Hi, I have never met a "gardener" who didn't know how to make compost, but unfortunately I type very slowly, so it would take forever to give you instructions, instead I will recommend a website, which will tell you everything you need to know, to make good garden compost.
www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/soil_makecompost1.shtml#what_to_compost
Hope this helps, Derek.

The slatted wooden kind, at least 1 metre square, is very good. I have several, but that's not strictly necessary, just a bit more work for the gardener if you only have one bin. I never turn them, just leave them for 2-3 years and then it's like good soil. The top layer, which often doesn't rot, goes to start off the next heap. Grass cuttings, weeds and prunings and shredded paper/cardboard are my main ingredients.

We have green wheelie bins that the council empty every 2 weeks. Just bung waste in there and forget about composting.Let them do it.
No one should have to wait 2 years to make their own.

If you make a compost heap oroperly, you can have useable compost in 2 to 3 months, Derek.

I get a kick out of making my own - its improved our soil over the years more than I could have afforded to do with buying it. A good idea is to layer your waste with a spadeful or two of garden soil. This gets some bacterial action going more quickly. Shredding the waste before putting it in the bin helps if you can be bothered - have to confess ours just goes in as it is. A jugful of urine now and again helps as well.

If you can see some proper compost at the bottom of the bin you can empty it all out and put the unrotted part back as Lndgirl says. It's very hard to actually get any out through the little hatch at the bottom of the bin.

My late husband was a great one for his compost bins they where made our of old pallets that he brought from work nailed together and filled with kitchen and garden waist, but he used to pee on it every now and again because his grandad had told him this makes the best compost and it did make good compost which we used in the garden for many years with no problems

SG if it takes you two years to make compost I wonder how you are making it! As already stated it takes a year or less to produce super stuff!

I enjoy making my own too,and It's always usable withing a few months..Ask your gardener if he could turn it over now and then,to aerate it,and add some soil,or the spent compost from pots..and it needs to have moisture to help it rot down,whatever form you choose to use ! :o) That;s all there is to it,really..I believe some Councils sell their bagged compost in some areas..I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole ! I like to know what's in mine..

"SG if it takes you two years to make compost I wonder how you are making it! As already stated it takes a year or less to produce super stuff! "

wasn't me that said it took that long.

As I said, all of my waste goes to the council. Should I ever have the space to make my own, I'd need facilities to produce 2 cubic metres a year for all my needs, which is an aweful lot of grass cuttings and potato peelings !!

Chopped autumn leaves go on one heap and I just pile up my grass cuttings on another and leave them alone for two years and they turn into really good textured stuff on their own. The compost bins get the occasional boxful just to give some variety to garden and kitchen waste. Blowed if I'm going to pay the council to make some compost I'd then have to go out and pay for!

Are you able to produce 2 cubic litres a year?

I agree, it doesn't take 2 years but that's how long mine gets left before I get round to using it. I've actually got 8 huge wooden bins and several smaller ones (those are not in use at the moment, too inconvenient) and I produce far more compost than I need. The best compost always comes from the oldest heap. I was really just trying to say that you don't have to fuss with the heap if you can afford to leave it alone.

Landgirl has the right idea if you have the space for several bins. Keep filling the first one until it is full and then start on the second. Keep on going down the line until you come to the end then empty the first one and start again. You will not hacve any compost for the first fewyyears whilst the bins are filling but after that will have a continous supply.

I must admit I'm no good at making compost either! The waste in the bottom of my bin must be 18 months old and is slowly turning to compost. Haven't been putting in paper or card, as I keep forgetting about it, I do take the lid off when it's raining so that it gets plenty of moisture though. I've a feeling there's far too much green stuff, so the balance is wrong.

Very difficult to measure SG as it tends to get used in dribs and drabs rather than in one fell swoop. And I have different heaps for different things as I said, as the grass takes longer than the garden waste and there is far too much to go in the bins. I think probably I get about half to three quarters of that at a conservative estimate. Some has gone in repeated barrowloads and some few spadefuls at a time for specific needs.
I should have had proper wooden bins instead of using the council ones, (I have three of those) but a council one is handy to have near the back door for veg waste. The grass and leaves are just heaped up in a corner, and used in rotation.Waiting two years if you have to doesn't matter once you are past the first year.

It would take me forever,Sue,if I kept everything seperate,but we probably don't have as much in the way of grass cuttings or leaves as you..could you add some of both to your veg waste bin,to reduce your heaps ? or maybe you prefer to keep them seperate..I suppose each garden has it's different waste assets or problems,and we do what is best for us..I've just shredded lots more paper personal stuff,it does seem to break down quite quickly when shredded..and given me lots more space in my files :o)

Now that's just what I need to do Sandra, thanks for reminding me! Shreds will go straight into the bin!

Go for it Janey..! Lol..so satisfying once they are out of the way..It's one of those jobs you keep putting off,if you are anything like me !..I usually save them for Thomas to shred,as he loves doing them,but even he would have been fed up with this lot :o)

Its the bins I need more room in - the heaps can get as big as they like! Hywel will tell you we have a lot of grass and are surrounded by trees. I wish I had the will power to clear out some files.

What have I started? I might be able to manage a 130mm x 130mm bin. The galvanised bin seems useless. Do I use a liner and cover? Consider http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350858230979?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&var=620155523146&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271521451175?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Can anyone give me specific advice?

You might have more success with your metal bin if yu turn the compost occasionally to stop it compacting and let a little air in. If your bin still has its metal base you need to remove it and stand it on the soil so the worms can get in. Purpose made bins have ventilation spaces, either between wooden slats or as in the council bins slots in the plastic so you might drill some holes in the bin. Another help is to put a spadeful or two of earth over the heap every so often. Putting in a liner would prevent any ventilation but a cover is good to prevent it getting too wet. A jugful of urine every now and again is a help too. There is no need to buy an expensive bin - if you want a wooden one you can make your own with bought wood which will be a lot cheaper. Council bins are OK - not as good but free. I have three now, the latest addition was rolling round outside a house that has been empty for years so I "rescued" it! If you have enough space its useful to have two side by side, one in use and one "cooking". When you empty one you then transfer the stuff from the other into it and then put the new waste on top as you generate it.