Manufacture of compost.

Prenderb

Hello green-fingered boardsies. Compost is my query today. For about 2 years now I've had one of those plastic compost bins in the garden. It has a lid, slits in the side, and a slide door at the bottom. It's never fully composted anything, though. I've tried it with the lid on and with the lid off, I've thrown in compost accelerator, but nothing seems to work. It is in fairness mostly grass clippings, but I throw in some cardboard from time to time.

Is this kind of composter a waste of time? It seems to me that it is. Any suggestions from you guys? Am I Doing it Wrong?

Sonovagun

why does it have slits on the side? i think thats your problem!

dfbemt

Mostly grass turns mushy due to the high nitrogen content. Identifying that you have a problem is a good start.

You need to mix what you are putting in and sure your bin is not located on concrete. I know a number of people who tried this !!

Good compost will include a mix of three main ingredients

Browns–dead leaves, branches, cardboard, paper, etc.
Greens–grass clippings, fruit and vegetable wastes and coffee grounds
Water

The browns add carbon to your compost pile, the greens add nitrogen and the water provides moisture to assist in the breakdown of organic matter. Your pile or composter should contain equal amounts (50%/50%) of browns and greens with enough water to make the organic matter moist but not soggy.

Of course organic material such as vegetable peelings, coffee grounds and egg shells can be added. But, you can also add things like toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls and shredded cardboard.

I have a cross-cut shredder and shred all “white” paper from my junk mail, and I add this shredded paper to my compost bin. Do not use colored paper or paper printed with colored inks as these are not good for your compost. Also, be sure to keep out things such as envelopes with plastic windows, as these materials do not readily break down in the composting process.

A bit of patience is also needed. Turn your contents over regularly, wet if required and 4 - 6 months later, hey presto.

Hope this helps.

dfbemt

Sonovagun wrote: »

why does it have slits on the side? i think thats your problem!

For aeration - not a problem

tampopo

yeah, you need to turn it now and again.
what do you think election posters were invented for...check 'em out.


1
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/GrandCanal/Composting/?action=view&current=compost1.jpg
2
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/GrandCanal/Composting/?action=view&current=compost2.jpg
3
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/GrandCanal/Composting/?action=view&current=compost3.jpg
4
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/GrandCanal/Composting/?action=view&current=compost4.jpg
5
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/GrandCanal/Composting/?action=view&current=compost5.jpg
6
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/GrandCanal/Composting/?action=view&current=compost6.jpg

another pic of same compost bin, a different day. you can see the layering.
http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r270/kuhnriver/?action=view&current=diypolytunnel004.jpg

magicbastarder

i rarely put grass clippings on the compost bin; they tend to smother the bin and don't allow it to 'breathe'; we used the grass clippings as a mulch when we could.