I’ve started calling my compost bins a system. Which may not make sense to some. However, to me, it does.
I place everything in the first bin and continue adding to it until it’s full, I noticed during summer it was breaking down quickly, so I just kept adding to it.
The bins are made using pallets that, at least for now, are zip tied together. I made the first by twisting wire around them but found they weren’t pulling together quite as tightly as I would like. So I switched to large zip ties and used the tool they make to get them tighter than you’ll generally get them by hand.
Anyways, back to why I consider this to be more of a system than just bins. As I stated, everything goes into the first bin to start breaking down.
I lined the bottom with a layer of cardboard to make sure no weeds or grass would start growing into my compost. All three bins have the same cardboard linings as I’m currently fighting bindweed.
When it’s time to turn the first bin, I take my trusty pitchfork and turn it over into the second bin to finish breaking down.
When the second bin is finished, the compost is then shoveled over into the 3rd bin and is finished. It stays there until I need it for filling seed starters and planters, etc.
To back up just a bit, I have one bin of finished compost. But it’s in the second bin for now as the 3rd one is filled with leaves that were given to me. Nearly 30 large bags full, in fact I haven’t dumped them all out yet. They sit wet in the bags, making leaf mold.
So next spring I will clean the leaves out and move my finished compost over, turn my first bin into the second and start filling the first one again.
The youngest boy kept saying he wanted to jump into a big pile of leaves. He even started to rake up leaves and started to build his own, so I did this for him. I’m happy to report that he had a great time and broke the leaves down wonderfully. We both got something from it.
On the east end of my bins is the beginning of the new chicken coop. If you’ve been visiting my blog, you may have read how a dog destroyed out first coop and killed our flock.
I’ll go up another 2′ -4′, 6′, or I may dig down a couple of feet. I’m still in the figuring it out stage.
Thank you for stopping by, feel free to share your compost successes and or failures.
Slocum's Creak 