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Janet · 30-09-2018, 12:24 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

In article , lid
says...

At our allotment most people have built compost heaps usually
constructed of three wooden pallets nailed together.
Most compost heaps are nearly overflowing and people are at a bit of
loss as to what to do next.
Its invariably too un-composted to use as compost, or its too damp to
burn on a bonfire.
Any suggestions as to some way forward please?
Ideally some kind of machine you can throw your heap in to and grind it
to some useable consistency or some such? Grateful for any
suggestions. Thanks.

You will always need at least two compost heaps. An additional 2 or 3
pallets makes a two-bay heap, convenient to have them side by side.

When bay 1 is full, if you;'re really keen, turn it into the vacant
bay 2, *and cover it*. Now start filling the empty bay 1.

When 1 is full again, open up 2 to inspect. In my system. depending on
the time of year there might be a shallow (6") top skin of "still
recognisable" plant debris, if so I fork that out and set it aside. The
underneath material should be dark friable decomposed and ready for use;
empty it into barrows and dump it where you need it in the garden. Worms
will take it down. Now you have a new empty bay to fill again. You could
start it with that skinny layer you took off the top.

If your pallet bins are not decomposing the contents, you're not
applying enough material in the right way.

To keep the current heap active, as often as possible I apply a 6"
layer of some fresh green or hot material (lawn mowings; seaweed, cut
comfrey (I grow this just for composting and harvest several times in
the growing season) raked leaves, surplus pondweed, fresh manure when I
can get it(herbivore or poultry).

There are always people eager to give away compostable material if I
offer to clean it up or take it away (neighbours, lawn and garden
contractors with surplus grass or chipped material, stock farms or
stables). Some will even deliver it free, to save LA disposal costs. My
son's allotment group has a designated area where they accept such
deliveries.

I scavenge additional material such as layer-loads of harvested
nettles, thistle or willow herb infestations, livestock
bedding/flooring, the daggy woolly sweepings from a shearing shed. In
between those layers go kitchen waste, shredded paper, garden waste etc.

IME compost heaps need those regular fresh deep layers because each
will heat up (then cool) promoting decomposition of the whole heap.

For collecting compostable give-aways I save those commercial metre-
cube fibre sacks with HD handles. Many which contained heavy material
like sand or gravel are "single use only" so the empties get thrown or
given away by building trades. They will last a few more years for
lighter garden use.

Janet.