On our recent Facebook post about raking the orchard yet again, a family friend mentioned how good the leaves would be as mulch in the vegetable beds. So, as naïve ex-Londoners, we thought we’d have plenty of rotted leaves ready to go in our compost bins. Little did we realise that it takes quite a long time while for leaves to rot, and so we’d have to fork through the huge pile to get to the stuff that was there when we arrived. As we started, we also realised we had no idea what ‘good compost’ looks like, and that “mulching the veg beds” wouldn’t be as easy as it sounds…
We consulted the experts (my parents) and quickly realised that all the pine needles and sticks we’d merrily thrown in there over the last few months were NOT good compost, and that we’d have to sort through the existing bins to strip it all out. Not a problem, we thought – we’d been given some beautifully-crafted homemade compost bins as a housewarming gift from my parents and had yet to construct them – so thought we could build these and transfer the compost from the old compost ‘bins’ that were falling apart into the new ones, sorting as we went.
The old bins – or what’s left of them
We found a good site just beneath our pine trees – close to the old bins (not too far to move the compost) and in a space where nothing grows anyway; then flattened three patches and installed our new beds, looking very smart next to the old ones. Then we started poking through the compost… and quickly realised that it would take more than the morning we’d allowed! So many twigs and pine needles mixed in with the leaves and grass cuttings that had to be taken out with gloves – and then the pleasure of rotting fruit every so often as well… We tried transferring it by wheelbarrow at first, but quickly gave up as we realised it was taking twice as much effort. So instead we attempted to balance as much as possible on a fork, and carry it across without spilling too much, while avoiding the dog who decided that was the only place she wanted to play that day.
Changing our goal down from ‘all of the compost’ to ‘one bin’, we gave up when the smell got too bad and dark skies threatened, deciding that it was time for indoor jobs, and that the remaining compost would have to wait. And with rain due over the next week, it gives us an excuse to leave it until we’ve forgotten what a horrible job it was, and have a burst of enthusiasm again. Mulching the veg beds will just have to wait…
… In the meantime, if anyone has advice on what makes good & bad compost, we’d love to hear it – anything to make things a bit easier and quicker!!
There’s a lot of compost to move across to the new bins!
Ley Farm Cottages 
Full marks for seeing the value of homemade compost. But you must have green and brown material in the mix and ideally turn it every six weeks ( but we all forget!). I don’t put autumn leaves in as all our leaves go on the leaf mould pile – perfect for soil conditioner. Leaves decompose slowly over the year but your compost needs to decompose faster. Another tip – the smaller the pieces you add the better. If Santa brings you a mulcher/ muncher/ shredder whatever you like to call it, then it will make perfect size material. Cardboard, wood chips, all good brown material.
I don’t put weeds in the compost- have a separate pile or they go in bags to the tip.
There is a science to successful compost making so yes google the subject.
You are aiming all the time for a lovely earthy smell, so if when you’re turning at any point and it smells ‘off’ then your green to brown ratio needs adjusting.
Will stop now as websites will furnish you with all you need to know!
You have come a long way since you moved in and worked so hard. All looking good. How about a nice rest over Christmas?!! 🎄🎄🎄 MERRY CHRISTMAS.
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Ooh thank you!! Great advice and much appreciated… we spent some more time this weekend moving more compost and mixed cardboard in with it as suggested – no doubt our recycling collectors will be grateful as well!! We’ve also kept our third bin for leaf mould, although it’s been far too wet to rake up the rest of the leaves without damaging the soil :( hopefully we’ll get a few dry days over the Xmas period to finish off.
Merry Christmas to you both too, and to the rest of the family! x
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Like the new compost bins – useful house warming present – not able to advise what makes good compost – try Googling it! Good luck with transferring the rest of the useful leaves etc to the new bins.
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