Getting Started

Siting the Container

Once you have chosen your compost bin, choose a site in the garden where it will be in the sun, but, sheltered from the wind. This will help to increase the temperature in the unit and accelerate the composting process. It is also better to place the container on bare soil as this allows good drainage and easy access for worms (you can make this even better by lightly forking the ground over to loosen the soil).

Getting Started

A good mix of ingredients will result in the very best quality compost, the idea is to get a good balance of brown carbon rich materials (i.e. leaves and wood shavings) and nitrogen rich materials (i.e. grass cuttings, weeds and vegetable peelings).

Once you have positioned your bin, put in a thin layer of manure or kitchen waste onto the loose earth to encourage worms and other micro-organisms.

Next add a layer of twigs, cut flowers or remains of houseplants to ensure good circulation.

To gain the best results add material in layers approximately 10 to 20 cm deep (e.g. a nitrogen rich layer of grass cuttings followed by a carbon rich layer of leaves).  By using a good mixture, a better quality of compost is produced in a shorter time.

At regular intervals turn or mix the material using a garden fork to circulate air into the material. If it is too dry you can also help the process by adding water.

Since most people find it difficult to get an ideal mixture of good material it can take several months to produce a good material. Generally the longer you can leave it, the better the end product.

It is possible to speed up the composting process by adding an activator. Various types of activators can be purchased from garden centres, but, some natural substances can have a similar effect, including : grass, nettles, pond weed, seaweed and rabbit droppings.