On Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:10:50 +0100, Adam Funk
wrote:

I have one of those basic worm bins that councils often promote (open
bottom, narrower at the top, hatch on the side at the bottom for
shovelling out), and I find it quite difficult to get all the good
stuff out of the bottom without unfinished stuff collapsing down.

I use a spade to scoop the finished stuff out, but end up with a
cavity with a sort of arch over it, and it's very difficult to scrape
out the finished stuff from the sides and back. Then a few days
later, it drops down but the stuff accessible from the hatch is
largely undigested and I end up shovelling it back in the top to get
at a bit right on the bottom.

Any tips? Maybe a spade isn't the right approach?

Just checking here - are we talking some sort of "wormery" or a
"Dalek" type compost bin? Sounds like the latter which I wouldn't call
a "worm bin". Whilst worms are a major (and essential) element in a
wormery, they are incidental in a compost bin/heap.

Whilst the "Daleks" are reasonably well-performing bins, provided they
are sited right, their one downside, compared to the open compost
heap, is that they are difficult to turn unless you fork out for one
of those special turning tools. I have two which run on a 2-year
cycle. Dalek 1 gets filled in year 1 and left in year 2. Dalek 2 gets
filled in year 2 and left in year 3. Dalek 1 provides my spring
mulching etc. in year 3 and then gets refilled. From that point on, I
harvest each Dalek in alternate years when the contents are entirely
composted. So emptying doesn't present a problem. If you can't wait
for the entire bin-full to turn to compost, then you're really stuck
with the design flaw.

FWIW I find it much quicker to produce compost in "open" heaps. You
can build a "set of two" easily using five wooden palettes to make an
E-shape (try a "wanted" ad on Freecycle). Then add to heap 1 and turn
the decomposing stuff into heap 2 to finish off and harvest from
there. Bit of old carpet to cover as needed. Cost is a bit of petrol
to collect the palettes and a bag of nails to fix together.

Cheers
Jake
==============================================
Gardening at the dry end (east) of Swansea Bay
in between reading anything by JRR Tolkien.

www.rivendell.org.uk