Making a compost bin really is easy. A compost bin is simply a structure built to hold the heap of composting kitchen and garden waste together in a pile. This keeps the heat created during composting inside the pile and speeds up the process.
Materials can include;
Wooden pallets,
Used car tyres,
Straw and hay bales,
Reclaimed paving,
Breeze blocks,
Sleepers,
In fact, almost anything.
Yes, almost any material can be used to build a compost bin, providing;
A couple of points to bear in mind when choosing the material you are going to use.
You can use almost any material to build a compost bin as long as the bin is set directly on the ground. This
will allow garden worms and other beneficial insects to get into the bin to do the important work they do in the composting process.
It's also important the compost bin is big enough and constructed in such a way to allow easy access to the compost to turn it
over. This aerates the composting waste by letting oxygen into the heap.
Easy access to the compost bin will also be important when it is time to shovel out the finished compost.
Planning to be able to cover the heap to help retain heat the composting process generates will speed it up.
Seven three foot lengths of rough 6x6 timber, (Gravel boards come in six foot lengths, purchase four and saw them in half)
Four; Four foot lengths of 2x2 wooden posts.
28; Two and I/4inch galvanized nails or decking screws if you have a battery powered screw driver.
A cover of any waterproof material to hold the heat in and stop the contents from becoming wet from rain. Compost bins work best if the composting waste is kept warm and moist, but not wet, too much rain will slow the composting process down.
Use six foot gravel boards for the length. Saw them in half for the sides and use four x four wooden posts for the corners to make the bin stronger.
A lid could be made and fitted, but newspaper, plastic sheeting or bin-bags do the same job.
You will need four pallets, plastic ties or nails.
Place the pallets on end to form a square, tie or nail two sides and the back together.
Use ties, wire or strong string to tie one side of the front pallet to the end of a side pallet, to form a hinge (you will need to be able to open the front to shovel out the finished compost)
Wedge the other side shut or tie shut with an easily opened knot.
To make a stronger and more stable compost bin using pallets, hammer 4x4 wooden stakes into the corners and tie or nail them to the structure.
old truck or car tyres.
Simply stack the tyres as high as you want, fill with kitchen and garden waste and remove the tyres one by one to get to the compost. Tyres speed up the composting process because they retain daytime heat.
Wire compost bin made from chicken wire.
Hammer four 4inx4in sharpened posts into the ground to form a 3ft square, tack wire netting to the posts leaving the front easily detachable so you can get the finished compost out. Use a couple more posts positioned in the middle to build a 6ftx3ft wire bin.