Compost Bin
It's official! The average American generates around 1,500 pounds of trash every year. Almost 25 percent of this trash is made up of lawn waste and wet garbage. These figures are available from the US Environment Protection Agency.
I'm sure they will have risen by the time you read this so what can you do about it. Well how about turning some of this household trash, leaves and lawn waste into useful compost by making a composting bin.
There are various methods and designs to create your compost bin, some people prefer to build 2 bins so they can rotate from one to the other.
Why go to the trouble of building a compost bin? Well apart from keeping your neighbors happy by not having a dirty great mound of smelling compost in view, it also protects your compost from the wind, rain and hot sun which would have a detrimental effect on your composting pile.
Remember you do not want to get your mound too wet too dry or blown all over your backyard.
One option for your compost bin is to go purchase some chicken, or rabbit wire fencing. Drive some fence post's into the ground to create the shape you want, usually three sided to allow yourself access. Or make the forth side into a hinged gate type fixture. Atache the wire to the posts then start filling the bin with your grass clippings, leaves and food scraps.
Your compost bin or bins should be situated a few feet away from any permanent structure and if possible as far away from your garden so as not to attract slugs. You don't want an army of hungry slugs eating all your veggies. If your only going to be growing flowers this probably won't be a problem.
Having two wooden bins side by side can be very useful. As the compost in your first bin starts to decompose you can move it to the second bin and put fresh ingredients into the first one.
This has two benefits, the first bin is constantly being replenished and the action of moving the compost to the second bin helps to aerate the mix.
Here is a short list of some other types of compost bins you might like to consider making.
Snow Fence Bins
Wooden Pallet Bins.
New Zealand Box.
Portable Wood and Wire Composting Bin.
Turning Bins.
Wood and wire three-bin turning unit
Block or Brick Bins.
Rotating Turning Barrel
What ever type of compost bin you decide to build just remember the advice given above and you should have your own healthy compost bin thriving in a matter of weeks.
I'm sure they will have risen by the time you read this so what can you do about it. Well how about turning some of this household trash, leaves and lawn waste into useful compost by making a composting bin.
There are various methods and designs to create your compost bin, some people prefer to build 2 bins so they can rotate from one to the other.
Why go to the trouble of building a compost bin? Well apart from keeping your neighbors happy by not having a dirty great mound of smelling compost in view, it also protects your compost from the wind, rain and hot sun which would have a detrimental effect on your composting pile.
Remember you do not want to get your mound too wet too dry or blown all over your backyard.
One option for your compost bin is to go purchase some chicken, or rabbit wire fencing. Drive some fence post's into the ground to create the shape you want, usually three sided to allow yourself access. Or make the forth side into a hinged gate type fixture. Atache the wire to the posts then start filling the bin with your grass clippings, leaves and food scraps.
Your compost bin or bins should be situated a few feet away from any permanent structure and if possible as far away from your garden so as not to attract slugs. You don't want an army of hungry slugs eating all your veggies. If your only going to be growing flowers this probably won't be a problem.
Having two wooden bins side by side can be very useful. As the compost in your first bin starts to decompose you can move it to the second bin and put fresh ingredients into the first one.
This has two benefits, the first bin is constantly being replenished and the action of moving the compost to the second bin helps to aerate the mix.
Here is a short list of some other types of compost bins you might like to consider making.
Snow Fence Bins
Wooden Pallet Bins.
New Zealand Box.
Portable Wood and Wire Composting Bin.
Turning Bins.
Wood and wire three-bin turning unit
Block or Brick Bins.
Rotating Turning Barrel
What ever type of compost bin you decide to build just remember the advice given above and you should have your own healthy compost bin thriving in a matter of weeks.