29/05/2026
Composting is one of those things that almost every gardener does badly — not because it's complicated, but because nobody ever explained the system properly.
A single black plastic bin in the corner of the garden isn't really composting. It's just controlled rotting. What you actually want is a three-bay timber system: one bay for fresh material going in, one for turning and breaking down, and one for finished compost ready to use. When that third bay is full of dark, crumbly, brilliant growing medium that cost you nothing — that's when it clicks.
The build is simple. Rough-sawn timber boards fixed to a basic frame, open at the front for access, with removable slats so you can get a fork in easily. A weekend afternoon and a modest amount of timber is genuinely all it takes.
A few things that make the difference between a compost heap that works and one that just sits there:
🌿 Balance is everything — roughly equal parts green material (kitchen scraps, grass clippings, fresh garden waste) and brown material (cardboard, woody stems, dry leaves). Too much green and it goes slimy. Too much brown and nothing happens.
🌿 Turn it regularly — every few weeks if you can. The more air you get in, the faster it breaks down.
🌿 Keep it moist but not wet — if it's too dry, add water. If it's too wet, add more brown material.
The payoff is a constant, free supply of the best growing medium your garden will ever see. Once you've got a proper system going you'll wonder how you managed without it. 🪱
