Hi Beanie, loving the videos so far! I ordered my hotbin today and I can't wait to start composting. I'm already collecting grass clippings! Thanks for the informative videos as always.
In this heat wave I was able to keep my hot bin in the green about 50c with just food waste and old dry garden trimming. I've not been able to cut my grass in over a month it's only just about long enough now for a cut
Hello Beanie, thanks for another useful and positive video. So glad that it rained in last few days in SouthEast - we are in Thames Water hosepipe ban area. I was even glad to see some slugs! As you say this Summer most plants have really struggled to put on growth and this has reduced the green feed for the bin. I have managed to keep the bin hot by doing small amounts of pruning of shrubs and the hot weather has made a passion flower plant go into overdrive despite not being watered, so Ive had to cut it back regularly to stop it invading next door's garden and smothering everything else. Im still getting stale bread and cakes from local cafe to add to my food waste and this has really helped keep the bin hot as well. Weirdly after 10 weeks of getting no leachate out, I am now getting some but only about a tablespoon full every few days, no idea why. By the way I found the metal mesh that fits over the air vent that I lost after cleaning it - it was in a flower bed, have not put it back as my DIY plastic version is still OK. Thanks again for taking the time to do the videos
You are welcome Margaret. Good to hear your hotbin is still doing well. Sounds like the cakes and bread have really helped. That is strange with the leachate but at least you are getting some. I'm not sure Mrs B was as happy as you to see slugs but the rain was a welcome site. I now have the hotbin at 60 so happy days and may need to cut the grass so all looking positive for the hotbin again. Keep up the good work.
I based in Bristol also hot as hell last few months, I decease the use of carbon and lucky I have enough food waste to keep my bin at 60 degrees util recently the weather turn cooler.
Well done Allen for keeping things at 60. I couldn't do that and even now finding it hard to reach the 60 degrees on a regular basis. I am finding I am at 55 most of the time. But at least I have plenty of waste now just cut the grass this evening so that should help things.
Welcome back. My Hotbin has been mega hot for the past 8 weeks, but has suddenly gone out of the green. It’s a bit wet in there. Should I add more cardboard and shredded paper? I’m mostly adding kitchen waste. (Also bulking agent and cardboard).
Hi Helen. It could be a couple of things. If the hotbin is full or waste has been in there for a while it may be compacted and you may just need to empty some from the bottom. If it looks wet then I would try too stir in a carrier bag of paper/cardboard and a good five handfuls of bulking agent. If it is starting to smell bad and is very wet then I would suggest taking it out and trying to dry the waste while it is still sunny and hot. Then add it back after a days drying with the paper/ cardboard and bulking agent as I said before. I hope this makes sense and let us know what you decide to do.
Hi Beanie, I added a carrier bag of dry grass clippings and about four handfuls of cardboard cut into bits plus a couple of handfuls of bulking agent. Two days later it is at 50 degrees and smells fine.
Hi Sandra, I have found if the stems are large and woody then the thorns tend to not break down in the hotbin. Anything that is green and new shoots do breakdown. I hope this helps. I normally find them as the compost breaks down in the garden so the larger stems can take a long time. I guess the answer would be to put them through a shredder. If you had one.
Hi Beanie, loving the videos so far! I ordered my hotbin today and I can't wait to start composting. I'm already collecting grass clippings! Thanks for the informative videos as always.
Very welcome. Looking forward to finding out how you get on.
Bring back the Missus!
She is due in the next couple of videos . I get the message.
@@BeanieComposter 😂😂😂
In this heat wave I was able to keep my hot bin in the green about 50c with just food waste and old dry garden trimming. I've not been able to cut my grass in over a month it's only just about long enough now for a cut
Hi Jennifer. Well done for keeping yours hot. Yes it is amazing how quick the grass greens up, grows and is ready for a cut after a good drop of rain.
@@BeanieComposter I'm going to have to empty the bin first before I can add the grass or it won't fit
@@Jennifer-5 That's two jobs now for the weekend. Enjoy.
@@BeanieComposter it my first time to empty the bin as well so wish me luck
@@Jennifer-5 Hope it went ok.
Hello Beanie, thanks for another useful and positive video. So glad that it rained in last few days in SouthEast - we are in Thames Water hosepipe ban area. I was even glad to see some slugs!
As you say this Summer most plants have really struggled to put on growth and this has reduced the green feed for the bin. I have managed to keep the bin hot by doing small amounts of pruning of shrubs and the hot weather has made a passion flower plant go into overdrive despite not being watered, so Ive had to cut it back regularly to stop it invading next door's garden and smothering everything else. Im still getting stale bread and cakes from local cafe to add to my food waste and this has really helped keep the bin hot as well.
Weirdly after 10 weeks of getting no leachate out, I am now getting some but only about a tablespoon full every few days, no idea why. By the way I found the metal mesh that fits over the air vent that I lost after cleaning it - it was in a flower bed, have not put it back as my DIY plastic version is still OK.
Thanks again for taking the time to do the videos
You are welcome Margaret. Good to hear your hotbin is still doing well. Sounds like the cakes and bread have really helped. That is strange with the leachate but at least you are getting some. I'm not sure Mrs B was as happy as you to see slugs but the rain was a welcome site. I now have the hotbin at 60 so happy days and may need to cut the grass so all looking positive for the hotbin again. Keep up the good work.
I based in Bristol also hot as hell last few months, I decease the use of carbon and lucky I have enough food waste to keep my bin at 60 degrees util recently the weather turn cooler.
Well done Allen for keeping things at 60. I couldn't do that and even now finding it hard to reach the 60 degrees on a regular basis. I am finding I am at 55 most of the time. But at least I have plenty of waste now just cut the grass this evening so that should help things.
Hey Beanie lovin the videos ! Just ordered a Mini Hotbin !! I’m collecting stuff out of the garden already.
Thank you Kevin. Good luck and exciting composting times ahead.
Welcome back. My Hotbin has been mega hot for the past 8 weeks, but has suddenly gone out of the green. It’s a bit wet in there. Should I add more cardboard and shredded paper? I’m mostly adding kitchen waste. (Also bulking agent and cardboard).
Hi Helen. It could be a couple of things. If the hotbin is full or waste has been in there for a while it may be compacted and you may just need to empty some from the bottom. If it looks wet then I would try too stir in a carrier bag of paper/cardboard and a good five handfuls of bulking agent. If it is starting to smell bad and is very wet then I would suggest taking it out and trying to dry the waste while it is still sunny and hot. Then add it back after a days drying with the paper/ cardboard and bulking agent as I said before.
I hope this makes sense and let us know what you decide to do.
Hi Beanie, I added a carrier bag of dry grass clippings and about four handfuls of cardboard cut into bits plus a couple of handfuls of bulking agent. Two days later it is at 50 degrees and smells fine.
@@helenneal2609 That sounds like it has worked. Well done and keep adding a little more paper/cardboard to keep on top of it.
If you put rose stems in the bin Will the thorns rot too?
Hi Sandra, I have found if the stems are large and woody then the thorns tend to not break down in the hotbin. Anything that is green and new shoots do breakdown. I hope this helps. I normally find them as the compost breaks down in the garden so the larger stems can take a long time. I guess the answer would be to put them through a shredder. If you had one.