GREEN JOHANNA
HOT COMPOSTER
Installation Manual

Green Johanna 330 Litre Compost Bin

CONGRATULATIONS ON BUYING YOUR GREEN JOHANNA

You are now one of the thousands of UK gardeners who have chosen the Gardeners’ World Star Buy* to perform all their composting needs. This handy guide features all the information you need to erect and use the Green Johanna to help you create nutrient-rich compost from food and garden waste.
To Get The Best From Your Green Johanna, Follow The

Instructions Below:
It’s important to not only familiarise yourself with how to use your new composter properly but with the components that make up the unit. By understanding how the composter breaks down waste material, you can learn to get the very best out of the Green Johanna every day.
From assembling and installing the unit in your garden to feeding it the right waste and keeping the carbon-nitrogen balance just right, everything is included in this booklet. Please make sure you keep it safe as you may find it handy to refer back to should your composting slow down during the winter or you wish to check whether certain waste matter can be put in it.
All that’s left to do now is read through the next few pages and follow the simple instructions to award-winning composting.

Checking over the Green Johanna and setting it up ready for the garden
With your Green Johanna now in front of you, it’s worthwhile just giving it a quick check to ensure there was no damage in transit to you. You should have a base plate, four ring sections, two hatch doors, a lid and aerator stick. You will also find all the fixings you need included, you just need to have a flathead and crosshead screwdriver to hand.

Now It’s Time To Assemble:

Step 1. Locate the four key circular sections of the Green Johanna. These will be assembled first in decreasing circles moving upwards. Each section has clearly indicated arrows that will help you align the four rings. With the basic shape of the unit now formed, locate the screw holes that will secure the Green Johanna together. Put a screw in each hole and fasten gently, only going half way in with each screw (this allows for a little manipulation as you attach the bottom and lid).
Step 2. With the main body assembled you need to attach the bottom plate. Lift up the Green Johanna and place on top of the base. As with step 1, align both sections so the screw holes are together.
Put in the final screws halfway again.
Step 3. It is now time to tighten each screw. This should be done from the base plate upwards. As you tighten each level of the unit, gently push down from above to make sure every part of the unit is secure and doesn’t slip as you fix together. With every screw tightened properly, the Green Johanna will now be solid and stable.
Step 4. You can now place the lid on top of the Green Johanna and put the whole unit in your garden. The two doors at the bottom of the Green Johanna can be screwed shut to prevent animals gaining access, and opened when you want to take out compost. If you have any further questions regarding assembly please don’t hesitate to call 0800 731 2572 or email sales@greatgreensystems.com
The Green Johanna comes with a guarantee against material defects. Please keep all your paperwork safe for any future reference.

Getting the Green Johanna perfectly placed and ready
With the Green Johanna now assembled you need to find the perfect place for it in your garden. Choosing this spot and getting the initial feed of material right are vital to successful composting moving forward.

Choosing The Ideal Location For The Unit
First of all you need to find a shady and flat patch of grass or earth. The less sun the better, as too much heat and light speed up the process, drying out the patch too quickly and meaning more maintenance for you. Ideally it should also be near the house so you don’t have a wet walk to deposit food waste in the autumn and winter. If there is a known rodent problem in your local area, it is advisable to site the Johanna away from fence lines if you can.
Getting The Base Layer Right
With the Green Johanna ideally located, you now need to prepare the unit with a perfect base layer to help activate the compost and keep the air in the composter flowing. This initially involves 10cm to 20cm of twigs and very coarse garden material spread evenly across the base. Top this with some fine garden waste such as grass trimmings, followed by a little soil or existing compost you may already have. The basic mix is now ready for food waste.
Keep The Aerator Stick Handy
Aerating the material within the Green Johanna is a vital part of the composting process. With this in mind we recommend that wherever you place the composter, you keep your aerator stick nearby. This gives you easy access to the stick whenever you add new material and reminds you to agitate the mix.
Completing the set-up process and continuing to compost
With the Green Johanna well located and the base layers prepared and ready, we can now turn our attention to making the perfect compost. Just as with the set-up materials, it is vital to keep layering the waste you put into the unit.
How To Add Food And Garden Waste
On top of the base layer mixture you can add your first layer of food waste.
From here on we recommend the layers are two parts of food waste to one part garden waste. Ensure all the material added is chopped finely to avoid larger, hard to break down lumps. This alternation of kitchen to garden waste is simple to follow and allows for a consistent mix, creating a healthier environment to encourage the carbon-nitrogen balance.

Aerating The Mix
With every new layer of waste material, ensure that you gently stir the fresh top layer of mixture with some of the older layer beneath. This allows all the micro-organisms working below to become part of the new layer that’s just been added. It is also vital that once a month you give the whole compost pile a stir, helping all the layers to blend together for a more consistent and fine compost finish.

Here’s What To Put In Your Green Johanna

Food Waste:
Vegetables, fruit, dairy products, bread, meat, fish remains, soup, egg shells, coffee filters, tea bags, household paper and egg cartons.

Garden Waste:
Pot plants, wilted flowers, grass clippings, leaves, twigs, weeds, bark and all small organic detritus.

It is OK to place food into the Johanna in a compostable bag, but do not place regular plastic bags into the composter in any circumstances.

Remember the essential ingredients for continual composting
The location and the right waste management are vital for ensuring the three mainstays of good composting.

Air Circulation
By continually moving the waste in the composter you allow oxygen to reach all the micro-organisms helping to break down the matter.
Heat
As the matter is broken down, heat is created by micro-organisms. This heat helps the bacteria and fungi work faster.
Water
Liquid is an essential part of the compost process so please ensure that all matter added into the Green Johanna is moist.
You are looking for the continuous consistency of a damp sponge.

Accelerating The Composting Process
You can choose to accelerate the composting process by liberally and evenly sprinkling our Bokashi Bran into the Johanna on a regular basis. Depending on the conditions, the compost should be ready to use after four to six months.

The most common questions asked by Green Johanna users
With the Green Johanna now assembled you need to find the perfect place for it in your garden. Choosing this spot and getting the initial feed of material right are vital to successful composting moving forward.

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 nitrogenrich waste like grass clippings, meat or fish.
To counter the smell and regain the normal harmony of the compost add in some extra garden soil or shredded newspaper.
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, it may help to add some shredded newspaper to absorb any excess moisture.

Q. How Do I Stop Ants From Getting In The Compost?

– A. You need to keep your compost moist, the ants are attracted to nice 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, falsescorpions, 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 has been too much use of dry leaves, twigs and paper, so look to add

more food waste to your mix.

2. You have too much coarse 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 the air supply

throughout. Give the whole thing a really good stir and add some very finely chopped twigs to help with the 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. Winter Jackets are available at www.greatgreensystems.com

The Green Johanna

The Lid
The container’s ventilation system is controlled by simply turning the lid.
The Cone-Shaped Design
Ensures compost sinks towards the centre of the unit and not to its sides for optimum air circulation and oxygenation.

Sliding Doors
Enables easy removal of compost at the front and rear.
The Base Plate
Enables optimum ventilation and space for ingress of worms. The plate’s holes are kept to a diameter of 4.5mm, deterring vermin from accessing the unit. The base plate’s four inwardfacing air vents ensure adequate air circulation.
Assembling
When assembling the Green Johanna the arrows on each section of the bin must be kept in line.

Useful Addition For Your Green Johanna

WINTER JACKET
The winter jacket should be fitted when the average outdoor temperature consistently falls below 5°C and removed when the temperature rises above this.

0800 731 2572
sales@greatgreensystems.com
www.greatgreensystems.com

References

• Garden Composting & Food Waste Digesting Solutions

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