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How To Use A Compost Tumbler Or Compost Bin

Directions for composting with our Compost Tumbler / Compost Bin  ‘The Compost Creator’

1. Place composter in a sunny position – 95˚F – 160˚F (35˚-71˚C). Best range: 122˚-130˚F (50˚-55˚C). 130˚-150˚F (55˚-65˚C) will kill seeds and pathogens, but do not go above these temperatures.
2. Add compostable materials – Use 1/3 green to 2/3 brown to ensure a good finished product. Add a handful of fresh topsoil to bring in new microbes. Special accelerates may be used but follow manufacturers instructions carefully. Best to fill ‘The Compost Creator“ half way, and definitely not more than 2/3 full, as this reduces aeration and kills important microbes.
3. Tumble ‘The Compost Creator’ once a week and whenever you add more. The contents should all turn brown, moist and soil-like, and have an earthy smell in about 2-4 weeks ready to put on your plants or vegetables.

Compost problems and solutions

What if your composting doesn’t seem to be working?

• Could be too full – Remove some material, add some soil and turn several times.
• Heck temperature – Too cold? Move to a sunnier place or cover barrel with insulating material. Too hot? Move to a cool, shady, breezier area.
• If nothing works – empty bin and start off again with step 1, mixing old and new materials.

 

Ideal composting materials:

Green – Rich in nitrogen – 1/3^rd

• Bread
• Cooked food
• Dairy products
• Egg shells
• Fruit and vegetables
• Garden/house plants
• Grass cuttings
• Raw meat and bones (sparingly)
• Tea leaves/bags
• Coffee grounds
• Weeds (not any that have gone to seed)

Brown – carbon rich – 2/3^rd

• Bedding from pet cages (rabbits etc)
• Feathers
• Hedge trimmings
• Paper and cardboard
• Straw and hay
• Wood chips and sawdust
• Dried leaves and grass

IMPORTANT – DO NOT ADD

• Dog or cat litter or poo
• Ashes not from wood
• Nappies, glass, plastic, metal
• Toxic materials
• Diseased plants or any gone to seed

Composting tips

Maggots help compost, but indicate it may have wet patches

Breaking material down before adding it will reduce composting time

Don’t add too much meat or grass. It can make the compost too wet and reduce aerobic bacterial growth

Make compost tea – nutritious plant food – add a little compost to 4-8 litres of water

Don’t add paper with lead based inks on it

Avoid repeatedly adding to the same compost batch as this would increase composting time

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