Have you stopped to notice just how quickly yard maintenance and food preparation accumulate? Leaves, trimmings, grass clippings, coffee grounds, apple cores, banana peels and all the other organic kitchen scraps you have can be turned into something wonderful, compost! Turing it into compost is a great idea but if you’re like me and live in the city your neighbors probably don’t want to see it piled up and you probably don’t want it falling over into the yard. What’s the solution? A compost bin of course! Building a compost bin is a great way to get rich compost for your garden.

WHAT IS COMPOST?

Composting is a natural process. It is created when bacteria, fungus, and other organisms decompose. We know composting does occur naturally, we can accelerate the process with some intervention. The purpose of building a bin is to keep the composting materials together, where they build heat as decomposition breaks down organic matter. The bin should be big enough to allow you to ‘turn’ the compost with a shovel or pitchfork, as this promotes aeration and speeds composting. Compost bins are best when covered since too much rain will cool the compost and slow the composting process. You can lay a sheet of plastic over it or build a lid. We usually just have a sheet of plastic on top and remove it when we need to add material.

Building a compost bin is a great way to rich compost for your garden. Composting is a natural biological process where bacteria,

HOW TO BUILD A COMPOST BIN

This above video is a quick version that shows you all the steps without a ton of details for those that comfortable with constructing things. If you would like a more detailed version we have a workshop that goes step by step including adjusting your saw depth blade, measuring and marking your wood, and more. How To Make A Compost Bin

Materials

• Four 12-foot lengths of pressure-treated 2 x 4 lumber
• Two 10-foot lengths of pressure-treated 2 x 4 lumber
• One 10-foot length of construction-grade 2 x 4 lumber
• One 16-foot length of 2 x 6 lumber
• Six 8-foot lengths of 1 x 6 lumber
• A roll of hardware cloth
• Deck or construction screws
• Staples (250)

Tools

• Tape measure
• Hand saw or circular power saw
• Hardware Stapler
• Tin snips
• Carpenter’s square
• Drill with 3/16-inch and ½-inch bits
• Screws
• Pencil
• Safety glasses, ear protection, dust mask, and work gloves