[Casey76]

I currently have three 1m3 compost bins along the side of my house.  They were full at one point, and I've basically left them alone for almost 2 years.  Unfortunately the plastic has started to degrade, and the lids are cracked and broken, so I would like to replace them in the new year, and actively compost, rather than just use the "forget about them" approach.

The plastic composters are very expensive here (although I bought mine in a sale, I still paid almost 45€ each for them), but given that the plastic has started to degrade after only 4 years, I would like the new bins to be either more robust, or natural and easily replaceable.

I know this is probably like asking how long is a piece of string, but is there a "best" way to compost, or the "best composter"

I think I have all of the requisite materials - grass clippings, shredder/mulched green hedge clippings, veg peelings, oh lots and lots (at the moment) nettles! and shredded paper etc is easy enough to make.

Is it really as easy as bunging it all in a bin, giving it a mix around every so often and letting nature take it's course?

[Fairy Plotmother]

Is it really as easy as bunging it all in a bin, giving it a mix around every so often and letting nature take it's course?
I think it is!  My bins are made from pallets with a bit of old fence weighed down with something heavy as a lid.

[solway cropper]

The only thing you really need to remember is to get a good mix of green and brown materials and you should get good compost. I never bother turning mine but I do include things like toilet roll tubes, corrugated cardboard and scrunched up paper, all of which have air trapped in them.

I'd be inclined to make a liquid feed from the nettles before composting them. It's very useful as a booster and can be applied as a foliar feed.

[Kirpi]

Four discarded wooden pallets lashed together to make a square bin and a dumpy bag weighed down as a cover has given me far better compost than any bought device and of course you are making use of rubbish and all the materials are free.

[jezza]

 i use 4 3by3 posts and wire netting covered with heavy duty black polythene, i also use nettle tops and comfrey as accelerators,have known the plastic to melt with comfrey (80degrees)  a 6byb6 bin 4 feet high usually makes 1/2- 1,1/2tonnes of good compost after a year, after 3 years 3/4 ton of realy black good compost   jezza

[allotmentann]

As well as the good mix of greens and browns ( approx. 50/50), shred small, stir often and keep the mix moist. I leave cardboard by my bins and after it has rained, when the card is all soggy, I shred it and add it to the bin. Too dry compost will take an age to rot, too wet and it will get slimed and smelly. Always damp works best.   

[Grubbypaws]

My husband made me 2 bins out of railway sleepers over 10 years ago and they are still looking really  good as well as doing the job. He used the sleepers on 3 sides and fitted a sliding front; they are a nice feature and it was well worth the initial effort/cost.

It is really good having two ( three might have been even better). When the 'current' bin is full he turns it into the adjoining bin to do its thing and we can start a new bin off. The finished compost is fantastic and goes into the raised beds for a couple of years before being used as a mulch around the garden.