Anyone know of any websites that can deliver compost bins to Italy? I really want one that has a lid and a bottom drawer so that you can pull out the compost from the bottom. Currently I am using a huge bin, but it has no lid and no way of getting the stuff out from the bottom. Each time it rains (which is a lot, at the moment) the compost gets all muddy, which is a shame, as it is ready to use if it were dry.

In the UK my council offer discounts on special compost bins, but is there any organisation in Italy that offers something similar? Not seen anything like this in my local garden centre (which to tell the truth is so poorly equipped that I bring most gardening stuff down from the UK).

Have you tried stores like Brico Center and Castorama? They're giant Walmart-type stores with everything hardware/garden-related imaginable at decent prices. I just checked and there's a Castorama in Bari, but don't know how close that is to you.

Hey, I was just thinking of asking the same question, as I now have a large(ish) garden with plenty of leaves to compost, so I would love to find a composter, or possibly build a simple one. In Canada I´ve always had one, so it really irks me to cart organics off to the garbage bins.

I´m in Genova but I don´t know if they have a Castorama or Brico Centre here - will check. Has anyone ever bought a composter in Italy?

Yep, there's a Castorama in Genova:
http://www.castorama.it/negozi/lista_negozi/artI32.php

I've never actually even seen a compost pile here let alone a pre-made box, but you never know. If a store like Castorama doesn't have it, it doesn't exist in Italy.

Bari is too far but we have a Bricocenter in Lecce. They have normal bins, but nothing that is specifically for composting (ie covered with a lid, with a bottom drawer to take out the ready compost).

I suspect this level of being green may be a tad too far for Italy, given the amount of plastic plates that are used here! (Am I the only person who washes them for re-using?).

BTW - for leaves I buy these great bags made out of biodegradeable string. I fill the bags with leaves and just leave them in the garden to rot down. When you can't see the strings of the bags, it means the leaf mould is ready to use. I buy them on-line in the UK and they are very useful. The leaf mould in Italy is almost ready to go.

Check with "consorzio agrario". There is at least one in every province, and usually more than one. These are consortiums with shops that serve the local farmers but also people with a passion for gardens and greengardens.

Do you have a Leroy Merlin near you? That's where we bought our compost bin as well as a kitchen bin that has 3 separate compartments under one lid so we can easily separate out our rubbish.

My neighbor made his own with fencing. He covers it with a tarpaulin and cut an opening at the bottom at the bottom to remove compost.

Yes, I think I am going to have to make my own - or buy a collapseable one in the UK (have seen them) and take it down next time I need to check a suitcase in.

Around here people just get a team in when they want the garden done. They already think I am wierd because I spend all my time weeding in the garden for pleasure! Thankfully my husband has now discovered golf so I am left alone in my garden in peace.

Was wondering if you ever found a composter? Or if you brought one in from the UK?

I´ve been looking around again and found this one oneline (available in Italy) http://stores.ebay.it/bimaecostore

I found this business, BIMAECO through ebay and seems they operate out of Italy. I may order one.

If anyone has dealt with this business before or has tried this composter before, I would like to hear from you.

I my experience the best thing you can do is to make a 'bin' by banging in 4 big fench post and enclosing up to abot3ft with chicken wire,

Cover it with black pastic sheeting.

I have had all the other compost bins and none work so well.Problem is I have to sneak out to it if my chickens see me they make a rush for it to scrap up the compost and get to the worms.There really are millions!

my BIL has a wiggly wormer which he cant use because of the terrible smell!!!

Yes, far easier and cheaper to make your own as manoppello outlined. I built mine from old terra cotta bricks I found lying around in the yard, leaving ample gaps between the bricks for air circulation.

Put it in a spot that gets plenty of sun, keep it damp in dry weather and covered when it's raining. Too dry or too wet is death to compost. And remember to turn it over with a shovel every couple of weeks.

Just as a postscript to this, I sorted the problem by upending my large bin so that the wide part at the top was at the bottom, open to the soil, and I then sawed through the smaller bottom 'lid' to open it up. Took a lot of effort though!

Just used the first ready compost from last year's grass cuttings (which we compost separately). Very satisfying! My FIL has just told DH to get rid of our compost as 'it attracts flies'. Sigh.

BTW - in the UK (and I expect the USA) I have read that Starbucks have a scheme where they leave sacks of used coffee grains out in their shops so that gardeners can take them home for free. Apparently used coffee grains are a very good compost accelerant. Wouldn't it be a good idea if Italian cafes followed suit? Imagine how many coffee grains they use a day.

Yes, coffee grounds are good in a compost heap providing you don't overdo things. The brewing process extracts just about all of the acidity. They're a good nitrogen source and excellent for encouraging worms.

Unfortunately FIL's attitude is pretty common here. In fact, a healthy compost heap attracts no flies at all. Composting isn't a big thing here for some reason. I was gathering up a small mountain of fallen autumn leaves in the street last year. One of the vigile stopped to watch, asked what I was going to do with them. Compost them, I said. He was amazed.

In Castello di Serravalle, the Comune gives the compostiera on request.
Periodically, the compostiera is checked by the Vigili and/or the Forestali.
If everything's ok, you get a discount on the garbage tax.

Chia

Looks like they have one heck of a compost pile outside of Naples! Checkout L'Ansa photos.

quote:

Originally posted by Graeme:
Yes, coffee grounds are good in a compost heap providing you don't overdo things. The brewing process extracts just about all of the acidity. They're a good nitrogen source and excellent for encouraging worm

Can't vouch for coffee grounds being a worm attractant - but can personally testify they're the undisputed no1 organic, non-chemical slug-deterrent.

Sprinkle them thickly round plants susceptible to slug damage. It works. Something to do with the caffeine apparently. Sends the slimy little sods barking mad.

Good tip about the coffee - will try that. The other thing slugs really hate is salt. My neighbour in London showed me the effect of chucking salt close to a slug - it basically fizzed up and died. Cruel but effective I guess.

Incidentally, the coffee grounds also acidify any swampy or wet areas so that mosquito larvae cannot mature - good all around!

Thought you composters might enjoy this article:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1724404,00.html

in case you were wondering what to do with those Easter leftovers...

Happy Pasquetta!