How to Construct a Compost Bin
One of the easiest ways to reduce your trash, reuse kitchen and gardening scraps and do your plants and flowers a favor is to start composting. While you can purchase compost kits, bins and sets at home and garden store, a DIY compost bin proves a simple project in which you can utilize simple, inexpensive materials or even repurposed lumber scraps or shipping pallets. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Scout potential locations for your compost bin. If you plan to construct a closed bin that does not roll, you need to build the compost bin in an area that gets some amount of sun and shade, so that the compost can retain some moisture. Make sure that the spot in which you construct the compost bin has drainage nearby so that you will not have standing water that collects under and around the bin.
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Consider different types of compost bins and materials. Building a compost bin can be as simple as wrapping wire or chain around four shipping pallets, with another pallet at the base for better drainage and air circulation. If you go with this method, make sure you use treated wood that will not rot when in constant contact with damp materials. Note that this type of compost bin has an open construction, meaning that the increased contact with air can slow down the time in which the scraps in the compost break down. You will want a pitchfork or a long shovel for aerating the compost.
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Invest more time and create a closed compost bin. The benefits of a closed compost bin include the accelerated rate of scraps turning into compost and the ability to roll or manipulate the container in order to turn the compost. Constructing a compost bin with a lid begins with procuring a plastic trash can with a tightly fitting lid. Drill several holes up and down the sides and around the can, spacing them out relatively equally. About 40 holes should provide sufficient passage of air through the trash can. You can also drill some holes in the lid.
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Set the trash can on bricks to improve drainage and aeration. Use wire or bungee cords to tightly adhere to top of the garbage can to the can.
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Create the base of the compost mix. Begin with dry materials at the bottom that can soak up odors as well as moisture. A few inches of wood chips or sawdust should suffice. Add in garden waste, food scraps and newspaper or plain cardboard. Keep the compost aerated by removing it from the bricks and rolling it around the yard.
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Tips & Warnings
A closed compost bin needs less watering than an open compost bin, but you should check to make sure the mixture inside has some moisture.
Avoid smelly compost bins by adding dried leaves or straw to the mix. Avoid attracting flies by burying scraps deeply in the bin rather than laying them on top.
