GREAT GREEN SYSTEMS GREEN JOHANNA Installation And User Manual - Page 6

Browse online or download pdf Installation And User Manual for Garbage Disposal GREAT GREEN SYSTEMS GREEN JOHANNA. GREAT GREEN SYSTEMS GREEN JOHANNA 7 pages. Food waste composter

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The most common questions asked by

Green Johanna users

Q. My Compost Smells Of Ammonia, Is

That Right?

A. No, your compost should hardly

have an aroma. You have probably

been putting in too much nitrogen-

rich waste like grass clippings, meat or

fish. To counter the smell and regain

the normal harmony of the compost,

add in some garden soil and a mixture

of chopped-up woody garden waste,

shredded paper, torn-up cardboard

and/or woodchips. Mix this in and

then take a small batch of the finished

compost from the base of the unit

and sprinkle over the top.

Q. The Compost In The Green Johanna

Smells Bad. How Do I Get Rid Of The

Odour?

A. First of all it's important to

understand the cause of the smell,

which in this case is due to poor

aeration. You will need to add some

chopped hedge clippings and other

coarse garden waste. This must now

be well mixed in and air forced around

all the interior of the unit. If at this

stage the compost is looking too wet,

add some shredded paper, torn-up

cardboard and/or woodchips and mix

in well.

Q. How Do I Stop Ants From Getting In

The Compost?

A. You need to keep your compost

moist, the ants are attracted to dry

soil-like materials. Now is the time to

take a small watering can and gently

start to add water to your mix. After

every few sprinkles mix in the water.

You want the consistency to feel

like damp sponge.

Q. There Are Lots Of Flies In And

Around My Compost, Is This

Normal?

A. No, this is an indication of poorly

covered, nitrogen-rich compost. There

are a couple of things you need to

look at here. Firstly, mix the surface

layer well and cover with fresh soil and

clippings. Secondly, check that you are

shutting the lid securely when you are

filling up the Green Johanna.

Q. What Insects Do I Want Living In

My Compost?

A. The more insects and creatures

munching away in your Green

Johanna the warmer it will get and

the composting process will continue

at pace. So when you mix your layers

look out for: mites, worms, false-

scorpions, woodlice, springtails,

nematodes, centipedes and earwigs.

Q. It Looks Like The Activity In My

Composter Has Stopped, What

Have I Done Wrong?

A. There are six main reasons for a

composter to stop working. Read

through the options below to identify

your cause:

#1. There may be too much carbon content

(ie dry leaves, twigs, paper) so add food

waste and green garden waste and mix

in well.

#2. You have too much bulky material in the

mix. It is important to chop all waste

finely and mix well.

#3. A lack of material in general will always

slow the process and in some cases stop

it completely. Fresh and regular waste

filled near to the top of the unit is the

way to start up the process again.

#4. The whole mix is too solid and compact,

strangling air supply throughout. Give

the contents a really good stir and

add chopped-up twigs, shredded or

scrunched-up paper, torn-up cardboard,

woodchips to help with aeration.

#5. The compost has dried out, stalling the

process. You need to be adding more

moist food waste and water carefully to

bring back the damp sponge consistency.

#6. Cold weather and a poorly-fed

Green Johanna can bring a halt to the

composting process. During the colder

months make sure you are topping up

the layers every day and consider putting

an insulating jacket on the composter.

Insulating Jackets are available at