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.

"YMC" wrote in message

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)

You didn't say what these bins look like or how they operate.

For example, I have 2 of the 'upside down' Gedye bins - the ones with no
base and the lid on them. They operate anaerobically and one fills them up
till they are about 80% full and then leave them for a while. These bins
are ideal for kitchen scrap and they never, in my experience, need the
addition of any liquid. both mine sit in full sun for most of the day and
there is no problem with them.

The other 2 mobile bins I have are the ones on a central axle that tumble.
They too sit in full sun but are a bit more problemmatic. They do dry out
more easily but still work.

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

I don't make good compost from big piles either, but then I don't have the
strength to turn them anymore and thus they do what your's have done, dry
out and although everything eventually rots - it's not what I'd call real
compost.

"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
news:48f286ab$0$10585$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-

You didn't say what these bins look like or how they operate.

I have the Gedye bins - the one that look like squat post office
letterboxes - but with just a lid, no drawers.

For some reason, they do tend to dry out. I'm living in Melbourne. The area
I located the bins gets full sun - including a full blast from the West.

We have a large compost pile with fencing - bad idea I think - that one has
problems as it dries out too easily and a lot of the stuff turns straw
like - esp. the stalks of plants; and does not decompose.

The main problem with that section is that the compost worms die. You see
them desperately trying to crawl out of the bin in Summer and getting fried.

(I relocated the compost worm bin - also a Gedye - to a shady spot)
Hopefully that will help. But my garden is too big and needs about 4 compost
bins.





For example, I have 2 of the 'upside down' Gedye bins - the ones with no
base and the lid on them. They operate anaerobically and one fills them
up till they are about 80% full and then leave them for a while. These
bins are ideal for kitchen scrap and they never, in my experience, need
the addition of any liquid. both mine sit in full sun for most of the day
and there is no problem with them.

The other 2 mobile bins I have are the ones on a central axle that tumble.
They too sit in full sun but are a bit more problemmatic. They do dry out
more easily but still work.

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

I don't make good compost from big piles either, but then I don't have the
strength to turn them anymore and thus they do what your's have done, dry
out and although everything eventually rots - it's not what I'd call real
compost.

"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

"0tterbot" wrote in message
...
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

Thanks Kylie. I don't think the hessian bag will work. Its just very hot.

I've relocated one of the compost bins to a very shady spot. And I'll try
and relocate more in that corner.

I'll keep one in the hot area - minus the worms - and see how that fares
over Summer. That spot is fairly large and out of the way and sight - hence
my desire to place my compost bins there.

On Oct 14, 12:26*am, "YMC" wrote:
"0tterbot" wrote in message

...



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

Thanks Kylie. I don't think the hessian bag will work. Its just very hot.

I've relocated one of the compost bins to a very shady spot. And I'll try
and relocate more in that corner.

I'll keep one in the hot area - minus the worms - and see how that fares
over Summer. That spot is fairly large and out of the way and sight - hence
my desire to place my compost bins there.

I have an anerobic compost bin which is in a shady spot. It goes
along quite well.

However, I used to look after compost bins at my son's school for some
years, and I now recall that they were not as effective as my own
bins. I used to attribute that to the activities of children,
(constantly fishing plastic bags and yoghurt containers out of them)
but I now wonder if it was due to the effects of full sun. It used to
take a long time to decompose, and they also had the problem with
straw forming rather than decomposing, as someone else mentioned.

If you are able to move some to a shady spot it would be an excellent
test of this issue over the summer. Please get back to us after
summer.

Yours

Norm

"Norm" wrote in message
news:d48d8072-755e-480c-a7aa-However, I used to look after compost bins at
my son's school for some
years, and I now recall that they were not as effective as my own
bins. I used to attribute that to the activities of children,
(constantly fishing plastic bags and yoghurt containers out of them)
but I now wonder if it was due to the effects of full sun. It used to
take a long time to decompose, and they also had the problem with
straw forming rather than decomposing, as someone else mentioned.

If you are able to move some to a shady spot it would be an excellent
test of this issue over the summer. Please get back to us after
summer.
Yours
Norm
***********************

Hi Norm,

I'll get back to you on that! I've located one of the bins in the shady
spot - and the other in the sunny spot.

I think what I'll do is to put the grass clippings, weeds, runners and the
nasty stuff in the sunny spot bin.

In the past, it turns grey, steams, and turns into hay - esp. if no water is
added during Summer. (90% of the worms die) But during Winter - it comes
along beautifully.

I located the compost bin section in the shady spot - and I'll try and
locate more bins in that sector.

Will tell you the results in 4 months time. lol.

