We’ve started making compost on the Society Plot (Plot 1). We use the Berkely hot compost method, mixing 50/50 greens and browns in a pile which is wetted, covered with a tarpaulin and knocked down with a rotovator every week. The pile is mixed and reconstructed every week until we achieve the desired product which will approximate to premium shop bought compost.

First we mix our greens and browns (Greens: grass clippings, manure for example. Browns: straw, wood chips for example).

We then wet the pile and cover with a tarpaulin…

After a week, the compost is mixed using a Mantis Tiller (steam will be observed and the centre of the compost pile will be very hot)…

The compost pile is mixed and knocked down by the Tiller and is then reconstructed…

After five or six weeks, the compost is ready to be used as a mulch or to fill raise beds ready for planting…

…but, we’ll continue to mix and reconstruct our piles for a few months until they are fully broken down and can be sold as premium all purpose compost, simply repeating the process until the desired product is achieved…