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How can I use a carrier bag or kitchen bin to make compost?

You really need a bigger volume than that. With an enclosed container like a compost bin you'd be able to compost effectively with as little as 300 litres. Less than that and you'd probably just end up with a slimy mess, I fear.

You can compost in a 5 gallon bin.

I'm experimenting with composting on a small scale on my balcony. At the moment, I have 2 bins going, both are really small.

BUT! They're not composting like they would outside...there are no worms so everything appears to be rotting rather than composting. I'd suggest that you add more browns than greens. I'm keeping mine well topped up with newspaper strips.

If you're going to have the bin outside, go find some worms. They will probably make their way in there naturally, but you might want to get some red tiger worms to help it go.

I'm waiting for rain at the moment so I can go and get some worms :)

My compost is awful. I have a smallish kitchen bin and two smallish crates outside (I have a small concrete yard, not a graden). all 3 full of holes to help the compost bit it could be going better!

I use bought compost and layer with my own - then theres plenty of proper dirt/compost in my pots but also nutrients and and stuff from the stuff I'm making. Plus I waste less

Can you 'permanently borrow' some worms from a nearby garden?

From what i understand, when composting on a small scale worms are essential.

I have a bin that has loads of holes in it (like one of those plastic net type thingies) and it's not going well. I'm looking for worms next time it rains!

My mini-composter (my balcony is about 2ft x 6ft) is the afore mentioned net type patterned bin inside a solid black plastic one.

I looked at getting a wormery. Apparently you can't just through worms in your compost cos they need the right amount of food and certain things are not good for them. i did think about just bunging some in though!

the.fee.fairy wrote:BUT! They're not composting like they would outside...there are no worms so everything appears to be rotting rather than composting. I'd suggest that you add more browns than greens. I'm keeping mine well topped up with newspaper strips.

You need worms! Just go and dig up a couple of shovels full of good healthy soil and throw them in.

Pumpkin&Piglet wrote:I looked at getting a wormery. Apparently you can't just through worms in your compost cos they need the right amount of food and certain things are not good for them. i did think about just bunging some in though!

If it was outside, the 'natural' balance of worms would appear to match what you put in. It's my belief that you can put anything that was once alive in a compost bin, outside. We put a whole goose in once and it rotted down to just the toughest bones and quills. Orange peel and cork takes years to break down...

Just watch that you don't put much citrus in a wormery. They don't like it and it can kill them. Probably best to keep that out.

Zoe

this makes me think about the adage that there is more life in a teaspoon of soil than there are humans on the earth. i don't know if that is actually true but ....lots of microlife in soil so soil is the way to go i believe.

I've never been much a fan of wormeries: I try and organise my composting so that I get very high temperatures in the first few days and then let bacterial & fungal action do the rest. I'd fry any worms incautious enough to get into the heap early doors.

Agreed Jon,if worms are present,I'm not sure it's hot enough to kill the weed seeds,Worth having some sort of wormery though if only for the wormcasts( or,if like me,you dream of catching large Chub!)

I'm waiting for rain to go worm hunting :) And It's got to be under cover of darkness...I'm not convinced the building manager will be particularly impressed with me digging up stuff otherwise.