How to Build a Backyard Composter

When building a backyard composter, you can choose from a variety of different shapes, sizes, and materials. There are some compost bins made out of wire, others out of wood, and still others made out of recycled plastic containers. Composting bins will keep you supplied with fresh, nutrient rich soil to plant in your garden month after month. A compost bin is also beneficial since it recycles your old kitchen scraps and keeps them from filling up the landfills.

Here's how to make a simple, effective backyard composter. Work with a partner if possible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper and pencil
• Measuring tape
• Wire mesh
• 4 wooden stakes
• Staple gun
• Staples
• Hammer

1. Decide where you are going to place your compost bin and choose an area that is not in full sun.

2. Pick a design and draw out a quick sketch on a piece of paper. A square or rectangular shape works great for composting bins since you can put wooden spikes in each of the 4 corners for support. Draw out the desired length of the sides and height. You can make your compost bins as big or small as you like but don't make them too tall. You need to me able to reach inside to occasionally stir up the compost.

3. Purchase the supplies needed for your backyard composter. You can shop online or go to the local hardware store. If possible, buy 1 piece of wire mesh that wraps around all 4 sides of the compost bin. Cut the wire piece about 1-1.5 feet longer than your calculations. Chicken wire works great but you can use another size mesh if you like. Buy 4 heavy-duty stakes to fit in the corners that are about 1 ft taller than the desired height of your composting bin. You will also need a staple gun with staples.

4. Fold the ends of the cut wire back on themselves at about 3 inches. This is to keep the cut ends from poking and cutting people as they reach into the finished backyard composter.

5. Staple one of the edges of folded over wire down the length of post #1. Leave about 1 ft at the base of the post so you can hammer the compost bin into the ground. You want the wooden posts on the inside of your bin so keep this in mind when folding the wire.

6. Measure down the wire to the length you determined for one of the sides of your compost bin and staple post #2. Repeat this for post #3.

7. Finish your square by folding the wire and stapling the final edge of the wire to post #1. There is no need for a base since you want to encourage microorganisms to enter your backyard composter and break down the materials.

8. Hammer the 4 posts into the ground at the location you determined and start filling up your backyard composter. You can add kitchen scraps and outdoor materials such as leaves, grass clippings, etc. You want about a 50% dry and 50% wet content ratio of material inside your compost bin. If need be, you can add some water to the composting bin in order to leave it the consistency of a well wrung-out sponge.

Resources

• Find all of your organic gardening solutions here, at Arbico-Organics.com
• Go Green with ECO FRIENDLY landscaping tools from GreenGardenTools

[betterbody]

on 6/21/2009 Thank you for the tips on building a composter. Need to do this. Again.