How to Build a Cement Block Compost Bin
Cement block compost bins offer solid construction for the right price---close to nothing if you can obtain salvaged blocks, often offered online, and generally around $45 (2009 prices) if you need to buy the materials for this two-section bin. The best part is that many organic gardeners like their cement block bins better than expensive commercial alternatives.
Create this bin without mortar. The weight of the blocks suffice to keep this construction solid, and you can reconfigure the bin if you need to grow or shrink it.
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Things You'll Need
- 32 large cement blocks, 8 by 8 by 16 inches
- 7 half-size cement blocks, 8 by 8 by 8 inches
- 7 feet of chicken wire
- 5 T-posts
- Twist ties
Instructions
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Find a site for your cement block compost bin. Best would be a flat site convenient to your kitchen for scrap delivery. You'll need a width of about 7 feet, depth of 32 inches and height of about 2 ½ feet.
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Stack two pairs of large cement blocks in a row, separated by a large cement block in the middle of the pair, set 90 degrees to the others to create the lowest course of your back wall.
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Add one large and one half-size cement block set 90 degrees to each of the cement blocks on the ends and a single large cement block to end of the middle cinderblock to create a giant letter "E."
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Align all cement blocks open to the sides to create airflow. Check photo and diagram in the "Des Moines Frugal" in References to make sure you are on the right track.
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Stack the second course on top of the first. For this course, the openings will be to the top and bottom, not to the sides, and the joints will be staggered from the first course. Place two large cement blocks on each of the right and left arms of the "E." Fill in the back wall with three large cement blocks and one half cement block, placed to stagger their joints to those below them. Stack one large and one half cement block on the middle arm of the "E."
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Stack the third course identically to the first course, including having the cement blocks open to the sides.
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Stack the fourth, final course similarly to the second course, except with blocks open to the sides and with a single large cinderblock on the middle arm of the "E."
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Hammer three T-posts in front of the compost bin and two at the back corners. Fasten chicken wire to the T-posts with twist ties to keep out dogs and animals.
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Tips & Warnings
Customize your cement block bin to add an additional section if you have sufficient material to compost. See Resources for plans offered by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.
Plan your customized compost bin using Google Sketch (see Resources) or a sheet of graph paper.
Cement blocks are also called cinderblocks or concrete blocks.
