Creating Your Ideal Compost Bin

Their are several different options to build your compost bin, from a simple compost pile to a large variety of compost bins. Everyone seems to have a different opinion of what works best, no one way is incorrect.

Compost can be made in a pile on the ground or in a container that you either build yourself or purchase. There is a large array of materials that can be used to build your own compost bin at home.

Materials to build a compost bin

• Wood


• Brick


• Concrete blocks


• Wire mesh


• Fencing


• Durable cloth panels

Compost tumblers that are available for purchase are typically made of heavy duty plastic and are barrell shaped. This alleviates the need to turn the pile. Compost bins come in numerous designs, from simple and inexspensive mesh or fencing to aestetically pleasing and durable containers.

A handy time saver....

I find it to be helpful to have the compost area close to my garden for a few reasons. Like most I have a very busy schedule and find it saves me much time and energy to compost right at my garden site. There are many ways to make your compost area blend in to its surroundings. The compost bins that are availble for purchase are dark in color which allows them to blend in to a shady background. Some have put decorative fencing around the bin to mask it.

For many years now I have used the method of having the pile on the ground and had success, but to be honest with you, I grow tired of having to turn the heavy compost. I will be purchasing a compost tumbler that relieves me of that much dreaded chore. Happy Composting!

A Fresh Heap of Compost

Do you know what compost is? I am often surprised to find out how many people have not heard of it! Compost is simply comprised of decomposing organic materials. This consists of some food waste, scraps from the yard and garden, and other bits of organic matter. Compost is the best soil conditioner any gardener could add to produce a much more bountiful harvest. Now who wouldn't want that for their garden?

Compost serves many wonderful purposes in our gardens. It improves soil texture, helps to retain moisture in our gardens, aids in drainage and increases the overall fertility of the soil. Compost is not considered to be a fertilizer, as it is so very rich and diverse in nutrients that it is considered to be more of a soil conditioner. Often times, no fertilizers are necessary when compost is added regularly to the garden.

Food waste to include in the compost:

• Wet (green) material
• vegetable peelings
• green plant pieces

• Dry material
• shredded leaves
• grass clippings
• dry weeds

What not to incluse in the compost:

• anything with fats and oils
• meat scraps and bones
• seeds, fruit pits, these may bring critters
• diseased or pest infested plants
• human or pet waste
• anything treated with herbicides or pesticides

It is crutial for the compost to have a balance of wet and dry layers. This will allow for an adequate balance between nitrogen and carbon. I have been told that rock powder can be added to enrich the soil, but to be honest with you, I have never done this and my compost has worked beautifully for the last several years. The finished compost will look dark in color and crumbly. Compost is great for all types of plants. A layer can be spread over the entire garden. I often times will use a large portion of the compost I have and till it into my garden in the early spring. Throughout the rest of late spring and early summer I place a mound of compost around the base of the plants to act as a mulch. Then, after the harvest is over, I spread some more compost over the surface of the garden to serve almost as blanket throughout the fall, allowing the soil to rest and slowly absorb the nutrients over the winter.

Mother Earth News...An Enjoyable Read for All

Mothers Earth News is a magazine filled with earth friendly solutions to leading a self sustaining life style. More and more our society seems to be striving to reach the same goal, to become closer to our Mother Earth and to reach our own personal goals of becoming self sustaining.