Compost Bin Plans

Composting is a very simple process, comprising of degradation of yard wastes or food wastes into organic fertilizers that are rich in nutrients. This process of composting is carried out with the help of microorganisms. Although digging a pit for composting is a traditional method, these days compost bins are the popular ways of composting these days. Compost bins are the preferred choice these days, as they do not require digging of the land and they also do not cause any interference of pests and rodents, which is usually observed when a pit is dug for composting. Given below are some of the compost bin plans.

Worm Compost Bin
This type of compost bin uses worm composting i.e., composting that is done with the help of red worms. Worm compost bins are more suitable for fruit and vegetable composting. It is recommended that you should not use bones, meat, fatty food items and dairy products for composting in worm compost bin. This compost bin plan consists of only a simple, rectangular wooden box. Once your worm compost bin is built prepare the bedding material. The bedding material includes shredded cardboard and paper, leaves, wood chips, dead chopped plants, etc. The bedding material should be moist, so add water to it. See that you do not add excess water. The water added should be approximately 75 percent of the weight of the bedding. Then, place the bedding at the bottom of the compost bin and place the worms on it. Keep the lid of the bin open for a while so that the worms go into the bedding. Make a small hole in the bedding and add the vegetable and fruit waste in the hole and cover it with bedding. While maintaining the worm compost bin, keep a check on the moisture in the bin and ensure that the bedding is not too damp. Maintain a proper temperature (between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit) and ensure that the compost bin has the required amount of worms for the pounds of garbage in it. For example, you require 2 pounds of worm for 1 pound of garbage produced.

Compost Tumbler
Compost tumblers are the most popular types of compost bins. These are the best options when you do not have enough time to rotate or turn the compost. The barrel can be rotated easily, whenever you add new compost material. The compost tumbler is a barrel that contains the compost and a frame that is optional. If you decide to opt for a compost tumbler without a frame, you will have to rotate the barrel manually on the ground. Else, you can build a compost tumbler with the barrel mounted on the wooden frame and the tumbler can be rotated on the frame. If process of how to build a compost tumbler, is quite easy and you can have one in your lawn. The organic matter to be included in the compost tumbler can be of a wide variety. Compost tumbler requires less space and the stink that arises due to conventional composting methods can be avoided as well. Compost tumblers can be given different shapes and sizes, using various innovative ideas.

Wire Mesh Compost Bin
Wire mesh compost bin is one of the most economic and quickest compost bin plans. You can build this compost bin using a chicken wire or hardware cloth. The wire mesh compost bin can be a rotating or a holding bin. The wire mesh compost bins can be built with supporting posts, but the posts make the cleaning and moving of the bin difficult. Bins without posts are easy to lift and access to the bottom of the bin is possible. The wire mesh compost bin can be built in versatile shapes. The compost bin can be given a circular or any polygonal shape. This type of compost bin requires occasional moistening and the compost gets ready within six months or two years.

Snow-Fence Holding Bin
This type of compost bin is also an economic compost bin plan. A Snow-Fence holding bin consists of four supporting wooden or metal posts that are placed in the ground. The snow fence is attached outside the four posts with the help of wires and pliers.

We have discussed some of the common compost bin plans. Compost bins are easy to construct and are the best ways to convert the yard and kitchen wastes into useful fertilizer for lawn and garden plants.