Composters

I've now got my garden 'straight' enough to invest in a composter. Can anyone recommend what sort to go for and a rough idea of cost would help too please.

 

I've got 6 Daleks hidden away in my small town garden. It's quite easy to site them in places where they look OK or are not very noticeable. However, it's not really enough, I could do with a few more. They make decent compost but sometimes it's a bit slow and it can be difficult loading large clumps of garden waste into them. If you have a big garden where you can make a big pallet-composter, it holds more rubbish and possibly breaks down faster. You still need to keep two on the go, though, one filling, one rotting.

 

Our local council does cheap ones, too, from time to time. I certainly wouldn't want to pay more than a tenner for a dalek.

 

Thanks everyone, unfortunately we don't have councils here on the island. The palettes a good idea but I've had to cut back on diy because of health issues.

If I can buy one ready made that would be best. Being unsightly is not a problem as it will be screened from view. How it functions is what I'm looking at, whether it's easy or not to use and filling and emptying it.

 

Lancashire County Council

Do you not know anyone in Lancs that can get you one of these
Then pop over to collect
Day trip or something

I am hoping to visit IOM in Sept on a coach trip, if you can wait that long
or these are what you wish I am sure they would stuff one in the hold for me

Jack McHammocklshing

 

Thanks Jack, that's a kind offer. Popping over is not an option, I would need to take a vehicle on the boat, and a round trip will cost me over £300 this time of year.

I'll have a look around locally first and if push comes to shove I'll buy on the internet. Meanwhile I'll keep your offer in mind. Thanks again.

Hope you enjoy your visit to the island. Let me know what you think of it.
Feedback's always good. I've lived here 19 years and wouldn't go back to the mainland now. Having said that I love Scotland and have come close to moving up there.

 

many ways to make compost ... i personally like the rotating tumbling home composter ....

also, don't add too much lawn cuttings .... I prefer to use vegetable waste and add some cardboard (like empty toilet roll holders etc) from time to time

and don't forget the worms! .... you can buy tiger worms on ebay for cheap ... you can buy 1000 Dendra/Red Tiger worms for under £10 on ebay ..... add them when your compost bin is 1/2 full .... they help to decompose the material a lot faster

here is a link to an ebay auction that has a mix of worms ... 1000 worms for a tenner

1000 Dendra/Red Tiger worms in tub with bedding | eBay UK

 

My tiger worms moved in for free, I didn't have to pay them to come. However, I've not noticed any this year so far, I think the winter did for them.

Sheal, i would look around for plastic composters if you've a smallish garden. Try ebay, small ads and freecycle first as people often get rid of them, though I appreciate your options are limited on an island. They look neat and are certainly practical for a small area.

The tumbling composters are good but more expensive and take up a lot more space as you need to leave room to tumble them. Also, I don't think they will hold as much and will need a lot of strength to tumble once full.

If you've a big garden, pallets, a wire netting enclosure, or other enclosure cobbled together out of planks, old doors, or whatever you can get, would be fine.

 

Same same

Yes spot on, thats the ones that can be bought up here and in Lancs,
When Sheal said they were unavailable on the Island, that is why I suggested a trip across to Blackpool lancs or I would bring one on me holidays :-) (suitabley EMPTY of course)

Jack McH

 

Thanks all, I've taken on board your suggestions.

There are composters on the island Jack, I'll be out looking around tomorrow. I really wanted peoples thoughts on different types, good or bad.

John...... I hadn't thought about looking on the Manx site. I'll pop into Eden Park tomorrow and have a look. I don't usually go in there unless it's something I'm desperate for. They tend to be a bit expensive.

Thanks for your help.