This is the first mature compost to be made in these bins. The bin was full to start with and the compost had been moved there from another location. It was down to about half. The process of sieving it and getting the fine, usable material is in progress. The residue has been covered in plastic and will be left to compost more, and/or be used as a starter in the next compost to be made. Some was placed onto the garden and covered with mulch, made from tree prunings with our chipper/shredder machine. This is to keep the soil from getting too much sunlight which tends to destroy the micro-organisms good soil needs. It also attracts worms. And lets them work closer to the surface. They don't like light either. The ready to use compost has also been heaped and covered with plastic to keep it from getting too wet, or drying out too much.

The gardens will be left until required then either planted through the mulch in the case of young plants. Or the mulch that is left will be raked off, and the top 6cm will be worked into a tilth, with some feldspar, and other allowed soil conditioners. Then the seeds sown, as this is intended to be a progresive garden to allow some vegetables to be available all

Mature compost

Barrow full of sieved compost

the time. Hopefully there will be eonugh to feed the multitude when the Permaculture course is in progress in March. The next compost story will be when the next heap is to be built. That is when there is enough material to make a decent bin full.