The Compost Bin

Hello and welcome to The Compost Bin. I'm Compostwoman and I live with my family in rural Herefordshire. We have nearly four acres of garden and woodland, all managed organically and to Permaculture principles, which we share with Chickens, Cats and assorted wildlife. We also grow a lot of our own food, run courses in all sorts of things and make a lot of compost!

I am a Master Composter and have spent more than a decade as a volunteer Community Compost adviser with Garden Organic and my local Council.
I'm a self employed Environmental Educator so I run workshops and events where I talk about compost, veg growing, chicken keeping, cooking, preserving and sustainable living. I also run crafts workshops and Forest School/outdoor play sessions in our wood.

We try to live a more self sufficient lifestyle here, as best we can, while still having a comfortable life and lots of fun.

To learn more about us click on the About Compostwoman tab and remember to click on the photos to make them full size!

Thursday, 28 August 2025

Bill Bailey - Thoughtifier tour, Birmingham

Just back from Birmingham Symphony Hall, having watched Bill Bailey on his Thoughtifier tour.

Absolutely marvellous!

We've seen Bill many times, the last time being at Hay Festival in 2022, and he just gets funnier and funnier.

And such a wonderful musician!

Monday, 25 August 2025

Plums, Pears, Damsons

Plums. Lots and lots and LOTS of Plums. And Damsons.

And Pears.

I had to resort to a "smallholders trug" (aka the front of my t shirt!) just now.

To harvest a lot of pears that have gone from "not ripe, no not ripe" yesterday (which means you can't pick them), to "falling off the tree if you even look at me"

These are Beth Pears, juicy and sweet, with a picking window of about a microsecond.

And, after 10 years of being an aloof little chicken, Fleck the tiny Serama hen has decided I'm her BFF, and has taken to coming inside to find me.

Monday, 18 August 2025

Blog party at Zoë's house

Went for a wonderful few days over in Norfolk to attend Zoë's blog party.

Excellent train journey to Norwich, then Zoe picked me up.

The party was fabulous, it was lovely weather and we were able to be outside. Great to catch up with other Blog friends as well.

Many thanks to Zoe and Mel for their hospitality, I had a lovely time!

Saturday, 26 July 2025

Guided tour of Arthur's Stone excavation

Brilliant afternoon over at Arthur's Stone, nr Dorstone, Herefordshire, for a tour of this summer's excavation.

Thank you Pamela Thom-Rowe , for a fabulous tour and to all the archeologists involved in the digs.

Today is the last day of the dig; tomorrow the back filling starts.

They were still finding new stuff when we left at 4 pm.

Such a wonderful, magical place.

Do go there, if you can.

This is what it looks like when it's not being excavated

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

RIP Chancellor

Very sadly, Chancellor the Serama cockerel seems to have been taken by something last evening. His mate, Fleck, was hiding on the wall in the ivy for several hours last night, and is still obviously traumatised today.

I suspect fox/buzzard.

Just doing what they need to do, though.

Rip Chancellor the brave.