Allotment gardeners can now download a document providing an Introduction to Alloment Composting from the Allotment composting page. 

Allotment Societies and similar groups may add their own loggo provided they retaining the authors name and the carryoncomposting web address.

It is hoped that this will encourage to allotment plot holders to start composting.

Would Any venue in Leicestershire be  interested in promoting composting and recycling organic waste by hosting a composting demonstration.

I am a Leicestershire Master Composter who, in addition to promoting composting at events and to schools and residents, have been operating a Compost Demonstration site, initially at Snibston Discovery park and then at other locations, since 2010.  While at Snibston the compost demonstration was featured in the CBeebies Mr Bloom “Here and There” programme. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03yzcht/mr-bloom-here-and-there-series-1-17-composting

 The demonstration consists of approximately 40 different bins, including wormeries, and techniques for composting garden, kitchen and catering waste.  It also includes methods for making liquid plant food such as compost, comfrey and worm wee teas. As far as I am aware this is the largest home composting demonstration in the east midlands. The techniques cover those suitable for homes, schools and small businesses. 

The Demonstration site would provide an additional attraction to any venue attracting  members of the public interested in gardening and waste reduction as well as an educational resource for allotment societies, garden clubs and schools. Talks and training sessions on composting can be provided in conjunction with guided tours of the demonstration. Special events can also be offered for children such as making Rotbots, a compost bins in a 2-litre bottle, (we made over 1,000 when CBeebies Mr Bloom came to Leicester), compost creature hunts and compost bin painting days

We are also able to enhance the green credentials of the host venue by composting most, or all, of the cooked food waste from any café on site.

There is no charge to you for providing the demonstration, the maintenance of the bins or for talks to the public, although of course you may want to charge the public for such talks.

 I am now looking for a venue interested in hosting the site. If you are interested I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss the situation.

Photos of the demonstration on one of the earlier sites can be seen at: http://www.carryoncomposting.com/142941482

 Composting is a valuable teaching tool.  As well as being good for the environment and improving the schools green footprint composting is a valuable interdisciplinary teaching tool covering areas of the curriculum such art, biology, chemistry, communication. economics, environmental studies, mathematics and sociology.

  If composting forms part of a waste reduction programme students learn to become wiser consumers that can lead to more responsible and environmentally friendly approach to the use of natural resources, food production and waste reduction and recycling. It also provides knowledge and behaviour changes that can be applied at home. I would like all schools to compost their organic waste however before starting to compost at school there is a need to determine the extent of that composting, the systems that need to be put in place to achieve the aims of the group and to comply with the relevant regulations.

 If the school is planning to only compost waste from the school garden the activity can easily be controlled by one teacher and the gardening club. If, however it is intended to compost waste fruit and lunch box waste greater involvement will be required and if waste from the canteen is to be included the management requirements become significant. With this in mind we have included a page on composting in schools with emphasis on the systems required to effectively manage the process to ensure that it is effective and will continue when key staff leave, and students’ progress to other schools. Information is given at http://www.carryoncomposting.com/416920207

Grass being high in nitrogen can easily become wet and smelly during compost due to the matted grass allowing anaerobic conditions to develop. Mixing carbon rich wood shavings from the chicken hut , shredded computerpaper and egg boxes solves that problem ensuring aerobic conditions.  Regular turning of the top layers in the bin helps speed the composting. More info on the main website

I can bring my Composting stand or indoor display to events in Leicestershire and the midlands. In the months before Christmas we can cover composting pumpkins, food and Christmas waste. Talks are also offered for allotment societies and garden clubs etc.  I am at athe annual  HSE day at Baker Hughes GE in Groby on 13th September  and giving a Composting Talk at a Y6s session it a local school on 19th, a Hinckley Town Centre Market stall on the 29thSepember  as well as a Retired Employees association on 1st October

The photo was taken at a recent Food Gusto event