T i m writes
On Fri, 25 May 2007 22:48:04 +0100, K wrote:


Possibly too airy as well - if the stuff is too spread out in there,
it's difficult for it to stay moist.

The middle of the bottom of the dustbin was cut out (leaving a
reasonable 'rim') and is stood on plain earth. There are (now) about
10 x 20mm diameter holes around the top, just under the lid line (is
that enough / to many?).

I don't think they'll make any difference one way or the other - it's
air in the body of the heap people seem to feel is important, ie holes
further down.
My compost heaps have solid wooden sides and do fine.

I have forked the contents about a few times
but it's sorta quite well packed in there (and never seems to fill
up!g) apart from the surface, in between the lumpy bits etc.

That all sounds good.

What I'd do next is water the whole lot, and then dump about 3 inches of
garden soil on top of it. That will cut down the smell as well as giving
another source of worms.

Ok and ta muchly. It actually started off as somewhere for kitchen
scraps so hasn't really had any true garden stuff in there as yet. I
did strim the front and back gardens today (well, my
next-door-neighbours gardens as we borrow them) so I have enough
matter to fill our little bin several times over.

I think you'll find your problems are over.

I'll have to get
some topsoil from somewhere as we don't have any 'surplus'. I don't
suppose a bag of the bought stuff would come with worms would it?

No!!!! Don't pay good money for anything to put on your compost heap!!!

I do
have a fairly big plastic planter that is full of soil (used for
French beans last year) would some of that do?

Ideal.

I'll put 'some' grass and soil in there as you suggest and give it a
drink. Apart from doing the boy thing (I keep forgetting) how much
water would I apply to a half filled std plastic dustbin would you say
please?

I'd chuck a bucket full in. Doesn't matter if you overwater, as you're
open to the ground and any excess will drain away.


--
Kay