[londongardener]

My dalek bin is full but the compost is not ready yet.

Could I just dig a hole and put stuff in there and let it rot ?  If so for how long.

Or would a tumbler be a good idea ?

I have a small garden but in theory can have lots of material for composting.

So ideally need something small, cheap and quick.

Space is a very big problem.  If for example it is possible to put material to compost in a hole between eg raspberry canes (probably a very bad idea) that would be a good.
Time is also a problem.

[GreenOwl]

When my darlek bin gets full, I move it and turn the contents.  There's usually some ready stuff at the bottom so I put all the unready stuff back in the darlek but there's some more space because the ready stuff is out, (ready to be used )

Otherwise I'd just start a new pile outside the darlek myself.  Its worth keeping an eye on your local council's recycling info.  Ours have just started another offer of half price darleks so I may well get another.

You could start a bean trench if you're planning on growing beans.  Dig a trench and fill it with compostable stuff, cover with soil as you go.

Grass cuttings and shreddings can be put out of sight under or behind shrubs/hedges.

[noshed]

Definately turn it as above - it will go off like mad and give you loads more room.

[PAH48]

Hi, after reading this thread earlier, I went to empty a couple of buckets, vedge waste, into the darlek, No greens on top, two buckets full last Sunday, think-think!

Turns out I spotted a hole/tunnel, about 3" dia, could it be a rat or even a hedgehog?  If the later I didn't want to stab around  with a garden fork.
 
 My solution has been to empty the whole thing, put a pile of chicken wire under, put the lot back, well mixed now.

If anyone else has a better solution please shout up I'm sure, I'm not the first or last to have had this problem.

PS hope I've put this on the right thread, there was no intention of highjacking someone elses I promise,

BYE PAH

[WG.]

Sounds like a rat so chicken wire is the answer

[PAH48]

Cheers W.G.
That was an hour or so ago, the OH thought I'd cracked up, just said it needed airating, mention a rat? ooh no-NO  

Thanks for the quick reply, PAH

[Trillium]

Rats can easily tear through chicken wire. I use weld mesh (hardware cloth) under all my bins and nothing gets through that except the worms.  

[PAH48]

Cheers Trillium, all I had at the time c/mesh OH watching ect.  

Some things better not said...Thanks for the imput will look into something heavier, when I've got 5.....Bye PAH

[Annie]

We put mesh under our bins,the rats ate through the sides,plastic and wood.