About 6 months, Cookygirl, but only if you turn the compost, otherwise the bottom part will be good compost and the top won't have rotted. It's usually a little quicker in the warmer months, we find.

I agree about 6 months but we don't turn ours. Mr MB removes the top un-composted layer and sets aside. He then removes all the usable compost and put the un-composted stuff back in the bottom of the bin. Mind you we have several bins so they usually rot down pretty much anyway.

We do that too, Mrs MB, as we're lucky enough to have a row of three bins.

In total we have 6 bins, 3 in the new veggie garden which we inherited from the owner, 2 in our own garden and 1 in our neighbour's garden where we also grow veg. You can never have enough compost...

That's absolutely true! Oh, and we also have a bin for manure. We have a never-ending source of that just 3 minutes drive away...with the trailer. Lovely stuff! Well done, horses - keep it coming! :-)))))

We haven't solved the manure challenge yet - but we will!

Good luck - I hope you find a horse or three!! ;-)

Oh we know where the horses are it is the owners we can't find lol

LOL. You'll have to follow the horses around with a bucket and shovel! :-)))

Oh to have the time to do so...

Not joking here - before we found the fantastic heap, I used to walk back up the lane after seeing any, with a bucket! At least I got a small amount every day or so, as we have a lot of riders around. I was not a bit bothered by strange looks from passing motorists...lol.

Ah but were you working full time?

Nope. Sorry you can't retire yet - it's a good thing to do, Mg. :-)))

Thank Spritz :-)

I think that if you looked in your local paper for the nearest riding school,you would find that they would be happy for you to collect as much horse manure as you wanted,providing you arrived with your own bags and spade.

The law insists that the manure must not be left until it reaches huge piles,due to the leaking into the water table.
My daughter has horses and is happy for people to collect it,I think other horse owners would welcome you.

If you have an internet 'freecycle' in your area,you could try asking if anyone has horse manure spare ?

We saw a 'wanted horse manure' on our Worcester freecycle, and were glad to contact the person,who now regularly collects what he needs.

Thanks Justvera... as I said we know where the horses and the dung are we just need to get our act together to find the owners... Given that until a month ago everything was under snow we have not fussed. We will see the horse owners on one of our walks and talk to...