[paula953]

This may be in the wrong place but just how do you make compost?
I have never done this before. We will be getting a compost bin from the Council.
I know you use kitchen waste like potatoe peelings etc No Meat or weeds obvisouly and that you can use  the plants once they have finished cropping.
My question is how do you do it so you get realy nice compost?
A neighbour tried it once using some compost excelerant stuff and got a rather nasty mound of very slimy stuff not fit for anything.
I want to get usable compost and need to know just how you go about it using a compost bin.

[WG.]

Have a look at http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/compost_pf.php

I mostly make worm compost now since it copes much better with small amounts of stuff added weekly.   I'll make a heap or two in Jul/Aug when there is loads of material available - makes it easier to achieve the high temperatures needed.

P.S. Weeds are great in a compost heap - only way to get back the nutrients that the * have stolen.

[WG.]

Oh ... and make sure you make room for a comfrey patch

[FatGaz]

Yes I have heard that weeds are good in the compost bin, as long as they are not flowering / gone to seed.

[muntjac]

or are roots like couch grass  

[Eristic]

This is the method that I use as it costs nothing, uses the minimum of my time and turns good results within a year.

Moriatis Composting Method

[paula953]

Brilliant thanks for the advice I have saved the sites to favs that way I cn go back and re-read them.
So weeds are ok as long as they are not flowering or gone to seed. I thought they would be a problem.

[Trillium]

The RHS website has a handy pdf page for Home Composting at rhs.org.uk/learning/research/projects/home_composting.asp
Papa John also has an article in either Allotments or More Allotments about how to make a compost bin. One is never enough - like candy.    

[Plot No 2]

I ersonally found this website very interesting.
http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/QR/QRToC.html
Some usefull tips hiddeninside the book as well.

[shaun]

another tip for compost is when you empty it.
make a riddle out off 25mm mesh and a timber frame to fit over your barrow ,as you dig your compost out it will sort out any big stuff.