Garden Composting From Your Own Homemade Compost Bin
Posted: Friday, July 16, 2010
by Keggy Cass
Garden composting is an easy and efficient way to help improve your garden, reduce waste and save the environment. Plans for building your own composting bin out of nearly any material are available for free on the internet, and by using common sense and keeping basic principles in mind, you can be up and running in your own home composting endeavor in no time.
Compost is produced by naturally decaying plants, manure, and food materials. Homemade compost results from piling such materials up in a central location and layering them. Water, heat, insects, worms, fungus, and bacteria all work to decompose the substances, eventually transforming it into a very rich soil that can be used to add nutrients to any garden.
Choose Your Location.
Selecting the right location to build your homemade compost bin is very important. In order for compost to decompose correctly, it will need to be damp, but not wet. Choose a location with some shade to help keep your compost from drying out. Your bin must be located a distance away from your home to reduce the nuisance of fruit flies and unwanted smells, but if space is a concern, be sure to plan for a top on your bin. Also keep in mind that if your compost bin is too far away, the chances that you will reliably work with it are diminished. Choose someplace that is convenient to work in, and that has easy access to water so you can moisten your compost.
Select Bin Materials.
Your compost bin can be constructed of anything from lattice panels to wire mesh to solid wood boards to old tires! Search the internet for plans using various materials, and choose something that compliments your location. You will want a more attractive bin for something close to your home, while an expandable bin may be the most adaptable choice for use where space is available.
What Materials Should Be Composted?
Compost is made by layering shredded materials on top of each other. Some suggestions:
Grass clippings, leaves, yard waste, manure, soil, or seasoned compost;
Egg shells, banana peels, coffee grounds, vegetable and fruit leavings (such as apple cores or lettuce leaves).
Keep your compost pile slightly moist, and make it large enough to generate heat. With a little planning and dedication, your homemade compost bin will be yielding rich compost in just a few short months!
Keggy recommends Homemade Compost and Homemade Compost Bin.
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