. Sometimes companies like this just get criticism - but what you say makes a lot of sense.
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 14, 2006 22:18:52 GMT
I bought a very similar composter yesterday......................for £12 +VAT ;D ;D
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 14, 2006 22:21:05 GMT
All I need now is to learn how to produce wickedly good compost..................any tips ;D
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Post by sleepysunday on Nov 14, 2006 22:35:44 GMT
Chop stuff small
Mix green stuff with brown stuff
Turn it regularly
If possible keep the underside of the bin open to the ground
Pee in it
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Post by sleepysunday on Nov 14, 2006 22:36:55 GMT
Oh, and add nettle or comfrey at any opportunity  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 14, 2006 22:40:34 GMT
And put a strong metal grid with small holes only under it to keep the b*****d rats out! They WILL nest if given half a chance!(Don't believe all that stuff about not putting cooked food in to prevent rats -s'rubbish). Night night.
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 14, 2006 22:40:55 GMT
Chop stuff small Mix green stuff with brown stuff Turn it regularly If possible keep the underside of the bin open to the ground Pee in it Errmmmm..............just HOW is a lady supposed to pee in a compost bin  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2006 22:41:51 GMT
I just had thousands of brandling worms move into my one in my back garden and they make black gold dust of everything I put in - no mixing or digging out and putting back needed. I have to put more care into the ones up the lotty but even then I only dig from one bin into another once a year and get good compost - no chopping and no layering, anything that is uncomposted, just gets longer. I have, after about five attempts, managed to persuade some deported brandlings to stay in my lotty bins so hoping for top quality stuff with very little maintenance in the future. I have also just been given a wormery so will get that going next year too |
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Post by sleepysunday on Nov 14, 2006 22:41:57 GMT
Certainly not just after you have added the nettles, that's for sure ;D
Keep a pot under your bed
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2006 22:42:35 GMT
Errmmmm..............just HOW is a lady supposed to pee in a compost bin Erect scaffolding over the top ... ? |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 14, 2006 22:43:09 GMT
Can't, there's drawers there I could always build some scaffolding around the composter ;D |
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Post by sleepysunday on Nov 14, 2006 22:44:30 GMT
There you go then. You and Derek have both come up with the same answer, so you must be right. |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 14, 2006 22:46:38 GMT
Errmmmm..............just HOW is a lady supposed to pee in a compost bin Erect scaffolding over the top ... ? Great minds think alike |
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 14, 2006 22:47:48 GMT
They say mens pee is best, not sure why. You need to get the mix right SS, I put allsorts in mine, teabags, kitchen roll, cereal boxes, veg trimmings, gdn bits, grass cuttings, cardboard boxes, toilet and kitchen roll tubes, ashtray contents etc etc, it's easy once you get into the habit. I'm desperate for my new one's to arrive , others are full |
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