Hi,

We have a very small garden, with no room for a "conventional" compost
heap. I have got access to a number of 25 litre plastic drums, and
was going to convert one of those. One of the main advantages will be
that I can turn it easily.
Can anyone point out any ways to improve this idea?:

Make about 30 5mm holes in the base of the drum. Stand the drum on
bricks, to allow air through. Wrap bubble wrap around the drum in a
forlorn attempt to insulate it. If I'm going to shake the drum, what
can I use in the bottom to ensure the air holes stay open, that won't
move about too much?

Filling it:
We'll only be using vegetative kitchen scraps, posted through the cap
hole. Should I try to "start" the compost with a couple of handfuls
of someone else's compost? Will pure kitchen waste be too rich? Do I
need to water the compost - bearing in mind that the cap will be on
all the time, so no rain wetting!

Once the compost is made, I'll cut the drum open to release it!

Thanks,
Nathan

Hello Nathan,
You don't say if you're standing the bin on concrete or soil.
Compost heaps are better on soil, unless you're straining the liquor off.
You did not mention this, so my advice would be to cut off the bottom of the
bin and stand it on soil. When the compost is ready, you can remove it by
lifting the bin; that way you retain the bin and can start adding compost.
This must be easier than destroying the bin and filling land-fill sites with
plastic.

My plastic ex-dustbin composter is very efficient in the summer (less so in
winter) even though I don't turn it. (I do, however, turn my larger bins).

As to your entirely kitchen scraps content, you should produce reasonable
compost. Beware the mix getting too wet and slimy. Let some scraps dry out
or add some newspaper. A heap should be a mix of green, nitrogenous matter
(lawn clippings and vegetative waste) and carbonaceous matter (more woody
material, paper, cardboard, etc.)

Some experts advocate using all your organic waste. Others are more
cautious. I, for instance, avoid potato peelings (they resprout and may
infect your heap with disease) and orange peelings and too much onion, as
they are said to be too acidic for the worms whose work we rely on.

As you suggest, it may help to add some worm-rich compost from another heap.
If you can't, however, the process will start naturally.

Spider.
Nathan Critchlow-Watton wrote in
message om...
Hi,

We have a very small garden, with no room for a "conventional" compost
heap. I have got access to a number of 25 litre plastic drums, and
was going to convert one of those. One of the main advantages will be
that I can turn it easily.
Can anyone point out any ways to improve this idea?:

Make about 30 5mm holes in the base of the drum. Stand the drum on
bricks, to allow air through. Wrap bubble wrap around the drum in a
forlorn attempt to insulate it. If I'm going to shake the drum, what
can I use in the bottom to ensure the air holes stay open, that won't
move about too much?

Filling it:
We'll only be using vegetative kitchen scraps, posted through the cap
hole. Should I try to "start" the compost with a couple of handfuls
of someone else's compost? Will pure kitchen waste be too rich? Do I
need to water the compost - bearing in mind that the cap will be on
all the time, so no rain wetting!

Once the compost is made, I'll cut the drum open to release it!

Thanks,
Nathan

On 11 Dec 2003 01:56:03 -0800,
(Nathan Critchlow-Watton) wrote:

Hi,

We have a very small garden, with no room for a "conventional" compost
heap. I have got access to a number of 25 litre plastic drums, and
was going to convert one of those. One of the main advantages will be
that I can turn it easily.
Can anyone point out any ways to improve this idea?:

Make about 30 5mm holes in the base of the drum. Stand the drum on
bricks, to allow air through. Wrap bubble wrap around the drum in a
forlorn attempt to insulate it. If I'm going to shake the drum, what
can I use in the bottom to ensure the air holes stay open, that won't
move about too much?

Filling it:
We'll only be using vegetative kitchen scraps, posted through the cap
hole. Should I try to "start" the compost with a couple of handfuls
of someone else's compost? Will pure kitchen waste be too rich? Do I
need to water the compost - bearing in mind that the cap will be on
all the time, so no rain wetting!

Once the compost is made, I'll cut the drum open to release it!

Further to Spider's recommendations, I've found that not a lot keeps
the air holes open - as the compost breaks down it simply falls into
whatever gaps you might have left and blocks the holes.
The only way to get air into the mix is to turn the compost, or at
least fork it over.
I've got an old fork that I've cut the end two splines off - this can
be shoved right into the compost, turned and lifted. Works a treat!

Watch out for rats - depending on how rural you are this might be a
problem. You won't believe how quickly they can gnaw through even
quite thick plastic, I've had to enclose my drums in fine chicken
wire.

I bung all vegetable waste into my bins on the grounds that it's been
jockeying for position on the vegetable rack - if there are any
diseases present in the veg then it'll find its way onto the other veg
anyway. Simply avoid any waste that's obviously knackered.

