The message
from "Vicky" contains these words:

I'm new to this gardening stuff. I started a compost heap last year when
the local council were flogging cheap compost bins. I didn't have much luck
at first. Then I took some hints about the benefits of urine - won't go
into the whys and wherefores collecting it at the mo!

Then someone happened to mention that if there were ants in the heap, it was
too dry so I added a bit of water to it the other day. Opened it this
morning to check on progress and it appears to be steaming nicely with no
sign of the ants and with definite signs of reduction in bulk. I felt quite
smug. I'm giving nettle manure a try next as per the instructions on the
FAQ list!

Of course, it woud be even more exciting if my garden had more stuff to
feed!

Hey, there's lots of free compost-heap food outside your garden, just
waiting for you to collect it. All you need is some plastic sacks.
Neighbours' grass cuttings, harvested nettles, bracken (green or brown)
or rosebay willow herb from wasteland, seaweed, greengrocer's trimmings,
autumn leaves, manure, hairdresser's floor sweepings. Do you know anyone
who keeps chickens, rabbits, pet birds, guinea pigs? They might be very
glad if you would dispose of their hutch cleanings.

You can grow comfrey to bulk up your manure heap and activate it;
Bocking 14 is a giant variety that stays where you plant it and neither
seeds nor spreads by runners.

Sorry - these little things in life are mildly thrilling to the uninitiated
ignoramus!

Just wait until you start visiting other peoples' compost heaps on
their garden open day :~}

Janet