[aquitaine]

We are wanting to start a compost heap on our new vegetable garden....we've never made one before so some help is needed, please...
1.We have de-turfed the field, can we build up 3 sides with the turves, and use that as the border of the heap?
2 If the fourth side and top are left open, will we have a big problem with flies?
3. If this idea is total rubbish (excuse the pun) how can we best make our compost heap.  We live in rural France, and the local farmers here don't DO compost, just good old fashioned "merde" ...cows***
Many thanks for any composting help, building, what we can use on it etc.
Merci beaucoup

[poultrygeist]

Hi Aquitaine,

I would think turves would not be a problem, as long as the structure will hold for a few moths. Obviously, it would all rot in together and you'd have a composted compost bin at the end but it woudl hold the heat in. Don't know whether it would benefit from regular turning to get plenty of air into the heap. Would guess the ambient temperatures there would make it a quick process, and a bit of merde included would certainly speed it all up.

Bonne matinee

Rob

[aquitaine]

Thanks for the reply, sounds like we'll have a self composting compost heap!
Do we need to buy any sort of chemical additive to start the process?
Our only gardening book is a 1974 Percy Thrower....mind you don't think that much has changed.
Is there anything that will deter the flies...they are enormous, and very persistant here.

[compostqueen]

if you don't put cooked food on it you shouldn't have a problem with flies.  It's best kept covered which keeps heat in and flies down  

[belto]

Hi after building varios composts over the years I think a simple four sided construction out of any material works well.
It needs to have ventilation from the side to activate and feed the bacteral
 also a cover to stop too much moisture washing into the compost.
But it still needs water accasionally.
Each time material is added to the heap mix in well with the previous load and also include some soil.
In my experience composts do not smell or have flies
Male urine is  a great activator

[compostqueen]

I water mine too, especially if I see a mouse sitting in the top     If you do get some flies round the top when you take off the lid or top I just leave it off for five minutes while I do something else, then return to it nd they will have dispersed