Composters - I'm sceptical!

[genlistlass]

My local council is advertising compost bins for £14 + £5 delivery. 220 litre.

I've had compost heaps and bins in the past and they didnt work for me. BUT that was in South Africa and they were just mouse houses.

I need convincing that this bin will produce "crumbly dark material" in "6-9 months".

I have plenty stuff waiting to fill it...... what else? Have heard weird tales of horses heads, pee, .........etc etc.

Gen in Northumberland

[genlistlass]

[Chrispy]

I have 3 330l ones, and yes they do work.

In hindsight, I think I should have built some bins from pallets as it would be easier to turn the heaps, I may still do if I an get hold of some pallets.

You do have to get the mix right, when I started I had too much greens and it was a slimy smelly mess, but now I add in layers of torn up cardboard, and if it gets too dry I through in a load of comfrey.

[lavenderlux]

We have two of these one on each of the schools plots and they work well, provided you put layers of 'green' and 'brown' material and we occasionally add some soil.  Using shredded paper for the 'brown' (dry) material helps as does bark chippings.  Try to get some 'brandling' / 'tiger' worms to put in as they help. 

[steve76]

 Hi
I have some old sheets of tin as sides and keep it covered with a sheet of plastic weight down with an old pallet,
I have learned that getting the mix right is essential, but i do put every thing in mine layered, from all veg waste peelings tea bags egg shells etc, grass clippings and the chicken bedding,

[Ellen K]

I've got 3 Daleks, 330 litres each, bought on ebay for £5 each, buyer collects.  Harvested all 3 this year, the one that was 2 years in produced nice brown crumbly stuff, the other two produced good soil improver which I spread out and dug in.

But I too would recommend building 2 bins out of pallets, side by side and then you can fork the contents from one bin t'other.  Toby Buckland did something similar on GW last year.

But if you just want to make good stufff to chuck on the plot, the Daleks are fine.  Though the price you quote seems rather high.


Still what ever you decide, it is worth doing.

[lincsyokel2]

You need 9 pallets to build 3 bins. I wouldnt faff around with the small plastic  ones. A cube made of pallets is 1.2M x 1.2M x 1.2m, ie 1720L when full. One you are filling, one is composting, and one you are using.

[genlistlass]

Thanks for the tips, people.

I won't be going the physically challenging ways of making composters. Too feeble, dicky back and arthritic!

However I will have a look at eBay for a Dalek type. The type with the hatch at the bottom.

IF you HAVE to turn the stuff, I will give it all a miss as its beyond my strength.

Do I HAVE to turn it over all the time?

Gen in Northumberland where it is WINDY and the sea has huge "white horses" on it!

[caroline7758]

Enter your postcode at getcomposting.com to see whether your local council is offering discounted daleks.  Mine (Selby) is £10 for a 220L , buy one get one half price, but there's also a delivery charge.

[BarriedaleNick]

genlistlass  - you dont have to turn it but it does help a great deal - I didnt turn mine last year at all and I have a lovely binfull but it took 18 months!  Mind you I do have loads of worms in there!!

[redcoat]

I recently picked up an unwanted 'dalek' from someone on Freecycle.  It was in perfect condition and is now on my plot.

Have used both types of compost bins in the past, both worked even though I am not a great 'turner'.

[1066]

was just going to say the same thing Nick! I left mine for about a year, and had lots of crumbly stuff. Mind you it was a bit of a job to get it all out  :)

[redcoat]

was just going to say the same thing Nick! I left mine for about a year, and had lots of crumbly stuff. Mind you it was a bit of a job to get it all out  :)

I have never been able to use the little hatch doors successfully.

When my 'dalek' is full and will 'compost down' no further, I lift it off the compost completely.  If you rock it backwards and forwards first it isn't too hard to do.  The compost should stay upright in the same shape.  You can then put the top, uncomposted materieal back in the bottom of the 'dalek' (in a new location, even if it is adjacent)  to start again and put the crumbly stuff in sacks if you aren't going to use it immediately.

[pumkinlover]

I find them much more useful for leaf mold. :)

[artichoke]

Have you tried builder's bags? They do not add to the beauty of one's plot, but I filled one last year and have emptied it of excellent stuff this year while filling a second. And they are free, if you find someone having sand etc delivered, and throwing away the containers. No-one seems to mind being asked.

[Stedic]

IF you HAVE to turn the stuff, I will give it all a miss as its beyond my strength.

Do I HAVE to turn it over all the time?

I bought a 'compost aerator' tool when I bought my Dalek bins, it was about 5 quid.  You just shove it into the compost and as you pull it out everything gets mixed up.  Turning or mixing it speeds up the composting process but isn't crucial.

I have assorted heaps and plastic daleks at home and on the plot - I don't fret too much about the mixture and they all do OK.

[Chrispy]

Just a couple of points about the council discount scheme.

For a few quid more I would get the bigger bin, the website http://www.northumberland.getcomposting.com/ says they are £15 small or £18 large + delivery.

The other thing is you may have to wait a long time for delivery, I think all the councils use the same company and I have 2 discounted ones and they each took over a month to deliver.

The second one took ages, I was not even sure if my order had been accepted as the discount stopped just after ordering and the company did not reply to any e-mails.

I got so fed up waiting that when I was in B&Q, I ended up buying one at full price.
When I got home, went in, had a cup of coffee, then opened the front door and thought '**** how did that composter get out of the boot of the car!!!' they had just delivered it, so then I had 3.

That was a while ago, maybe it has improved.

[artichoke]

I collected my own. Our council uses local garden centres for distribution. But the subsidy here is much less than it used to be. I agree about getting the bigger one.

[lincsyokel2]

IF you HAVE to turn the stuff, I will give it all a miss as its beyond my strength.

Do I HAVE to turn it over all the time?

I bought a 'compost aerator' tool when I bought my Dalek bins, it was about 5 quid.  You just shove it into the compost and as you pull it out everything gets mixed up.  Turning or mixing it speeds up the composting process but isn't crucial.

I have assorted heaps and plastic daleks at home and on the plot - I don't fret too much about the mixture and they all do OK.

To turn heaps of wheat and barley when ther are in the drying shed,s farmers use an electric powered Archimedes screw, and a similar devce is used to drill post holes, petrol powered.  If you could get hold of one, it woudl be perfect for turning a heap over.

[Chrispy]

An Auger is the word you want to google.

I have one of those turny cultivator thingies, might try see how that does in my darlek.

[lewic]

Anyone used one of those barrell things with a handle on it that are supposed to make compost in a few weeks rather than months?

Looks like a good idea but they are really expensive and look quite small for something that takes up a lot of space.