How to start a compost bin

The removed turf is better stacked in a corner to rot down itself - cover with a bit of plastic if you have any. It is a bit dense for your compost bin and would tend to stop air circulation - resulting in slime!
Start your compost bin off by putting in layers of weeds, kitchen peelings etc, interspersed with torn up newspaper, cardboard etc. Don't make any of the layers deeper than about 6". Some twiggy bits now and again will help the air to circulate.
Fling in a bit of earth to encourage helpful beasties and some wee if you can do it without getting arrested.
Cover it with a bit of carpet or a bin bag.
This time of year it should start to heat up quickly, then all you need to do is stir it or turn it in about 3 weeks and it will be ready a couple of weeks after that.
It doesn't matter if you haven't got a lot of stuff to add in one go, just add what you have and make sure you alternate the layers, particularly if you put grass cuttings in.

When I started making compost I found a lot of useful information on the Recycle Now site (for example, their step by step guide: http://www.recyclenow.com/home_composting/making_compost/step_by_step.html).  They've changed it round a bit since I looked at it last, but the info should still be there.

If you're getting a compost bin with a lid, you don't have to cover it with anything else.  I find that mine takes a bit longer than three weeks to produce compost, though - maybe six months or a bit longer.  I don't turn it completely, though, just stir it about occasionally.

Should be fine on a slab, although you won't get the extra help from worms crawling up into it.  The advice from 'Recycle Now' is to put a layer of something (paper and twigs or compost) on the bottom to start it off if you can't put the bin on the ground.

A bit of sun is helpful in keeping the bin warm, but mine only gets sun for about an hour in late afternoon and I think some people said recently that they had their compost bins in shady spots, too.

I have four dalek bins, all on a concrete base. I get loads of worms in them once they have cooled down

My black Daleks are in full sun and get pretty hot on the outside in Summer, which I think may be beneficial to raising the temperature inside, and helping accelerate the bugs.

Hi All

re the compost bin- I am new to composting and have made 2 side by side. One of them is about half full now and when I give it a good old dig, there are plenty of worms and it doesn't smell bad. How will I know when its ready for use? Do I have to wait until the bin is full then put it into the second bin and then use the compost at the bottom of the first one.

If you have a spare 10 minutes or so there is a good basic how to compost including when is it ready video here:

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/composting/index.php


Bob