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I've started to home compost, but one thing that puzzles me that searching online hasn't solved. If you're constantly adding to it, will it ever be ready?

Daft question, I know, but if, say we wanted to spread our compost over the garden next year, if we're still adding stuff to it will that affect it any or will the more recent bits just rot down in the ground

Thats how I do mine Hawthorne, I give it a good mixing up a couple of times a year and take it from the bottom of the bin for use ... this is my first year of using any and It looks good. Have filled a load of tubs with it.

If you don't turn it and leave it what would normally happen is you would lift the top 1/3 off and place on the bottom to start the new pile and use the 2/3's underneath which should be ready as compost.

It will break down quicker though if it's regularly turned and ten should all be ready at the same time.

There certainly comes a point where you should leave th compost heap and start a new one.

If you have room try the 3 bin method. I for new stuff, 1 for older and 1 as turning space.

Good luck

thanks folks :) It makes a bit more sense now!

When I move I will go for the three bin method - one's just not enough and all my gardening's in containers!!

I have three bins and this year I followed the river cottage guidance that said that you should stop adding to the bin in September and leave it to dig in in the spring, meanwhile start another bin.

Seems to have worked for us, though we compost everything possible and my other 2 bins are heaving at the moment. I need to empty bin 1, then turn bin 2 into bin 1 and cover it for next spring and then turn bin3 into bin2.... I'm tierd just thinking of it

btw my bins hold a cubic meter of compost each

We have 3 bins, a grass box and several bags of leaf mould on the go, and we still don't have enough room. Maybe if we reduced the size of the garden it would help.

Erm we have currently 12 different compost bins varying in size from the plastic ones our waste collection company sold very cheaply (we managed to get 3 ) to various ones bought from shops in the past, to home made ones, a 500 litre water butt with holes drilled in it (beyond use as a water butt due to cracks and leakage), finally to giant 1m3 or more pallet bins.

Then there are about 5 leaf mould bins made of chicken wire or pallets or you name it!

We are constantly filling bins, moving them around, turning them. When I say 'we' that means my husband.

Unfortunately it takes about 2 years to make really good perfect friable garden compost because of the amount of wood shavings from the duck house that go in, although recently I have started putting excess in a dustbin that goes to the tip.

Need to go and collect many trailer fulls of horse manure now.

We did have a problem during winter with not enough green stuff to add to all the straw, poo and shavings from the ducks and chooks. Now we've put that lot in a pile and await grass clippings to layer in with it.

It really takes quite a few years to get going properly with compost, and leaf mould.

Eventually though it is all worth it! Can really see a difference with my sandy soil now

I read a book called Lady Muck all about composting and have got quite 'into it'! I've got 2 heaps in teh garden and am starting my 4th down the allotment (mostly horse poo down there from the field next to it)

Obviosuly not caught up with millymollymandy yet

Every weekend I barrow 4 loads of horse poo from the field onto the allotment newest heap, turn the older heap but leave the very oldest. At home the heap is a mixture of kitchen waste, grass clippings and the odd bag of horse poo all mixed in. It takes about 5 months to fill a square pallet heap in the garden which seems to be just long enough to get some OK compost, then I bag some for further improving.

I have a friend who lent em this book, her husband has banned her from creating more compost heaps she says!

Just call me Lady Muck!

The amount of compost heaps I have, and the amount of firewood, is my definition of wealth.

Millymollymandy wrote: The amount of compost heaps I have, and the amount of firewood, is my definition of wealth.

that is posibly far more true than you currently know. expect them to appreciate in value

I can feel the chances of me gettign 'wealthy' have really increased now- I shall use that thought to motivate the muck collection

Millymollymandy wrote:The amount of compost heaps I have, and the amount of firewood, is my definition of wealth.

I'd like to put that on a plaque and hang it over the fireplace!

we have three heaps. actually two previous pig sties and our old collection of compost darleks - the 5 of these make the third 'heap' in our eyes.

we fill one heap until its full (this can happen a few times as the contents sink down as it rots) then eventually declare it close, move on the next one.
The idea is that you should have one filling, one being used and one maturing. course.. if space is limited.. you just rot it in one bin, take the top off.. take out the good stuff and the top is the start of the next lot...

Hi Has any heard of the "Compost Tumbler" it claims you can have perfect compost in two weeks!! Is this possible???

Would love to buy one but skint at mo!! Wondered if anyone had any idea's silmiar cause its only my first year and I'm impatient!!

Heres the link:
http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/Harr ... 0tumblers/