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!


Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Back ache and shopping


The sciatica was so bad last night I went back to bed this morning and had another couple of hours kip. I suspect working outside yesterday in the cold has made it worse. But I did feel better later on in the morning and so eventually I had a busy day - I did loads of stuff at home and then went over to Malvern and got some more wood chippings for the hen run floor as well as having a nice chat to Sarah who owns Newland Poultry.

Then I went to the Malvern Link shopping park and went on a clothes trying spree - Evans stuff was ALL TOO BIG because I have lost so much weight I had to go into M & S instead

Home to a delish meal cooked by Compostman, a sit by the fire and some TV watching with the family.

I have been writing a review of a Weather Station I was sent before Christmas made by Oregon Scientific - must post it up as it is a very good product.

Tuesday, 6 January 2015

A busy day


Up early as Compostgirl was back at school today. A dull wet cloudy morning gave way to sunshine in the afternoon so I got on with cleaning out the Big Girls' hen house.

I said it was filled with poo!


 That's better!


I also had a look at the compost bins to make sure all was well looking right


and looking left



I am planning on adding a third outside raised bed here when the ground dries off a bit.


I also had a wander around the wood :)

As it is 12th Night we took down the Christmas decorations and moved the tree outside.







I am very impressed with the live tree we had this year, it hardly dropped any needles and still looks very good so we will plant it in the ground and it can become an "outdoor" Christmas Tree :)


I spent the rest of the day sorting out piles of stuff to dispose of - charity shop, freecycle, recycling, composting. Nothing went to landfill!


Later I took Compostgirl up to the Stables to see her favourite horse, Bob, he is poorly and has to have a serious operation this week. We took him a carrot and hope for the best outcome for him.

Monday, 5 January 2015

Back to normal life.


So Monday, the first of the New Year.

I have been sorting out computer woes, then trying to get on with some paying work whilst sorting out my stuff to file my tax return on line. Our rubbish broadband connection does not help with that!

When it had warmed up a little bit outside I had intended to clean out the Big Girls hen house - having been inside for longer due to the long nights they have made SUCH a mess in there - huge piles of droppings under the perches! but my back is hurting so I decided to do it tomorrow morning instead.

I also planned to go into Ledbury to get some veg from Handley Organics as well as visiting a shop to have an old phone unlocked. So that will have to wait as well until tomorrow I hope!

School starts again tomorrow for Compostgirl, it is always a bit difficult here in the holidays but we had as good a time as we could (I think)

I also finished ironing the last two shirts which I missed yesterday ( they were hanging behind a chair, hiding from me!) and made a start on the huge mending pile. I swear things breed if left in piles as I am sure there were not that many clothes waiting before Christmas!

Apart from that have sorted stuff out, mainly into many, smaller piles rather than actually doing something useful with them but it gave me the illusion of progress, at least!

Plan to sit and crochet in front of the fire, later :)

Sunday, 4 January 2015

Brrrr its cold outside!


I had a very poor night sleep so needed a caffeine fix as we were  off to Archery this morning - however freezing fog did not lift until 10.30 so we were late getting there and it was still below freezing while shooting! My fingers hurt :(

 After lunch I did a bit of computer work, went and did a bit in the polytunnel and chatted to the Seramas while I worked, but it was too blooming cold to cary on so I retreated inside to scale the ironing mountain in the sitting room. It was lovely and warm in there with the woodburner going!

I am also really pleased that I am back on track with the weight loss - my normal Sunday morning weigh in today had me the lightest I have been for 10 years

I wavered a bit over Christmas - after 5 and a half months of being very positive and pretty well 100% THD I went a bit off piste the last two weeks of Dec ( mainly wine and a few mixed meals - all real food and nothing processed) and put on 5 lbs. This is the first time I have gained since 28 th June so was not pleased with myself. But I learnt the lesson - I am not yet ready to eat carbs or drink wine as I start to crave sugar again.

So I am joining in with the Harcombe Jan Blitz and have been 100% P1 since 1st Jan and boy does it work!

Anyone else watching what they eat or drink, at the moment?

Saturday, 3 January 2015

Saturday - no power and very cold outside :(


We woke to no power and driving rain and a temp of 3 C outside so doing the hens etc was chilly this morning!

We were meant to be shooting at Mordiford but driving rain and low cloud cancelled that plan. As we still had no power by 9 am we decided we would go to Hereford earlier than planned and have tea and a hot breakfast -then do the shopping. So we did.

Compostgirl has finished at Guides but is going to be a Young Leader with her old Brownie pack so needs a different uniform top but unfortunately the Girlguiding shop was closed. We still had a wander around and looking in shops and tried on a few things - mainly boots :)

Very cold and wet and dreary weather here - we were glad to find the power was back on when we got home as we were not looking forward to getting out the Generator and going into that routine - it is a lot of work and everything takes far longer to do. We really are lucky in the UK to have electrickery on demand - many people all over the world do not and I am very grateful I can see to read and type this to you all by electricity :)

Steak tonight for me and fizzy water :) Day 3 of not drinking :) Will see how long I can keep it, just for the fun of it  :)

Night all, early start tomorrow as have lots to do outside here :)
UA-40361266-1