A page giving information on roftop, courtyard, patio and balcony composting has been added to the carryoncomposting website. 

Photos of composting in such locations  for inclusion on the page would be welcomed. please send them to carryoncomposting1@gmail,com

Food waste has high moisture content and as it is broken down, water is released into the composting which will as it is wet  will not contain sufficient air spaces for aerobic composting and  the food will decompose into a wet, smelly sludge.  

To avoid this situation a bulking agent needs to be added  to the compost so as to create spaces allowing air to circulate within the composting material. The correct bulking agent will also absorb the liquid from the food to maintain the correct moisture content of the food waste during composting. A new section on the food waste page of carryoncomposting.com gives details of  composting bulking agents.

White Fly

White fly are not found in the compost bin as frequently as fruit flies but are not uncommon. .As with fruit flies there tends to be a mass of flies escaping from the bin when it is opened. These are not harmful but it is annoying to have a face full of flies every time the lid is removed. One piece of practical advice is to open the bin with the lid facing away from the composter.

A number of composters writing to forums on the internet have associated white fly infestation of the bin with brassica, or other, leaves infected with white fly being as added to the bin

The use of good composting techniques should reduce the likelihood of infestation. Always covering the surface layer of the composting material with a layer of “Browns” e.g.  Shredded paper or cardboard should reduce the number of flies.

Regularly aerating the contents should result in renewed bacterial activity and heat generation that may reduce the number of flies present. .Aeration and the addition of Browns will help absorb moisture if the organic material is too wet leading to a decrease the number of flies as conditions become more unfavourable to them.

Some contributors to internet forums suggest the use of fly sprays, including organic sprays, or a flytrap inside the bin. 

The carryoncomposting.com webpage listing items that can be composted has been modified with additional items being added. Many of the changes have been made as a result of readers enquiries.

Market Harborough festival on Saturday. I , as a Master Composter, will be supporting  members of the LCC Waste team at this event. Hope to bring the wearable compost bin  so that children and adults can pose for selfies and a working wormery and a dog poo wormery.