jewels wrote:
[...]
My compost 'bin' is made up of wooden pallets and I put an old
carpet
over the top but the last time I looked, everything looked very dry
in there, I added some water but reading your post made me
wonder....would I be better off lifting off the old carpet and just
leaving it to the elements?

Let it get thoroughly rained on, or add water yoursaelf, then put the
carpet back to keep it in. The pallets will allow a lot of
evaporation.

--
Mike.

In article , jewels
writes

"Phil L" wrote in message
.uk...
FF wrote:
snip

the only reason I can think of why the T-bags didn't
break up is moisture levels were too low, I have an 'open' heap and the
elements help to break everything down nicely.

My compost 'bin' is made up of wooden pallets and I put an old carpet over
the top but the last time I looked, everything looked very dry in there, I
added some water but reading your post made me wonder....would I be better
off lifting off the old carpet and just leaving it to the elements?

The purpose of covering is to stop the top layer drying out too much. If
yours is too dry, it would certainly be worth keeping it uncovered any
time you expect rain, and cover it only when the conditions are likely
to make it dry out.

I keep mine uncovered all the time. My bin is solid wood - you probably
lose more moisture through the sides than I do.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

The message
from martin contains these words:
On Thu, 04 Aug 2005 23:12:02 GMT, "jewels"
wrote:

My compost 'bin' is made up of wooden pallets and I put an old carpet over
the top but the last time I looked, everything looked very dry in there, I
added some water but reading your post made me wonder....would I be better
off lifting off the old carpet and just leaving it to the elements?

You'd do better urinating on it.

Mine's a bit exposed for that, but I use a Paul Masson carafe and refill
it with something very similar to what was in it originally...

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from "jewels" contains these words:


"Phil L" wrote in message
. uk...
FF wrote:
snip

the only reason I can think of why the T-bags didn't
break up is moisture levels were too low, I have an 'open' heap and the
elements help to break everything down nicely.

My compost 'bin' is made up of wooden pallets and I put an old carpet over
the top but the last time I looked, everything looked very dry in there, I
added some water but reading your post made me wonder....would I be better
off lifting off the old carpet and just leaving it to the elements?

Not all the time, because rain leaches the compost and cools the
heat. But if the heap seems dry (signs are, material not decomposing,
lots of ants) just leave off the lid and let the rain wet it again. Then
replace lid.

Janet

Thank you all for your most informative replies. It's always a pleasure
to post in this group.

Liz

(off to water her compost heap)

The message
from martin contains these words:

Mine's a bit exposed for that, but I use a Paul Masson carafe and refill
it with something very similar to what was in it originally...

Which do you prefer to drink?

Well, Paul Masson gives me guts-ache, and I can't say I've sampled the other.

He*n*k*n next ...

And most other lagers.

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 17:41:43 +0200, martin wrote:

On 5 Aug 2005 08:30:13 -0700, "
wrote:

Thank you all for your most informative replies. It's always a pleasure
to post in this group.

Liz

(off to water her compost heap)

Allow for the wind.

Nope, I'm not going to say it!

Liz