Composter

I have sited my composter on a concrete slab due to no access to soil. Will it work? Any advice much appreciated.

 

Hi, Redlady. It might be a good idea to chuck a few shovelfulls of gardensoil in the bottom to introduce the Bacteria and micro-organisms into the heap. You could also be generous with the Compost Maker. I get mine from Wilkinson's. Good Luck

 

Thanks for that cajary. I hadn't heard of Compost Maker so will ensure I get some next time I pass Wilkinson's..

 

I was also advised to put a bag full of Horse manure in first (on top of the soil). It seemed to work. I've got one of those types where you shovel out the bottom stuff at the end of the season, then top up again. Good Luck

 

Thanks again cajary. I have picked up a couple of bags of spent hops from the brewery in my village so hope that helps as well.
I wondered if digging up some worms would help.

 

Redlady the worms will find there own way in,spent hops will be good try to build up the heap in 6" layers of different materials trying to balance out the moisture level.

 

Anything that once lived can be composted but we avoid things like fish waste bacause of the flies, cooked food because of vermin and persistent perennial weeds. Adding bacteria from soil will do no harm but is absolutely uneccessary. There is enough bacteria present in the waste and if the heap/bin is balanced brown/green/water it needs no help. Patience is the thing, everyone has a quick fix - fast food - attitude. It's gardening SLOW DOWN! See lean to green page at www.plotkeeping.talktalk.net and forget the Wilko composter. Buy a Bocking 14 sterile comfrey plant for your garden. Cut it right back every four weeks and add to your heap - accelerates decomposition naturally and comfrey is teeming with bacteria.

 

Wow, thanks to you all for replying. I didn't realise there were so many gardeners out there who were happy to give out their tips. Having begun composting I find my dustbin is virtually empty each week. I have been putting in all the dust from the vacuum cleaner, my own hair from the hair brush, all fruit and vegetable peelings, grass cuttings, crushed up newspaper, even an old cotton tshirt. Not to mention egg shells and egg boxes. Any other ideas well received.

 

Hi Redlady,

I'm the same! Since my village started getting bags for paper and plastics (each household also got a free plastic compost bin) I'm amazed at how little goes into my bin each week now.

I was lazy with tins but there was another thread in this forum about measuring your carbon footprint and I now religiously rinse them too.

As a vegan I have loads to chuck in my compost bin and apparently the Starbucks coffee chain is quite happy to give their coffee grounds away to people.

TO

 

t i g will probably be able to inform you more accurately but I was told not to put the contents of the vacuum cleaner in there if you've got carpets that aren't 100% wool, hope that helps