Compost! It makes the world go around! Ok – so we may be exaggerating a tiny bit, but it does make your garden healthier. It loosens clay soils and can help sandy soils retain water. Gardens that receive a healthy dose of compost produce higher yields of healthier fruits, vegetables, and flowers! Wow-ee! Not too bad for something that started life as kitchen scraps. You don’t have to shell out for an expensive compost bin to have access to this green(ish) gold. In today’s blog posts we should you how to make an affordable compost bin at home using two easy methods.
The Plastic Bin Method
The plastic bin method is a great way of building your own compost bin since a lot of people already have large a plastic container – check your garage or ask friends and neighbours if they have any going spare! This method is particularly useful for container gardeners – you can place it on a patio, porch or balcony.
- Firstly you will need a large plastic bin. Aim for one that holds around 18 gallons and it must have a lid. In addition, if you can get a second lid, this can work well to catch the liquid that leaches out of the bin.
- To aid decomposition, your homemade compost bin will need air. You will need to drill holes in the container – it doesn’t matter what size drill bit you use, as long as you drill lots of holes. Space them 1 to 2 inches apart, on all sides – including the bottom, and the lid. However, if the holes are particularly large, you may want to line the interior of the bin with wire mesh or hardware cloth to keep rodents from chomping on your compost.
- All you need to do now is place your new homemade compost bin in a suitable location. Outside the kitchen door is good, as you can easily access it to throw in any kitchen scraps.
- For good compost bin maintenance, give the bin a shake every few days or so. As a result the compost will be well aerated.
The Pallet Method
Pallets – they’re endlessly useful. With a little bit of patience you can even knock four together to make your very own affordable compost bin. However, this method requires a little bit more elbow grease than the first. Read on to find out how to make a compost bin from pallets.
- Firstly you will need to clear the space you’re using for the bin. In addition to clearing, you may need to level the ground using a spade or a rake. Place chicken wire on the ground if rats are of concern.
- Stand a pallet on it’s long edge – this will form the back edge of the compost bin. Push a stake from the top down between both of the layers of the pallet at either end, using a sledgehammer to drive them firmly into the ground around 30cm deep.
- Place the the remaining two perpendicular to the first (think you’re creating a ‘U’ shape with the pallets). You’ll need to drive stakes in to these as before. Make sure the corners are tight together to stop compost from spilling through.
- Wire the adjoining edges of the compost bin together for extra stability.
- Use the fourth pallet to create a gate at the front by wiring one side to one of the side pallets.
In conclusion – having a compost bin doesn’t need to be costly! You can make one at home easily from either a plastic container or pallets. Making your own compost bin doesn’t even require that much DIY skill – with a few tools you can create your own in no time at all and soon you can reap the rewards of having your own compost. Next week we’ll be looking at all the benefits of creating compost, including some best practices and advice for making sure yours stays healthy all year round.
