I moved the compost bins for the third time today! I know, I can’t quite believe it either but I need a sunny spot for the blueberries so the compost had to move.
These bins have been running since March 2016, used initially to store the compost I had sieved out of the ‘mound’ How is it that most derelict plots have a mound or two?
Another bay was filled mostly with the grass, straw and green annual weeds and it was this I turned out yesterday. Once sieved it made a fabulous mulch for the raspberries, roses and pear trees. It covered 5 4×10 beds to a depth of 1 or 2 inches. Not at all bad.
I bought the sieve tray from an Ebay seller, it works really well at containing the compost as I moved it back and forth; the graded grains fall into the wheelbarrow and the lumps go back into the bin for a bit more cooking.
Today was moving the compost bin from its current position by the greenhouse and re-locating to the back of the plot. There was another bay of half cooked compost, full of worms, to be moved. I built one bay, then transferred the material giving it a really thorough turn in the process! I was impressed at how much decomposition had taken place in less than 6 months.
The whole transfer took about three hours. I’m satisfied that on the third attempt at building a three bay bin, I’ve finally achieved a sturdy and level(ish) finish. It’s not moving any more!
Fruit cage construction next – oh wait, that’ll be after I’ve built the polytunnel doors.
I’m so ready for the building to stop and the growing to start!
Have a good week everyone.
Allotment Life 
A friend offered me a compost sieve but I didn’t have room to store it at the time. Such a shame as that would make it possible perhaps to use my own compost for germinating seeds.
I once discovered, having spread a thick mulch of home-made compost on the carrot patch, that it’s best to leave the compost a few weeks to sprout its weed seeds before sowing any wanted seeds;(
Yes, indeed. That’s why I haven’t been mulching (much)!
All very inspiring! making me want to get out to my plot – but I think I’ll wait till the heavy frost has gone first….
Thanks Deborah. I do believe we’ve created a virtuous circle! More frost forecast for us this week too.
Thought I’d let you know that reading your posts go me back out there again this week – in bright sunshine and not too cold, the ground was perfect for moving the last of my soft fruit to its new home and reclaiming some posts and wire from my old plot to re-use on the remaining plot. Thanks for the inspiration!
It sounds as if you had a productive day. Next week’s weather forecast is good. Have fun!
Goodness, now are you quite sure that’s where you want them!
At least you’ve done, or are doing, all that before the growing starts.
Thanks, and you too. xx
Flighty, even if this turns out to be the ‘wrong’ place, there’s no where else for them to go. Who knew siting compost bins could be so arduous!!
Eeek! We’re doing this soon to free up more growing space. Not looking forward to shifting tons of chicken manure one little bit……