With the amount of rain we are having at the moment I would say yes.

I'm the softy that drive 5 miles and releases them in the wild.

I put all the sucked up shredded leaves in my hot compost as thinking it gets done a bit quicker than a year or 2 using the black bag method.

I have heard of success of using large builder bags, but never tried myself. Wondering who does hot or cold composting and do you turn it or leave it. I have been shredding loads of neighbours trees using a Bosch AXT 25D shredder/chipper a great bit of kit, it also shreds cardboard as well. "wi...

I use pallets for composting & scaffold boards for beds. I have a 6 bay set up made using pallets, I lined the inside of the bays with cardboard and put a roof over them to keep rain off, also have plastic on the top of the pile. Tips: make the separating bays in 2 parts to you can remove top pa...

Hi Westi, I do not have the technical answer to your question I just put down to the worms doing all the work. Looked at my muck pile yesterday there were loads of worms doing their stuff, looked at the Christmas spud bed and again worms doing their stuff. My compost seems moist compared the earth o...

"Remember to sow the seed with the hilum (black scar) downwards as this is where the root will emerge."

Thank you John, I did not know that.

I have some growing in trays in the greem house, which I intend to plant out under cover when they are large enough.

Hi Westi this a quote from Charles Dowding Faq site no 21... "Compost is not fertiliser and contains most nutrients in a water-insoluble form, hence the success of applying compost in autumn, then leaving beds to weather, which encourages lumps to soften. I never cover beds in winter apart from...

My beds are all composted 6 inchs deep when created, the second year only needs 1 or 2 inchs on top.

I believe the goodness does not leach out of comp when it rains.

How about Cardboard?

If this is going on top of compost surly there would not be a leaching problem.

I have a pile pallet size cubed with loads of worms in it , been advise to leave alone over winter to let the worms do their job, treat it like a large wormery.

Years ago when I was working I asked to have the flue jab & was prepared to pay for it, had a lecture from a health professional that it would be be better for me to catch rather that have the jab. So I said Ok when I am a pensioner and you want to give it to me for free I will remember you advi...

Ooops sorry Westi , I only use horse so that was prominent in my mind, on a side note what is the advantage of Cow over horse?

Hi Westi, just did a gumtree search and got this "10 ads for manure in Stuff for Sale in Christchurch, Dorset" hope it helps.

Wonder if a prepared raised bed,with seeds & instructions for the coming season would be a entry level benefit. Perhaps have list of books/videos to help, maybe even have an allotment library? If they get the bug great they can upgrade next year, if they fail no unsightly plots gone to seed or c...