Composting

I have finally found a great inexpensive design for my compost bin!  I purchased this trash can at my local Rural King for $11!!!  Now we are talking.  I have looked at soooo many composting bins for sale and they range from $70-300.  Definitely not what I was thinking of spending to put trash in to make fertilizer for my garden.  I suppose some people want a compost bin made of gold that looks super pretty but I'm all about function.  So here's what I'm starting with.

Ok so how do I turn an $11 plastic garbage can into a compost bin.

Step 1: Buy the garbage can!  I chose this one because it was super inexpensive, light, and dark in color.  The dark color would help hide dirt and increase the heat inside the bin.  I wanted a light can because it would soon be full of material to weigh it down.

Step 2: I used our Porter Cable drill and drilled 3/4" holes all around the bottom 1/3 of the can and on the very bottom.  I probably drilled between 50-75 holes all together.  The ones on the bottom were for bottom drainage and the sides are more for aeration.

Step 3: Learn what to fill your compost bin with!  I put a layer of hay and some dirt in the bottom of mine to start off with.

I'll post pictures soon of the tools needed and the finished product.

All in all a simple, easy, and inexpensive compost bin that will work just as well at the fancy ones.

I also wanted to make sure I saved this link on the EPA website about composting do's and don'ts.

US EPA Composting at Home