Compost questions

So ive had a compost bin for the last 3 months and have been composting absolutely everything i can. Its been full at least twice now, and i turn it every few days, im obviously doing something right as when i lift the lid steam comes out (i read thats a good thing)

So a few nooby questions

How do iknow when its all ready?

if i keep turning it un-composted stuff gets mixed in with the older stuff, so when i use it it wont be consistent. Should i just leave it alone now?

When i do use it, whats the best way? Mix it with the existing soil? Lay it on top? bury it a bit?

Sorry if these are completely stupid questions, im completely new to all this.

Thanks in advance
Gary

 

thanks mate.
Might buy another... cant be bothered to make one at the moment

 

You're doing very well if you have steam coming off your heap/bin. Mine has never steamed but I still syphon off my compost once a month by sieving the compost to a fine tilth. I then use this for potting up my tomatoes and other plants in.

 

Nonsense! Find 3 pallets and cable tie them together.

 

Yeah, i guess its just beginners luck?
Just putting in the usual... grass, kitchen waste, shredded card and paper, dried and fresh leaves... and i p!ss on it every now and then... no thats not the source of the steam lol

Yeah, the one i have is made from a few pallets. Dismantled pallets, made up with a hollow space between two walls with rock woll stuffed in between.... i may have over complicated it... but maybe thats why i got it to steam??? we will never know

 

It's probably more likely your urine that's really got it going. Mr Jane won't let me have his and it's more difficult for us women to pee in a compost bin.

Unless your heap is really huge too, which does help a great deal. Are you adding manure to it too?

 

I got mine steaming last year with no piddle at all. Just a good mix of green and brown and kitchen waste plus turning once week might be the key, I dunno.

In a dalek bin I might add.

 

No i dont add manure.

I was too wet for a while (nearly 100% greens, and it stank) so i went around the house and got every bit of waste paper and cardboard i could to shread. After a few days it was steaming. So you are probably right about getting the right ratio

 

I've got a cold at the moment so all my snot rags go in the compost bin which should bump up the carbon ratio again.

Perhaps I will try adding a lot more paper to mine in the future too.

 

I have two 'Dalek' bins, just fill one until September then cover with a layer of soil and leave until following May. Starting the other one from end September. I put in all the general garden waste, soft hege clippings from privet and box, kitchen peelings etc., and lots of shredded paper, egg boxes and similar, but not too much grass clippings (these go to the Green Waste collection) . Yesterday I started to riddle out this years May compost - here it is !



a-a

 

Male pee is best for compost according to the National Trust,
"There are obvious logistical benefits to limiting it to male members of the team, but also male pee is preferable to women's, as the male stuff is apparently less acidic."
Thank goodness we are good for something

 

I wondered why my neighbour was not wearing jeans the other day, like she normally does in the garden. Also explains the set of steps
Should I give her the bad news? Nah

 

I turn mine about once a month, mainly to get some oxygen in there and stop it smelling so much. I have three composters and a wormery. I have a large garden and a few ex bat hens and still can't fill them completely. So I leave one to rot down completely then use it next year. The others I just share weeds, waste etc until the next year, turning as usual. Hope that makes sense!