​There is a blue button to the bottom right of the Hotbin, or more correctly perhaps a cap that one removed lets flow leachate. Leachate is an interesting and most beneficial bonus to the Hotbin design. It is the liquid that is produced by the process. And not just any liquid, it is in fact a liquid fertiliser that is diluted 1:10 in water ( I try to use harvested rainwater ) to give plants a definite boost. This morning I used the liquid to boost the beautiful roses, marrows and Mock Orange in the Home Garden

They say that you wait a long while for a bus then two or three come along at the same time. Seems it is a bit like that with Hotbins!

I learned that my North Lancing buddies Joyce and Peter bought theirs back in March this year. Of course with lockdown and restrictions we have not been able to meet up but we were able to do that recently. And there is the Hotbin Mini! I do think that these bins look good, more so here against the lovely flint wall. Three months into it they are looking to use the compost later this month

As well as producing compost the Hotbin makes Leachate, a liquid fertiliser that is diluted 1:10, another bonus

Joyce, Peter and I will be comparing notes on how we are getting on and including that in the Blog

I have now begun the trial by putting materials into the Hotbin! A really interesting mixture to begin with

• chippings
• shredded paper
• kitchen peelings/waste
• waste garden materials and trimmings
• coffee grounds (courtesy of Coffee Lounge in Lancing

All the above have been mixed together and in daytime the thermometer is at 50 Celsius and overnight at 25 Celsius 

We are now getting into the routine of filling up the Hotbin. I am tending not to just put one type of material at a time, rather a mix. So if there are lots of green materials then I also add  shredded paper of chippings. This fulfils one of the recommendations based on the experiences of others that I read about, to keep everything dryer rather than wetter 

​So, a beginning!