How to Make a Composter From a Plastic Barrel

Every vegetable or flower garden needs compost added to it in order for plants to grow successfully. Kitchen scraps and garden snippings can easily be converted to compost for next year's garden by building a rotating compost bin. Every time scraps or clippings are added, rotate the bin a few times to mix up the compost. In a few months, you'll have organic compost that will make your garden the envy of the neighborhood.

Things You'll Need

• 55-gallon plastic barrel
• Drill
• Saw
• Hammer
• Adjustable wrench
• 8 carriage bolts, 3⁄8 inch by 3 1⁄2 inch
• 8 nuts, 3⁄8 inch
• 8 washers, 3⁄8 inch
• 8 x 16d galvanized nails
• 5 boards, 2 inch x 6 inch, 3 feet in length
• 3⁄4-inch galvanized pipe, threaded on both ends
• 2 x 3⁄4-inch galvanized pipe caps

Instructions

1. Wash out the barrel with warm, soapy water.

2. Drill a 7⁄8-inch hole at the midpoint of the barrel's height. Repeat on the exact opposite side of the barrel.

3. Lay two boards on the ground in a T-shape. Attach the two boards together by drilling four holes through both boards (where the two boards join) and attaching four nuts, bolts and washers. Arrange the four holes evenly (like the number four on a die).

4. Repeat Step 2 to make a second T-shape.

5. Attach the base board to the T-joints using the galvanized nails. Place the last board on the ground so that the two-inch length is lying on the ground. Turn one of the T-joints upside down (so that the top of the T is lying on the ground). Center the base board on the upside down T. Join the two sections together with a hammer and four galvanized nails. Repeat for the other side.

6. Drill two 7/8-inch holes at the top of the legs, two inches from the end and in the center of the board.

7. Assemble the compost tumbler. Place the barrel in the center of the stand. Put the steel pipe through the hole in one leg, pushing it through the barrel and out of the other side.

8. Screw the pipe caps on.

Tips & Warnings

• Galvanized pipes that are threaded on both ends come in standard sizes. Make sure the size you select is long enough to fit through the barrel and frame.

• If your barrel doesn't have a locking lid, hold it in places with a couple of bungee cords. Drill two holes on each side of the lid and stretch the cords across.

• To ensure no toxic chemicals leech into your compost, use a food-grade barrel.

References

• Rotating Barrel Composter
• Make a Compost Tumbler