Wood Frame Compost Bin

Here's an instructable for creating your own wood framed, bottom access compost bin. It's worked great for our family for going on six years now, and it is fairly low maintenance.

Step 1: Materials List

Here's the list of materials needed:

(6) 2x4 x 8' Boards
(2) 2x6 x 8' Boards
(8) 1x4 x 8' Cedar Boards
(2-3) 1x6 x 8' Cedar Boards (Depending on how many front slats you want.)
(1) Half sheet of 3/4" Exterior Grade Plywood (48"x 48")
(1) Sheet of corregated plastic (26"x10')
(1) Roll of Tree Trunk Protection Netting (3' wide x 15' long)
(1) 6'-8' Length of Galvanized Utility Shelving Rail (Try to find a 1" x 1" double slot)
1 lb. Box of 3" Exterior Screws
1 lb. Box of 1-1/2" Exterior Screws

Tools used:
Drill w/ 9/64" and phillips head bits
Heavy duty staple gun with stainless steel staples
Saw
Tape Measure
Carpenter's square
4' straight edge
Pencil and sharpie for marking cuts
Snips or heavy-duty scissors
Hacksaw with fine-toothed metal blade

Comments

[undrline]

I don't understand the bottom of the bin. Why is it sliding away from you rather than towards you? Also, how wide does that "open to bottom" gap end up being? With an open bottom and top, what do you do about pests?

[mir_arnold]

The compost falls from the holding above and naturally mounds to the front. The fall-through gap actually is about 1 ft. X the width of the bin. As for pests - personally our compost is mostly yard waste with a bit of vegetable scraps from the kitchen and coffee grounds. Not much in the way of pests due to low food prospects and the kitchen scraps are immediately turned into the pile.

[29grampian]

Is the compost drop gap always open to bottom? How do you prevent unfinished compost material from falling to the ground?

[mir_arnold]

Yes, the drop gap is always open at the bottom - so you'll have an "upstart" lag. I've just pulled the uncomposted stuff from the initial filling and thrown it back on the top and the uncomposted stuff will generally site to the top. Every weekend or so I give it a good turn to bring some of the more composted stuff up into the less composted stuff to help with the breakdown.

[29grampian]

Thanks. So you always take whatever fall to the bottom and put it back on top? I guess the gap is the right size so thing don't fall out all at once. I look at design where there is a "door" at the bottom you have to manually open the door to access the finished compost near the bottom.

[mir_arnold]

Just until you get a nice rich compost. Once we had enough mass in the composter it generally has all the composted stuff down at the bottom, easy to take a shovel and distribute it in the garden between the rows.

I didn't like the plastic composters since it didn't allow enough air in through the sides, was a bit tough to be able to turn the compost, and the door was pretty small in order to get your finished compost out.

[kyriaap]

very very neat. well done!

[chouf]

I was looking for a neat composter and I think I just found it.
I currently have my "compost" between 4 planks in a corner of my garden, but it looks awful.... I think I'll make two of these

[jessyratfink]

This is one of the nicest compost bins I've ever seen. Great job! :D

[mir_arnold]

Thanks! It's still working great for us and I've built more using the same plans for our church community garden plots!