Hi there Folks,

We have a caravan in Wales (site is just 12 vans around 3 sides of a
field), and a patio and length of fairly natural "hedge" (actually a
bank that used to be a hedge until the field changed hands some years
ago), so 3 years ago we decided to get composter "Dalek".

Last summer it was moved so the landowner could remove a hawthorn tree
that had loosened the previous year and was leaning on next door's shed.
But the compost was bagged up in black bin bags and left under our
caravan, so I was able to use some of it, and the stuff that hadn't
rotted down sufficiently we tossed back into the bin and left it to rot
along with the summer's new weeds, potato peelings etc.

We had hoped to go for first visit of the year last weekend, but I
wasn't well enough to manage (I have ME/CFS as well as back problems, so
the 3-4 hour journey - depending on traffic - was the main thing that
put me off. John (husband) made a fleeting visit on Sunday though, to
check everything was OK and he took a load of photos for me to see what
had survived the winter.

He found that since we were there last (mid October) our next door
neighbours have moved our compost bin, which is now empty. John didn't
think to check under the van to see if it was bagged up there.

They have built a kind of "platform" with log wood edge that has a weed
suppressant membrane, covered in some sort of gravel and plonked our
composter on top of that. :-(

I have a feeling that this is not going to be a suitable base for our
composter? We don't have a plastic base for it (we are getting one for
the composter we've ordered for home as we only have tiled yard so we
can't put it on earth). Plus I suspect the compost will make a mess of
the gravel (though I tend to feel serve them right!).

So will I need to move the composter onto soil?

I am not at all happy about the situation, as I had intended to dig
(actually that should read "get husband to dig!) some of the compost in
where it stood (used to stand that is), stick unrotted stuff back into
composter in new position, and plant either beans or maybe courgettes in
the compost.

I'm beginning to feel the composter will biodegrade before we get a
year's un-interrupted use from it!

Maggie
South Liverpool and sometimes Wales
Who still hasn't done an intro post, might get to it soon!

MaggieW wrote:
> So will I need to move the composter onto soil?

Yes :o) If it was only the gravel it was put on, perhaps this would
have been ok but the membrane as well?! You'll end up with sludge - it
needs to drain, needs the worms to get to it etc. It's best if it's
straight on the ground, unless off course you can toss it about once a
week which you can't.

>> So will I need to move the composter onto soil?
>
> Yes :o) If it was only the gravel it was put on, perhaps this would
> have been ok but the membrane as well?! You'll end up with sludge - it
> needs to drain, needs the worms to get to it etc. It's best if it's
> straight on the ground, unless off course you can toss it about once a
> week which you can't.

Thanks for that! I had a feeling it was a bad idea! I think we will be
taking this up with our neighbours. :-(

I was particularly cheesed off that this is all at the end of *our*
patio, and at the BACK of their caravan, so they don't see it, but we
do, it's at the FRONT of our van. Along with their water butt which
was their excuse for doing this "improvement" - they said they didn't
want to get wet feet when fetching water.

Maggie