On Aug 1, 12:17 pm, Ed ex@directory wrote:
I took on an allotment plot earlier this year, and quickly cleared half
of it to grow at least some crops this season whilst I intensively
double-dig and clear the other half. All of that is going well.

So, now I want to make a compost bin. Eventually I plan to have 3.

I have scavenged 4 pallets each of which is 3ft x 4ft which I intend to
use to build a box that is 3ft square and 4 ft high. One of the sides
will be loosely (but securely) tied in so that it is removable for access.

But what to do next? I have read so much here and on google that I am
utterly confused.

Firstly, should I line the box with something like lino or old carpet in
order to keep the heat in or leave it as it is to allow for aeration?

Secondly, do I have to stick to a strict regime as to how I build up the
layers? I was just thinking of simply piling in layers of stuff as and
when I harvested crops throughout the season , maybe throw in some grass
cuttings from home, maybe throw in paper from the shredding machine,
maybe throw in some straw if it available.

Do I have to add accelerators? Do I have to add lime? Do I have to turn
it? Do I add worms? Do I have to pee on it LOL!!

Making compost seems to have become such a scientific skill that I am
now quite wary of even starting to do so, lest I end up with some smelly
sickly sludge that it no good for anything.

Ed

I would not use anything except chicken wire to line the boxes. You
do need some air circulation.

Other than that- you don't need to do anything except start adding
compostable material. The beauty of compost is that it works all on
its own. Sure, if it gets really dry you can hose it down a little.
You can add stuff in distinct layers (kitchen scraps/grass/soil for
example) and you might speed things up a bit. But none of that is
necessary. Um, you mentioned pallets- are they solid on the bottom?
Will it be impossible for worms to migrate into the compost? If so,
you might want to put some soil with worms on the bottom to start.

Chris