Hi, I know there's a question in there somewhere, so I'll make 1 or 2 comments.
Firstly, how are you going to put the bottom to the top, without having to empty everything out, and putting it all back upside down ?, if you had another box, or better still another 2, you could use the middle box to start off your compost, then when it needed turning, all you would have to do would be to empty.the middle 1 into another, then back again into the original box, when it needed turning again, when your composting is finished, turn it into 1 of the outside boxes, and leave it there until you're ready to use it, and start another heap in the centre box again, repeating the process, and by the time this compost is ready, your first box of usable compost will have been used.
Secondly, as you have adequate ventilation all round the boxes, due to their construction, I would cover the top with old carpet, or even tarpaulin, to conserve as much heat as possible, the more heat you can generate in a compost heap, the quicker the decomposition will be, I hope this helps, Derek.

thanks
the question is do i cover or not?
heard so many say don't or do!
you re correct in thinking that yes the top goes to the bottom
i.e. the top section is lifted off placed next to where it is now, the compost is then lifted over to the section on the ground, then the next section is moved over and so on
the idea being that the compost is turned easier leaving compost that was at the bottom now at the top ready to use
thats the theory anyway!

I just stick the border fork in mine, and do a rootle.
Have you got some Red Worms/Brandling Worms ? They
are available to buy. Some people get them to instal themselves just by keeping the heap damp. Apply a gallon of water twice weekly, to keep them happy. Sometimes
they take it into their heads to crawl up round the lid, I
pick them off and put them back in the centre of the heap.
They dont have teeth, so always make sure the material is soft enough for them to chew. No brassica stalks etc.
I have several one gallon plastic containers, which I keep in the bath with a funnel in. I wash with soap in a seperate bowl, and tip this water into the container. When full take each one down to my compost bins. Then on Tuesdays and Saturdays I remember to tip a gallon in the compost bins. It saves rainwater for the plants.
Yes, definitely cover your bin with carpet or a lid. In the coldest months cover the whole bin with carpet to keep the temperature to 1 deg.C. to keep them warm and working. Below this temperature they die.
There are plenty of fallen leaves about now. Collect a few sacks full and save seperately in a wire netting cage
for 2 years. Do not put them in the compost bin as they take longer to rot down than the soft waste material.

thanks diane
i did put two bags of well rotted manure that was crawling with worms in, layered with some grass cuttings and this years hanging basket leftovers along with kitchen peelings
coffee grinds etc.
for the life of me cant find a bit of old carpet!
how about an old thick blanket?

Hi, I thought that was the question :-), it's much easier if you have 2 or 3 boxes, as you're not messing about removing and rebuilding the box, there's also the chance that the timber could get damaged, by continually being moved, especially when it gets a bit older and has started to rot itself, yes you can use old thick blanket, it might get a bit heavy when it gets wet though, you can use anything really, it's only to keep the heat in, Derek.

I have always understood never to put grass cuttings on a compost heap, they form a thick impenetrable mat that the Brandling Worms cant nibble their way through. I scatter mine on the garden.
Collect brown cardboard boxes without printing ink on,
and tear up into small pieces to add to your compost bin.
(Garden Centres are best for this.)
Obviously, keep loo rolls and kitchen rolls for the same
purpose, any type of plain brown cardboard, all good.
Remember to wet them.
By all means put the old thick blanket on top, covered with a sheet of polythene to keep it less wet, as wetness
is cold.
I have a useless car cover (it stuck to the bodywork in the frost) so save several large cardboard boxes to cover the compost bin and put the car cover over them, tying down with long lengths of string.
When out in the country keep an eye open for lengths of baling string that have fallen off a trailer !

Hi Diane, you can put grass clippings on the compost heap, but not on its own, it needs to be mixed well with with what they call brown waste, shrub prunings preferably shredded, weeds apart from tap rooted perennials, paper, cardboard etc, which keeps the grass from forming a soggy mess, Derek.