I made mine portable because I didn't have enough room in my small yard. It's good if you rent also so you don't have to remove a permanent one if you move. I used a large rigid plastic storage bin with a lid. You can also use a large round plastic garbage can with a lid. Drill small holes all around bottom and sides for air and drainage. Put in your compost material and a layer of soil, put lid on and put a couple of bricks down for it to sit on. (It drains better this way.)
All you do from here on is secure the lid and turn the entire box over and on it's sides. You can just roll the garbage can on it's sides to mix. Water to keep moist. When you're digging in the garden and come upon earth worms, put some in the compost bin. They like it in there and they and help with decompress process. I've done this for several years now and have really nice results.
P.S. When drilling holes in the rigid plastic start with a small drill bit. The larger bits can crack the plastic. You can make larger holes by changing bits or use a larger screw driver and bore the hole a little larger. Don't make the hole real large or "stuff" will come out the holes.
I use a large plastic storage box. I punched holes all around the sides and bottom. I put my "stuff" in and then turn the box over on one visit and then to the side on the next, and the other side the next visit. I water slightly every once in a while. It just sits in the back yard out of the way and works very good!
I have a couple of thoughts after reading the post about using a dishwasher. Is this idea safe? Do metals or plastics leach to the ground? If using compost for a vegetable garden, does anything seep into the compost? Also, be sure the dishwasher door doesn't lock anymore or isn't hinged. As with any discarded applicance, a child could get locked inside.
I made mine out of 4 wooden pallets that I stood up on their sides and wired together. One of the pallets is the "door" where I attached a latch on either side for easy removal. Works for me.
You can find them just about anywhere. Just ask someone at the garden homecenters if they'll sell you a few, or look it up in the yellow pages.
I just wrap some chicken wire or old screen material around 3 or 4, 4 ft tall (long) 2 x 2 lumber and pounded the lumber into the ground w a lg hammer. Nail/staple or screw the screen/wire to the wood and turn compost often.
You can go to google and type in "making a compost bin" There are several sites showing different types of inexpensive bins to make. Actually the bin keeps out animals so you could just start one on the ground without a bin if you choose to.
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Request: Making A Cheap Compost Bin
Archived on 06/09/2009
How do I make a cheap compost bin?
Casey from Sherman, TX
Feedback:
RE: Making A Cheap Compost Bin
I made mine from a food grade steel barrel with a clamp top lid. Open the lid, roll it around the yard.
Be sure to give it some air. (09/24/2008)
I read this online somewhere and want to try it next summer, although it takes some work to get it ready. One way to make a small compost bin is to take a 5 gallon plastic bucket and drill holes randomly beginning about 6 inches from the top (this keeps it from attracting scavengers). The holes must be big enough to allow earthworms to pass through and aerate the compost. Then dig a hole large enough for the bucket to be almost flush with the ground. Fill it, snap on the lid, and stir it once a week. (09/24/2008)
We made one with a 55 gallon metal barrel. We partially buried it in the ground (about 2/3's), after adding some holes to the bottom. It needed to be turned over occasionally. It takes up very little space, and you get good compost quickly. I liked to keep the cover on. It kept animals out. (09/25/2008)
I am using a large plastic tote box for mine. I drilled a couple of holes in the sides for drainage when i water the compost. I works just great. I also bought some compost booster at Lowe's. Just sprinkle it over and water in. Janette (09/25/2008)
We made one from a discarded dishwasher. We dug a hole large enough for the dishwasher to fit on it's back into the ground. The door was then on the top and it was perfect for compost. (09/26/2008)
