FWIW, my Green Johanna seems to have been doing OK so far, despite me being a composting newbie. I got it 1/3 off, so it wasn't too expensive, and by the end of the summer the contents were smelling nice and compost-y, even though I've been putting lots of kitchen waste in it.
I agree with earlier posters that hotbins do seem to get quite damp. I've combatted that with plenty of torn-up brown paper (the sort used as packing material by the more eco-conscious mail order companies), plus dead leaves, mushroom punnets, odds and ends of used compost, etc to improve the green-to-brown ratio.
Now that the weather's cooling down I think I'm going to leave it for the winter and put my kitchen waste into the green wheelie bin for municipal composting. I have an insulating jacket that I can put on the Green Johanna when the temperatures drop further, and maybe it'll be ready for use again next spring!
I agree with earlier posters that hotbins do seem to get quite damp. I've combatted that with plenty of torn-up brown paper (the sort used as packing material by the more eco-conscious mail order companies), plus dead leaves, mushroom punnets, odds and ends of used compost, etc to improve the green-to-brown ratio.
Now that the weather's cooling down I think I'm going to leave it for the winter and put my kitchen waste into the green wheelie bin for municipal composting. I have an insulating jacket that I can put on the Green Johanna when the temperatures drop further, and maybe it'll be ready for use again next spring!
How much veg and wildlife can I pack into a 6m x 8m garden in suburban Cambridge? Let’s find out! 
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