1. I don’t have a garden…
Composting is less attractive if you don’t have a garden as saving money on mulch and plant food is one of the key benefits – BUT don’t let this put you off. If you compost using Bokashi or Worms you will have liquid feed which will be great for your house plants and patio containers AND friends and neighbours will appreciate some finished worm casts – that’s for sure… Otherwise what about a bit of guerrilla gardening – it’s all the rage now I hear…

2. The SMELL….
It’s true that rotting food is a pretty off-putting smell but as long as you have good ventilation in your wormery or conventional composter this will be no problem and of course, if you use a Bokashi kit this is anaerobic SO until you empty your Bokashi Bucket there is nothing to bother about… When you do empty it you will put it straight into soil or compost BUT there is a very definite PICKLE smell at this point but no issue and easy to get used to.

3. I’m worried about flies and bugs…
There are many benefits to many insects and composting will encourage a whole ecosystem of bugs and beasties - there will always encourage more insect activity. But in the broad scheme of things, this is a HUGE benefit to your soil and the resulting plants. You’ll only have problems with flies if your compost becomes imbalanced, and there are easy fixes if that happens.

4. I’ve tried before and failed
Usually, this is a result of a poorly aerated Compost Darlac free from the council… or similar. With a system that’s well-aerated or with Bokashi which is anaerobic you are unlikely to have any real issues. As long as you have a variety of material to add (not just lawn clippings) these days composting is MUCH easier and you will avoid that smelly sludge and end up with a really good all-around result without hassle or turning it.

5: Rats
We have heard several people say they can’t feed the birds because of rats and they can’t compost because of rats… I can’t bear rats myself but as the population of rats is estimated at 150 million they are something we have to address.

Using Bokashi before adding it to your compost heap or garden can help, Ensuring you pick up fallen birdseed from underneath your feeders is also a good idea. Obvious things like blocking off the access under your decking and ensuring any bird and pet food is stored in rat-proof containers is essential. Having taken these measures pest control is the ultimate answer – it’s not your bird feeding or your composting that should be stopped – it’s the rats themselves.