Space wrote:
I am considering a compost bin in my small north facing garden.



However, are compost bins smelly? I know it involves rotting down
garden and food waste so it must be. So, are compost bins *really*
smelly???

Depends what you put in them,Space.
Food waste is a definite No-No.
Meat and fish scraps likewise.
Peelings, stalks of brocolli and cabbages,
shells of peas and beans ,as well as garden haulms
from spuds, tomatoes, beans, anything not cooked
and of vegetable origin is the biz.
To heat up the heap/bin add nettles (loads)
and when it gets fairly full lift the bin off the contents
and put it down alongside, then lift the old contents
and move them all into the now empty bin, giving
them a shake up as you do so to aerate them.
Do not be in a hurry to use it, otherwise it will
continue to rot down in the ground.

When it's good and ready it will be dark,rich, and crumbly,
full of worms and smelling great.
I've just turned mine, now it can wait until autumn
before spreading and digging in. Wow!

Sam