An occasional pot of urine will help to break things down, as will the
addition of a spadeful of fresh manure.

If you've no access to old manure to kick things off, a couple of
handfuls of soil should 'inoculate' the bin with an assortment of
organisms.
Failing that, a small sheet of black plastic placed on the ground over
some kitchen scraps will attract the brandling worms. Weigh it down,
or it will attract mice and rats too.

Regards,







--
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
www.shwoodwind.co.uk
Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk

I agree with "Spider" that you would be better removing bottom of
barrel and standing it directly on the soil. I use a plastic dustbin
upside sown with bottom cut out and use lid with brick on top.
It is tnen narrower at top and the bin can easily be removed to start
a fresh "heap".

However if you want to shake, rattle or roll it, you would need a
fitted lid and holes not just in the bottom but up the sides too.

By now you need at least 3 to compare these methods!

Pam in Bristol

On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 15:19:03 +0000, Pam Moore
wrote:

I agree with "Spider" that you would be better removing bottom of
barrel and standing it directly on the soil. I use a plastic dustbin
upside sown with bottom cut out and use lid with brick on top.
It is tnen narrower at top and the bin can easily be removed to start
a fresh "heap".

However if you want to shake, rattle or roll it, you would need a
fitted lid and holes not just in the bottom but up the sides too.

By now you need at least 3 to compare these methods!

We have something similar supplied by the local authority.
It has a closeable aperture the size of a large cat flap cut in the
side at the base, you can use this to shovel out the finished product.
--
Martin

"Nathan Critchlow-Watton" wrote in
message om...
Hi,

We have a very small garden, with no room for a "conventional" compost
heap. I have got access to a number of 25 litre plastic drums, and
was going to convert one of those. One of the main advantages will be
that I can turn it easily.
Can anyone point out any ways to improve this idea?:

Make about 30 5mm holes in the base of the drum. Stand the drum on
bricks, to allow air through. Wrap bubble wrap around the drum in a
forlorn attempt to insulate it. If I'm going to shake the drum, what
can I use in the bottom to ensure the air holes stay open, that won't
move about too much?

Filling it:
We'll only be using vegetative kitchen scraps, posted through the cap
hole. Should I try to "start" the compost with a couple of handfuls
of someone else's compost? Will pure kitchen waste be too rich? Do I
need to water the compost - bearing in mind that the cap will be on
all the time, so no rain wetting!

Once the compost is made, I'll cut the drum open to release it!

Thanks,
Nathan

Your idea will be fine but have 2 one full and one empty .......just add
lashings of urine as an accelerator to your mix of stuff for
composting........worms will enter from the soil through your 5mm holes

turn the bin out every 3 months into the empty one .......this is what
speeds the process and in a year you should have brilliant compost
Old carpet wrapped around would be just as good but preferably site the bins
in a sunny corner not a cold damp one

Any chance of others getting some of the plastic bins you have access too
??????

"bnd777" wrote in message ...
Your idea will be fine but have 2 one full and one empty .......just add
lashings of urine as an accelerator to your mix of stuff for
composting........worms will enter from the soil through your 5mm holes
SNIP
Any chance of others getting some of the plastic bins you have access too
??????

Thank you all very much for your comments and ideas.

Soil is too precious in our garden to put a composter on, so it'll be
standing on bricks next to the bin! I won't chuck the drum out at the
end of the year, I'm going to cut an access hole to shake compost out
of This will be "sealable" so I can shake the drum up to mix it. I
realised I will probably get bored of shaking compost out of it, so
this is just an initial idea.

Following on from ideas about aeration, I will run a pipe through the
middle of the drum, with holes drilled along it, open to the air at
the top and bottom. Hopefully this will get some convection currents
through the compost, and along with shaking it should provide
sufficient oxygen. The holes in the bottom will then only be to drip
out excess moisture. I might install a collection system for this
liquor!

Thanks too for comments about using it. I'll put in the odd handful
of ripped up paper, and maybe a handful of woodash every now and
again?
Peeing on it sounds fun, but does anyone know if URG correspondence
will be accepted as a legal defence for indecent exposure?

I'm afraid that all the drums from work are either taken away to carry
water to horses (not by me), act as water butts or make Heath Robinson
composters!
And yes, I have considered horse manure as a starter, but the idea of
trying to squish it through the cap is revolting.

Thanks,
Nathan

On Thu, 11 Dec 2003 23:59:10 +0000 (UTC), "bnd777"
wrote:


Your idea will be fine but have 2 one full and one empty .......just add
lashings of urine as an accelerator to your mix of stuff for
composting........worms will enter from the soil through your 5mm holes

speak for yourself :-)


--
Martin

The message
from (Nathan Critchlow-Watton)
contains these words:


Thank you all very much for your comments and ideas.

