tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13794587.post1312871627450992479..comments2023-05-28T09:28:00.481+00:00Comments on Simon Sherlock's Weblog: The Hotbin 3 years on...Simon Sherlockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849669982521032764noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13794587.post-38292334968713026112016-12-29T06:49:41.027+00:002016-12-29T06:49:41.027+00:00It's a very good question Steve, and not one t...It's a very good question Steve, and not one that's easy to answer! When running well it is brilliant and it's fantastic that you can compost items of food that you wouldn't normally dare safe in the knowledge that you won't end up being infested with vermin.<br /><br />But, throughout the winter months it is very hard to keep it going at a decent temperature and mine is currently at about 20-25C.<br /><br />I also do not like the resultant compost that much; because of the bark chips it is course and always has an unfinished feel to it so I mix it up with my normal compost and leave another 6 months. Emptying it is also a right pain (and smelly when it hasn't been getting hot enough); you have good (well goodish) compost at the bottom but the top always slips down and you end up with the uncomposted stuff mixing in. Adding it back later doesn't do anything to help with the temperatures so I usually add that to my normal bins as well (and now therefore empty them all at the same time so I have room for the Hotbin stuff that isn't yet ready to go out).<br /><br />I think for the Spring & Summer months it is a godsend but during the winter I have started using Bokashi again, as it can be added to my normal bins once done and breaks down to nothing very quickly, resulting in a smoother compost more easily added to beds and for top-dressing etc. So I am still using it but a lot less during the winter as I will just be another smelly job to do come Spring.Simon Sherlockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10849669982521032764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13794587.post-31259151419934174742016-12-28T21:13:39.971+00:002016-12-28T21:13:39.971+00:00I have been reading through your composting posts ...I have been reading through your composting posts and just wondered after 3 years of working with the hotbin would you recommend buying one ? and over the 3 years has your compost inproved ?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10196487982742557946noreply@blogger.com