How to Build a Compost Bin and What is it Good For?

First off what is compost and how does it work? Compost basically is taking any of your organic wastes (i.e., food scraps, egg shells, manure, grass clippings, etc..) into piles or rows and allowing it to decompose and mature. Bacteria and fungi, which are natural occurring microorganisms use these scraps for food and energy which help to decompose it. Anything that was once alive can basically be composted. Meat, bones and fatty foods are not good however in compost and should be thrown out. Compost will add much needed nutrients to your garden soil, you are returning organic matter into the soil and it works almost like a mulch, helping to retain moisture and add nutrients. Composting is returning nutrients already once in the soil back to the earth, continuing what some call "the cycle of life".

We have a very basic, cheap and what was easy to build compost bin. We used a regular 30 gallon metal garbage can that can be bought at any hardware or even big box store. It must include a cover.

Step 1: We drilled 4 holes about 4 inches apart around the garbage can, in three different rows. Then also drilled some holes into the top and bottom of the can. The holes are necessary to allow air circulation and release of excess moisture. The microorganisms that help to decompose what is in the can will not work without proper oxygen going through also.

Step 2: We placed about 3" of saw dust into the bottom of the can, you can use wood chips and this works to help absorb and moisture

Step 3: This was optional, but a good idea for a few reasons. We placed the can on top of two cement blocks, for one thing this allowed air to circulate more freely since the bottom was open and it kept it off the ground and makes it even less appealing to small critters and also prevents the bottom from rusting.

Step 4: We will move our compost bin around every few days, basically just shake it or roll it once or twice on the ground, add any more material as you have it. the best compost bin is 50 5 dry, 50% wet. Use your wet kitchen scraps, layer with dry grass clippings, old newspaper, etc.

Step 5: Remember to keep it moist, not super moist though. If you notice it drying out a quick spray of water from the garden hose will do.

Step 6: In a few weeks check your compost, it should be a nice dark crumbly dirt looking "mess" which believe it or not will have a more earthy smell, like dirt than the smell you would imagine! Always using gloves (just to be safe since I am touching waste), I will sometimes strain it through a wire fence, chicken coop type wire fence works good for me, putting the wire on top of one can and pouring the compost from my original compost bin can into this new can, the wire fence works as a strainer, the dirt will sift though and some of the larger piece that still need to decompose more will not go though and can go right back into the original compost bin until it is ready.

And voila! I have some completely organic fertilizer for my garden that is 100% natural and, at least in my opinion, better than any man made or factory processed fertilizer (which may be natural, but after processing and packaging and sitting on shelves in the store how much of that "naturalness" does it lose?).