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Building your Own Compost Bin |
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Below are several ideas for you.
Composting is more art than science. It can
be as simple or complicated as you make it. You can compost a open pile of organic
material or you can compost in a closed purchased container or you can build your own.
There are many many examples on the internet - below are some of my favorite designs that
you can build. |
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Click on the picture for more
details. |
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Lowe's:
"This two-bin composting system can be built by one person in about five hours...."
Download a
printable
version of the
plans |
Sunset Magazine:
"It's inexpensive, easy to build, and features five stackable sections for simple,
efficient composting..." |
Fine
Gardening: "My own homemade compost bin is easy to assemble and disassemble and
works with whatever size compost pile I have at a given time...." |
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"The bird's
nest bin, also known as the binless bin, is a naturally constructed compost bin that
you build out of the large, coarse plant materials that you have
around the yard..." |
"What you
will need for this project is 4 shipping pallets that are roughly the same size, 4 L
brackets, 2 strap hinges, a latch and the screws to attach the hardware..." |
"Building
your own bin is a great way to customize a system to fit your composting needs..."
Also includes several
other simple plans. |
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"A rotating
barrel composter -- With a substantial input of labor, a large volume of yard waste
can be composted in a relatively short time (3 weeks to 6 months). Turning bins can
require a greater expense to buy or
effort to build...." |
Use a
garbage-can to make an inexpensive composter.
Simply remove the bottom and drill holes - ready to use. |
Recycle that
old snow-fence.
Pound 2x2's into the ground
(at least 8" deep). . |
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| Options for Composting Bins: |
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One Bin Systems: A
one bin system is the easiest way to make a compost pile. This is a good system if
your organic sources are limited or your space is limited. The construction is
basic. Make an bin that is at least 3 cubic feet. You, of course, have
the option to compost without a bin at all by just piling organic material directly on the
ground. The basic one bin system can be constructed from free wooden pallets, cinder
blocks, metal or wooden posts, etc. You can "wrap" your bin with chicken wire, snow
fences, or lumber.
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Two Bin and Three Bin Systems:
This system consists two or three adjacent bins. Each bin contains compost in
various stages of decomposition.
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Rotating or Tumbling Systems:
These for the most part are commercially available.
When everything is in order, your compost should be done in about three weeks.
you fill the container only partly full with both greens and moistened browns. The
key to successful composting in a rotating system is to not overfill the container.
A half-full container tumbles more easily.
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- Sheet or Trench Composting: A alternative
to pile the compost on the ground. With this system, you bury the organic material
in 8" deep trenches. The easy part is that you bury it and forget about it.
You just bury the organic material, let it decompose for a few months and then plant in
the trench. My dad spread fallen leaves on his spent vegetable garden and then
turned them under with his little tractor.
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| Further Composting Information
Internet Links: |
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