Soil is too precious in our garden to put a composter on, so it'll be
standing on bricks next to the bin!
I'm afraid that all the drums from work are either taken away to carry
water to horses (not by me), act as water butts or make Heath Robinson
composters!

Have you thought of making a drum into a wormbin instead of a compost
heap? It would dispose of all the kitchen waste fater than a small
compost tub; you'd get compost and liquid fertiliser from it. If you
have space for it in a shed, garage, basement or sheltered carport that
would be ideal as the worms should be kept free of frost or sweltering
sun.

Janet.

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from (Nathan Critchlow-Watton)
contains these words:


Thank you all very much for your comments and ideas.

Soil is too precious in our garden to put a composter on, so it'll be
standing on bricks next to the bin!
I'm afraid that all the drums from work are either taken away to carry
water to horses (not by me), act as water butts or make Heath Robinson
composters!

Have you thought of making a drum into a wormbin instead of a compost
heap? It would dispose of all the kitchen waste fater than a small
compost tub; you'd get compost and liquid fertiliser from it. If you
have space for it in a shed, garage, basement or sheltered carport that
would be ideal as the worms should be kept free of frost or sweltering
sun.

We produce betwen 1 and 2 lbs of vegetable waste daily. How large a bin
would I have to install in the garage to decompose, say, at the rate of 2
lbs per day?

Franz

The message
from "Franz Heymann" contains these words:


"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...

Have you thought of making a drum into a wormbin instead of a compost
heap? It would dispose of all the kitchen waste fater than a small
compost tub; you'd get compost and liquid fertiliser from it. If you
have space for it in a shed, garage, basement or sheltered carport that
would be ideal as the worms should be kept free of frost or sweltering
sun.

We produce betwen 1 and 2 lbs of vegetable waste daily.

You really should learn to cook properly.

How large a bin
would I have to install in the garage to decompose, say, at the rate of 2
lbs per day?

One's plenty, it's the worm size that's crucial.

Janet

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from (Nathan Critchlow-Watton)
contains these words:


Thank you all very much for your comments and ideas.

Soil is too precious in our garden to put a composter on, so it'll be
standing on bricks next to the bin!
I'm afraid that all the drums from work are either taken away to carry
water to horses (not by me), act as water butts or make Heath Robinson
composters!

Have you thought of making a drum into a wormbin instead of a compost
heap? It would dispose of all the kitchen waste fater than a small
compost tub; you'd get compost and liquid fertiliser from it. If you
have space for it in a shed, garage, basement or sheltered carport that
would be ideal as the worms should be kept free of frost or sweltering
sun.

We produce betwen 1 and 2 lbs of vegetable waste daily. How large a bin
would I have to install in the garage to decompose, say, at the rate of 2
lbs per day?

Franz


Dustbin size would be just great Franz
In fact converting a plastic dustbin into a worm bin is darned easy

Reply-To: "Franz Heymann"
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"bnd777" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from (Nathan Critchlow-Watton)
contains these words:


Thank you all very much for your comments and ideas.

Soil is too precious in our garden to put a composter on, so it'll
be
standing on bricks next to the bin!
I'm afraid that all the drums from work are either taken away to
carry
water to horses (not by me), act as water butts or make Heath
Robinson
composters!

Have you thought of making a drum into a wormbin instead of a
compost
heap? It would dispose of all the kitchen waste fater than a small
compost tub; you'd get compost and liquid fertiliser from it. If you
have space for it in a shed, garage, basement or sheltered carport
that
would be ideal as the worms should be kept free of frost or
sweltering
sun.

We produce betwen 1 and 2 lbs of vegetable waste daily. How large a bin
would I have to install in the garage to decompose, say, at the rate of
2
lbs per day?

Franz


Dustbin size would be just great Franz
In fact converting a plastic dustbin into a worm bin is darned easy

Thanks. I'll have a bash.

Franz

Reply-To: "Franz Heymann"
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"bnd777" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message
from (Nathan Critchlow-Watton)
contains these words:


Thank you all very much for your comments and ideas.

Soil is too precious in our garden to put a composter on, so it'll
be
standing on bricks next to the bin!
I'm afraid that all the drums from work are either taken away to
carry
water to horses (not by me), act as water butts or make Heath
Robinson
composters!

Have you thought of making a drum into a wormbin instead of a
compost
heap? It would dispose of all the kitchen waste fater than a small
compost tub; you'd get compost and liquid fertiliser from it. If you
have space for it in a shed, garage, basement or sheltered carport
that
would be ideal as the worms should be kept free of frost or
sweltering
sun.

We produce betwen 1 and 2 lbs of vegetable waste daily. How large a bin
would I have to install in the garage to decompose, say, at the rate of
2
lbs per day?

Franz


Dustbin size would be just great Franz
In fact converting a plastic dustbin into a worm bin is darned easy

Thanks. I'll have a bash.

Franz