That 80 degrees was, of course, Fahrenheit. The internal thermometer is easier to read in F.
Today, and for the last week, the bin has been pretty steady at 120 degrees F / 50 degrees C. I cut two huge hydrangeas back yesterday and put the prunings into the hot bin, completely filling it and lowering the temperature (at the top) to 80 F / 27 C. This morning the temperature was back up to 120 F / 50 C and the volume had dropped to about 25 cm below the top.
I think it's going to tick over nicely now, so I'll report again when something new has happened.
Hi Crowan,
You got me looking up these hot compost makers. Very expensive! Are they worth it? They sound like they are amazing, but I'm struggling with whether I can justify spending that much dosh, when I've already got one - albeit that is usually wet and soggy and takes months if not years to make compost.
Judy
Hi Crowan,
You got me looking up these hot compost makers. Very expensive! Are they worth it? They sound like they are amazing, but I'm struggling with whether I can justify spending that much dosh, when I've already got one - albeit that is usually wet and soggy and takes months if not years to make compost.
Judy
If you can hang on a couple of weeks, I'm intending to investigate the end result (we have visitors until then - I don't think they'd appreciate emptying a compost bin for entertainment) and I'll let you know how it goes.
I I don't think they'd appreciate emptying a compost bin for entertainment
:p
I'll wait - thanks.
Judy
Visitors have gone and the compost bin is (half) emptied.
I'm impressed. I'm even considering getting a second one. We have a large garden - I don't suppose that would be suitable for most people.
There are a few things to bear in mind if you are thinking of getting one, however, as they are expensive (£185).
First, you need to keep it fed. I put in two or three 5-litre caddies of kitchen waste a week, plus some garden waste. If I got another, it would be mainly taking the garden waste.
You need to chop everything small before you add it.
You need to add a bulking agent each time you put anything in. Mainly I use egg cartons and the insides of kitchen and toilet rolls. Newspaper if I need more.
(I don't think it would be suitable for a small garden. Before we moved, I used a Bokashi system that worked very well.)
The compost was really good, and easy to get out as the whole of the lower half of the front of the bin lifts away. A good half of the total of what was in the bin had composted and it was easy to leave the rest in situ, close up the front and push it down to the base of the bin. Of course, now it has all cooled, so I am building up the next load, to use in another three months.
If you are interested, there's a lot of infohere.