[oakridge]

Here is my composting system, I am lucky in not being short of space.

Photo 1 shows the dalek bin where the kitchen waste goes plus and equal amount of green/brown stuff and and shredded paper. This is emptied into the first green bin.

Photo 2 shows the main compost heap which gradually moves forward as it is used and is refilled with compost from the green bins and bulky compost.

Photo 3 shows my seed/potting compost made from the compost pile.

Photo 4 shows the plastic greenhouse where the propagating is done.  The little grey gadget in the foreground is my new toy an automatic gas bottle switch over which proved its worth when it did its job on a very cold night.  I had not noticed what a mess the floor is - must do something about that.

[Snoop]

That looks very organised. How long does the whole process take, would you say?

[oakridge]

The Dalek takes about 3 months to fill and gets very hot and is emptied into the lefthand green bin which takes about 6 months to fill because grass clippings etc goes in as well.  That bin is emptied into the righthand bin which is gradually emptied into the heap as it is moved forward.  The heap receives all sorts of other stuff, much of it strimmings from the rough areas of the yard.  To actually answer your question the whole process takes probably 18 months to 2 years.  One or two friends and neighbours have a few barrow loads also.

The green bins which are 900l and the barrels which are 350l are available at discount through some local authorities including Rotherham.  I don't have the details to hand but I can look it up if you like.

[Snoop]

Thanks, Oakridge. I need to get my composting system under better control. Yours looks very interesting.

No need to look anything up. It'd be a long way to ship things from the UK to here! 

[oakridge]

Ah, yes, I had not noticed where you are based.  The system started after I gave up livestock leaving a lot of 'muck'  to to get me restarted in horticulture, then a dairy farmer friend borrowed my little tractor to do some clearing and brought my 12 big tractor loads of 'muck'.   I don't get any animal manure now so I have had to adopt other systems.