Reply To: Hot compost box

[JC]

I have been using a hot bin for two years and love it! I have a small town garden with no space for a large compost pile but lots of prunings and lawn clippings in the summer. We have urban foxes and squirrels, and probably rats, so having all compost in a small secure non smelly box that does not need turning is a bonus. I have lots of plants in pots, so frequently need compost to top these up or replant and can’t wait 2 years for a large compost pile to break down. I have a Bokashi bucket in the kitchen, so all vegetable peelings, chopped up chicken carcasses after making stock, old bread etc go in a biodegradable bag with some Bokashi bran for two weeks and news paper to mop up Bokashi juice, and this then goes into the hot bin and mixed in a little. The temperature in the bin in 40degrees today (outside temp 6 degrees) with lots of worms trying to escape upwards to get away from the heat., which kills weed seeds. I have never used bulking agent – twigs, prunings and shredded newspaper seem to keep the air flowing. Yes- expensive to start up, but do not have to buy any compost or fertiliser, don’t have to deal with vermin, don’t have to turn compost, have a tidy patio and now only large meat bones and mussel shells go to recycling.