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| Hello all. This is my first post on this forum but I have done some research into composting before and understand the basics.
I have a ~30 gallon trash can with holes drilled all over and a snap-on lid that has served as a compost bin the last ~2 months at my new house. When it was only half full, "turning" it was no problem-- I could just set it on its side and roll it around. In the process of turning it a few weeks ago I was shocked how well the stuff inside was doing. But I digress . . . So now that I've realized how well this is going to go (and how much more material we have to compost than I expected) I need a second container. The plan is to fill the current one up, which seems to take about 2 months, then dump it into a second container for finishing (then start filling this one again). So I need this second container, but I have restrictions. ** It needs to be a closed bin or can or container of some kind. I have dogs and neighbors that will keep me from being able to use something open or with mesh/wire sides. ** It will preferably be easier to turn/stir than the trash can I'm using. That means shorter and wider, probably. I'd like to be able to work it with a shovel. ** It needs to be about the same size as this can. Bigger is fine as long as it's not huge. ** It needs to be pretty cheap. I don't want to get a $300 tumbler. Ideas? Thanks in advance for the input. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| The composting bins I have now were built against a 4 foot high concrete block wall of the yard tool shed with 4 foot high scrab board walls extending outward 4 feet. The front is made of scrap pieces of T-111 siding as doors for access and scrap pieces of 5/8 inch plywood are laid on top for a lid. With the exception of the corner posts, 6 of them for two bins, all the rest was salvaged material from construction, including the stretchers that run between the conrer posts, ie. very low cost. That tool shed was constructed specifically to support compost bins as well as store the yard work tools. |
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| Some cities offer composting bins at a discount to residents. Not everyone who buys them keeps them so are sometimes offered on Craigslist. |
Here is a link that might be useful: compost methods & bins
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| My dog takes no interest in my mesh-style open compost bin. Even when fish were put into the center (I only put fish or other smelly stuff in the middle of a pile when the core temp is 130F or higher). Size is 4'wide by 4' deep by2'+ high. My $20 mesh bin blends in with the yard better than my black plastic bin, or the green tumbler did. Kinda gray-brown color. I never painted the grayish hardware cloth, but sponge would work. A good compost pile will not smell, either the open or closed type. |
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- Posted by joepyeweed 5b IL (My Page) on Mon, Jul 25, 11 at 20:04
| I have dogs and neighbors. I use a wooden fence panel bin with wire mesh stapled inside. I bought two eight foot fence panels on sale at the big-box-hardware store. I cut them in half. I put hinges on the corners. I stapled hardware cloth on the inside. The entire thing will fold flat, if I want it to. the hinges allow me to open one side entirely so I can shovel stuff out. here is a few pictures:
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