Hotbin owners-please share hints & tips

[buckeejit]

I've ordered one this morning for dh birthday at the end of March. I'd like to get things as right as possible to start it well so please share any advice or insight.

I haven't ordered the Pliny & though it could go on a couple of blocks/slabs to elevate it. Has anyone done this?

I love mine. No plinth, I use a shallow garden plant saucer to empty the leachate. I compost absolutely everything - food scraps, veg peelings, uriney sawdust from cat litter tray, coffee grounds, cardboard, garden waste, pet bedding. It helps hugely if you have something like pet manure eg rabbit/chicken poo to add regularly as it keeps it hot. Chopping things up makes them compost quicker too so a shredder is handy if you are going to be adding a lot of garden prunings etc. I don’t bother adding bark chips as I use a wide mix of stuff and I’ve never had an issue with maintaining airflow or temp. The little tool that comes with it though is useless - if you want to mix it properly get a compost screw. Good luck!!

I have 2 - the first (older design) is great and the 2nd has changed the lid design so the lid falls off much more often which is annoying. but aside from that they work fine. I have lots of cardboard guinea pig bedding and some green stuff to feed in. And I use a shredder to chop up things like tree prunings before putting them in the Hotbin which is great too.