compost bin, how I did it, and what I was thinking

[keith44]

I finally just did it, took some old "T" posts and 2 x 4 wire fencing (reclaimed from an old dog run) and fixed me a place to start composting (instead of just putting stuff in a hole at the edge of the garden.

[keith44]

How I did it is the easy part, tilled an area between two small rises in the land near the south eastern corner of the property (and about 40 feet from the garden, and 200 feet from the house to keep the lil woman happy   )

Then I leveled the ground and drove the "T" posts till they were evenly deep (2x4 across posts with torpedo level to get them level as well. )  Then it was a simple matter to pull the fencing around the posts forming a 3 sided "box".  I'm leaving one side open for easy access, and I chose to use the fencing for the air flow, and it was available.  Tying off the fencing to the posts I used the fence itself.

[longwinters]

I bet next year you will have more of those compost piles for that big garden.  Might look like a pigmy village 

Long

[keith44]

it might at that, but we can call it a tribute to pygmies the world over   

[LunaticFringeInc]

Keith, keep us posted and let us know how well this set up works for you. 

I have several pick up bed loads of leaves that I would really like to do something with other than haul them off to the trash bin.  I was looking at one of the tumblers thats available but most are kinda pricey for their size and many got poor product reviews for their design durability.  So I have kinda procrastinated on the project.  I figure a good yard or two of rotted leaf mulch would surely do the garden good next season!

[keith44]

I got this idea from mother earth news where they used old pallets arranged in a similar shape.  The two tricks I picked up from other sources are to

1) layer dirt or sod with the dry stuff, and try to keep as much green as dry in the mix (so grass clipings, and dried leaves will be layered with kitchen scraps.
and
2) you have to turn this with a shovel (down side) and you have to be patient.

I'll post as we go

[Hit or Miss]

I built mine with pallets.  Two bins, one working and one to turn into.  I have a shortage of compostable material but that didn't stop me from thieving some from my neighbors pile of grass clippings she dumped by the alley.  That and some straw and paper from the shredder with assorted odds and ends will eventually be nice compost for the garden!  You want a pretty equal mix of greens and browns, i.e. grass clippings and leaves, weeds and paper and so on.

[keith44]

way to go hit or miss!! pallets were not available for mine.  I'm composting the same stuff you are, just adding coffee grounds, egg shells, potato peels, etc

[keith44]

Well just as an update, I've turned the pile twice, and am starting to have a rich looking soil.  I'll put the analyzer in it later this week to check the ph level, I'm betting mine is acidic, due to already acid soil (ph 6) and the concentration of coffee grounds.

[reliquary]

keith44:

Thanks again...this is exactly what I was looking for.  I've tried just piling up stuff and leaving it; that takes too long.   Someone gave me one of the composting barrels that turns on an axle and I'm into the third month of that thing with little to show from it...I can see why they gave it to me and am planning to "gift" it to someone else soon.

I mow about an acre of open yard, have ~40 mature oaks that give me ample leaves, have residue from the garden, and see no reason to let all that organic material go to waste. I've got some chicken wire and rebar rods left from other projects and am going to bubbafy something with that. 

Questions:  Do you add any fertilize to the pile?  Would Rid-X or one of the other septic tank additives help?   How often do you turn it?

[Cheesehead]

I built mine with pallets.  Two bins, one working and one to turn into.  I have a shortage of compostable material but that didn't stop me from thieving some from my neighbors pile of grass clippings she dumped by the alley.  That and some straw and paper from the shredder with assorted odds and ends will eventually be nice compost for the garden!  You want a pretty equal mix of greens and browns, i.e. grass clippings and leaves, weeds and paper and so on.

I also do the pallet compost pile, two of them. I let one sit for a year and one is for current additiions. The year old one makes about 200 pound of black dirt per year. Material cost is near zero.

Cheese

[keith44]

keith44:

Thanks again...this is exactly what I was looking for.  I've tried just piling up stuff and leaving it; that takes too long. 

Questions:  Do you add any fertilize to the pile?  Would Rid-X or one of the other septic tank additives help?   How often do you turn it?

You're welcome, hopefully we can figure it out together.

No I do not add anything until I am ready to use it.  When I take out some that seems ready to use I pile it in the corner of the garden, and check the PH.  Usually (with past piles) I have needed to add lime to balance the ph.  This is especially true if you use oak leaves.  Other leaves do not seem as acidic, pine needles are also acidic.  I turn mine about once every three to four weeks.  This method is also slow, but I am working on next years soil ammendment, not this years, so I have time.  I will be building a second one about October or November so I can alternate which one I use from and which one I add to through the year.