"YMC" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Due to the layout of the house - I probably need to locate most of my
black plastic compost bins (3/5) to an area of the garden which gets full
sun. I tried it before - but the worms invariably fry during Summer.

But would the composting process still work? (I'll put a bucket of water
each day to keep it moist)

I tried the open concept - but the compost invariably dries up and does
not decompose. Doesn't work so well.

apparently (using that as soemthing of a disclaimer ;-) the process of
organic stuff breaking down has an ideal temperature range of
(approximately!!!) 15-25 degrees or so. (if i could think what book i read
that in, i could check, couldn't i? ;-)

it has to do with ideal operating temperatures for worms & bacteria etc,
rather than the stuff itself (which clearly has no opinion).

when it's hotter than that (considering sun exposure and colour of bin), you
might experience far less decomposition than you'd hope for (that is my
experience). the worms & bugs either clear off or they die if they can't get
away. you might also find the compost has overheated (grey matter in the
compost, smoke coming out - again, my rather alarming experience). compost
which has overheated entirely, as well as not breaking down properly (but
rather, smouldering) might present a fire hazard of some sort. you can cool
it by leaving it open, watering & airing it regularly, but it just won't be
the same once that's happened, the bacteria will be dead & it takes _ages_
to get going again.

if i were you i'd think about what sort of shade could be provided for
summer. a simple shelter comprised of posts and shade cloth, perhaps? you
can use wet hessian over the top, but that sounds like a pointless hassle to
me if you could organise shade over the bins instead.
kylie