"YMC" wrote in message
"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message


You didn't say what these bins look like or how they operate.

I have the Gedye bins - the one that look like squat post office
letterboxes - but with just a lid, no drawers.

For some reason, they do tend to dry out. I'm living in Melbourne. The
area I located the bins gets full sun - including a full blast from the
West.

That's interesting. Mine have never dried out. I use them for kitchen
scrap so thats always pretty moist since I put any liquid from stuff I've
cooked in there too. My Gedye bins are shaded from the most severe late
afternoon sun from about 5.30 onwards in summer. Perahps you could put up a
bit of shade cloth on some stakes on the westward side and add some more
liquid.

"YMC" wrote in message
I'll get back to you on that! I've located one of the bins in the shady
spot - and the other in the sunny spot.

I think what I'll do is to put the grass clippings, weeds, runners and the
nasty stuff in the sunny spot bin.

I think you might be using your Gedye bins in the wrong way. IIRC, they are
suposed to be primarily for kitchen waste and not for the sort of stuff
you'd normally put into a compost heap (like weeds, grass clippings etc). I
don't have the time to hunt through my files at the moment for the
instructions that came with mine decades ago but I'm fairly sure that they
are designed specifically for kitchen type scraps and that is why they are
designed as they are. ie they don't allow things to get into then as easily
as into an open compost pile.

That would explain the difference between yours drying out and mine not
doing so and never having done so and that included a time when they were in
full sun from dawn to dusk.

And they are supposed to sit in the sun. That much I do recall from the
instructions.

"FarmI" ask@itshall be given wrote in message
news:48f5668c$0$10587$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader- I think you might be
using your Gedye bins in the wrong way. IIRC, they are
suposed to be primarily for kitchen waste and not for the sort of stuff
you'd normally put into a compost heap (like weeds, grass clippings etc).
I....

OK, I see. We don't have a lot of kitchen waste and so most of the stuff
that goes into the Gedye bins is the lawn clippings, weeds etc..

Well, I'll let the forum know about the progress. The reason why I'd like to
use the Gedye bins for my lawn clippings is that they have a better chance
of killing the grass runners, weed seeds etc.. than the open pile concept.

(I guess if I was more active in turning over the open compost - maybe the
weed seeds/runners would be killed - but I travel a fair bit and can't be
around to do that).

I've relocated the compost bins to a shady area in the garden and will let
the group know whether it went ok or not.

I'll post up some photos of the compost bin locations at
alt.binaries.pictures.gardens

tomorrow or when I get some free time on the weekend.

If you are free check it out.

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 01:41:36 +1100, YMC wrote:


OK, I see. We don't have a lot of kitchen waste and so most of the stuff
that goes into the Gedye bins is the lawn clippings, weeds etc..

My kitchen waste includes a lot of liquid; teapot remains, initial
rinse/wash of pots, etc. Often, I'm just dumping a bucket of liquid with
little solid.

I also do not have solid covers, but pieces of old carpet thus allowing as
much of the rain as it can to get into it. Caveat, some carpet is good
water proofing. old bags would be better.


Final 2c, AFAIK composting is AEROBIC (oxygen is present), not anerobic
(e.g water logged ground).

"terryc" wrote in message Final 2c, AFAIK
composting is AEROBIC (oxygen is present), not anerobic
(e.g water logged ground).

That's a good point. Would inserting a black perforated plastic tubing - the
one used for drainage - into the bin help?

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:48:16 +1100, YMC wrote:

"terryc" wrote in message Final 2c, AFAIK
composting is AEROBIC (oxygen is present), not anerobic
(e.g water logged ground).

That's a good point. Would inserting a black perforated plastic tubing -
the one used for drainage - into the bin help?

well, that was a an oldish tip to bring oxygen into the middle of compost
heaps. If you have a piece, give it ago.

"Erik Vastmasd" wrote in message
...
You don't have a lot of kitchen waste?

A lot of stuff people put in their Council's recycle bin could also have
added to their own compost bin. Newspapers, cardboard, egg cartons etc.

Although if you also breed worms in your compost then newspapers and
cardboard with a lot of printing isn't beneficial for worms.
--

Erik.

No. I don't have a lot of kitchen waste. I don't throw food out and the
leftovers I reheat the next meal or next day.

I don't read newspapers except when I'm at the Library. I try and read
everything online these days. Less clutter, less waste.

I think that my worm farm was just simply in the wrong location. Exposed to
too much sun. And the compost pile there just gets too dry during Summer.
Most of them run away.

I relocated the worm farm to a separate shady section of the garden - will
let the group know how it goes.