No Stirring Experiment (@BeanieComposter)

To Stir or Not To Stir? Follow my journey of no string experiment to find out if stirring your compost makes any difference in temperature. I wonder what your experience is. Please let us know in the comments.

[anniesutcliffe]

Interesting. I'm coming to the conclusion that the "no stir" thing is a means for them to sell bulking agent!
Since watching your videos I've been stirring mine using a long compost stirrer (plastic with an end that opens out to pull up compost from below) before I add new waste. Then stir this new top layer using the Hotbin stirrer. I've also had access to lots of coffee grounds recently.
I've never had such good quick compost and my bin is currently running at 60° 😁

[febee]

I've got my Hotbin in my cold greenhouse and I can feel warmth coming off it which is helping the greenhouse stay frost free - added bonus

[eliev]

This is soooo interesting! I’ve always resisted stirring it, as the instructions tell you not too, but you can’t deny these results!

[garryrobinson]

That was so interesting mate. Love the experimenting…. and the fact that you had a shower!😂We have also been told it’s a no turn product. I will go searching for some tool that stirs up like your hotbin one. Thanks Mr and Mrs B!!😎

[ruthwalker]

Brilliant Beanie, this has been really helpful. I’ve had my bin about 6 months but now realise I’ve not been stirring well (only the top layer that I’ve been adding). Temps have been hovering around the forty mark for most of the time. Think I’ll be heading out today to give it a really good stir and now know what I need to do going forward 👍

[shadyseano]

Really enjoyed that video. I’m still laughing over the Shadows. I can never stir mine as good as you do and I was hoping the experiment would show that you didn’t need to. But you proved HotBin company wrong. I think it’s a good idea to empty leachate out every day because it can help with air flow. I was sick for a few days and couldn’t get to the hotbin. What I’ve noticed is that it did better and was a higher temperature. So going forward I’m only going to feed it every 3rd day instead of 2nd. Also when I know we’re going to have a lot of rain I put a little container in the bin under the vent and catch the rain water. It’s amazing how much water gets in.

[garryrobinson]

The paper mixes in a lot easier if you use a cross shredder that makes the paper much smaller, no clumps!😎

[geoffreymaddison]

Hi friend. I'll not call you Freddy this time round. It's been awhile since I've messaged you. I've also got a shredder similar to yours, not as nifty as yours for storing. But I find it better for twigs rather than small leafy bits. Will talk later as tablet battery is about to die. Regards Geoff

[kermitspicnic]

Right, mine finally caved and went, not just cold, but from a totally reliable 60ºc to basically 10ºc in about two days! I'm interested in how other people's are doing and what a good way of 'running' a hotbin cold are, so that when the outdoor temperature picks up again the bin can kick back to life with minimal extra work/ emptying and restarting.

[behornet]

Glad to see the Boss is back in charge. !
Good experiment I was also hoping we didn’t need to stir so much. I seem to have to empty the leachate every day. To try & stop the rain I’ve a plastic lid over the vent.
Q = normally how far down do go when stirring ?
Thanks

[Jennifer-]

I really hoped this would work but from my experience I didn't think it would since no matter how hard I mix and try and change my ratios I can't get my bin to stay hot past a month

[kermitspicnic]

Just had my first empty - really satisfying but there's a lot that could use another pass through I think.

I try to stir as deep as I can like you do, but still a lot of very hard compacted (and quite dry) white ashy stuff at the bottom. Do you think I'll get less of that on subsequent empties or does that always happen at the bottom.

Also, and not to influence unduly, but I'm still being a rebel and going no-filter...still havent dropped below 60° even when it was way over full and needing an empty... It's definitely a very tame way of being rebellious, but it's about the most I can handle.