Tomato Facts » Compost Bins

Buying A Compost Bin

tomatogrower — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:39:18 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

Compost Bins

There are many proprietry compost bins on the market today ranging from simple wire constructed compost bins to plastic "tumbler" compost bins and at the top end - sturdy wooden compost bins. Compost bins range widely in price and size so depending on the depth of your pockets you will be guided in your eventual choice. One word of advice - don't go for really small compost bins, they should be able to take at least 200 litres of waste.(Of course you can also make your own compost bin - this is covered in anoth article). Let's go through the different choices available to you.

Plastic Compost Bins

These are sturdy and long lasting with no extra aftercare needed. Easy to move around they represent good value for money. The prices usually range from around £70 to £150. See a wider range of plastic compost bins.

Earthmaker Compost Bin

Thermo-King Composter

Wooden Compost Bins

Wooden compost bins are also very strong and sturdy but not only can they be very heavy to move around, they often don't last as long as a plastic bin unless they have either been specially treated or you take it upon yourself to look after them by regularly treating them with wood preserver.

Having said that, they always look, to my mind, much nicer in a garden than the plastic compost bin which I always hide behind a trellis. Surprisingly perhaps, they are not as expensive as you might think.

Often coming in kit form they are easily put together, often without the need for tools or nails, so perfect for the not so "DIYer"! And at the end of the day, they too are biodegradeable.

Wooden compost bins range in price from around £40 to £100.

I have found that is a good idea to have at least 2 compost bins on the go. One that's filled, covered and breaking down the waste and one that you are in the process of filling. Hopefully, if all goes well by the time you have filled up the second compost bin the first one's contents will be ready to use.

Modular Wooden Compost Bins

Wooden Compost Bin and Module

Whatever type of compost bin you choose, they must be covered. Keeping the top of your compost covered helps to keep the heat in, stops smells and also helps to stop waste material being blown around the garden, after all, the last thing you want is that pile of dry leaves that you've so painstakingly raked up being blown all around again! Good coverings include old carpet or lino, heavy duty plastic or even an old blanket.

Spinning Compost Maker Tumbler Bin Composter Garden
US $78.77

Spinning Compost Maker Tumbler Bin Composter Garden
US $69.00

Spinning Compost Maker Tumbler Bin Composter Garden
US $.01

Click Here For All Your Tomato Growing Needs

How To Make Your Own Compost

tomatogrower — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:34:31 +0000

: Image by bunchofpants via Flickr

Making your own compost is one of the best and cheapest ways to recycle unused household waste and create something useful in return. There are various ways to make your own compost so let's start with the basics -

What can I put in my Compost Bin

There are many things you can put into your compost bin. Here is just a small list:-

Shredded paper - newspaper & brownpaper is best as it's relatively untreated. Although if you shred your household papers (as we do) then composting them is an excellent way to dispose of the paper.
Loo rolls - these are great for adding bulk to the compost and break down readily.
Kitchen scraps - fruit and vegetables plus peelings, teabags, coffee grounds, eggshells
Garden waste - annual weeds, dry leaves, grass clippings, fruit and vegetables, straw, hay
Seaweed
Chicken droppings

What Not To Put In Your Compost Bin

No animal derivatives such as bread, meat (cooked or uncooked)
No cooked food such as vegetables, pasta
Soiled tissues
Excrement (except from chickens or ducks)
Perennial weeds such as bindweed or dandelion roots

The best way to build up your compost bin is in layers, so a layer of paper followed by a thin layer of grass clippings followed by some straw, and so on, building them up. If a layer is too thick such as a layer of grass clippings, it will become slimy and smelly because air will be unable to circulate freely.

Every 3 - 6 days it's a good idea to turn your compost over, thus ensuring that all of the waste has a chance to rot down evenly. Nowadays you can even get rotating or "tumling" compost bins which makes it really easy to turn over the compost with the minimum of effort.

Compact Compostumbler - Large Capacity

Envirocycle Composter - Smaller Capacity

Spinning Compost Maker Tumbler Bin Composter Garden
US $78.77

Spinning Compost Maker Tumbler Bin Composter Garden
US $69.00

Spinning Compost Maker Tumbler Bin Composter Garden
US $.01

Click Here For All Your Tomato Growing Needs

Modular Wooden Compost Bins

tomatogrower — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:55:49 +0000

Buy Now >>> Price - £86.95

"We were impressed by the design of these modular compost bins; they incorporate a host of features for keen composters! Can be assembled in minutes - no nails, screws or holes to dig. Slide-out panels on all sides for easy access. 573 litres (20 cu.ft.) capacity per module. Wood provides good insulation, while allowing the compost to 'breathe'. Timber is from managed forests, and treated with non-toxic preservative. Supplied with cover sheet and 8 page guide"

read the full article

Click Here For All Your Tomato Growing Needs

Wooden Compost Bin and Module

tomatogrower — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:14:08 +0000

Buy Now >>> Price - £146.9

"We were impressed by the design of these modular compost bins; they incorporate a host of features for keen composters. Can be assembled in minutes, no nails, screws or holes to dig. 573 litres (20 cu. ft.) capacity per module. Wood provides good insulation, allowing the compost to 'breathe', the timber is from managed forest and treated with non-toxic preservative. Supplied with cover sheet and 8-page guide booklet. You can start with one, but we recommend two"

read the full article

Click Here For All Your Tomato Growing Needs

Wooden Compost Module

tomatogrower — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:46:22 +0000

Buy Now >>> Price - £69.95

"We were impressed by the design of these modular compost bins; they incorporate a host of features for keen composters! Can be assembled in minutes - no nails, screws or holes to dig. Slide-out panels on all sides for easy access. 573 litres (20 cu.ft.) capacity per module. Wood provides good insulation, while allowing the compost to 'breathe'. Timber is from managed forests, and treated with non-toxic preservative. Supplied with cover sheet and 8 page guide booklet."

read the full article

Click Here For All Your Tomato Growing Needs