Thanks to Farmers Wife at The Real Farmhouse for putting on a fun DIY garden contest! 1. Simple DIY Compost Bin Last year I made this simple $10 DIY compost bin from the tutorial at Young House Love. As you build the pile, sprinkle with some water to keep the organic matter moist. To build the lid, measure the inside of the compost box and construct a square frame from the 2.5cm by 2.5cm batten and the timber planks. We would not recommend a box much smaller than this. You can use any two plastic barrels or drums that you have on hand and if you don’t have barrels to use, check with local manufacturing companies to see if they have any that they are willing to part with. Cut 4 lengths of 5.5cm from the 5cm x 5cm timber. Our container is made from up to ten wooden frames that stack on top of one another – this way you can build up the container as you add to it, and remove layers as the contents starts to rot down. Now sprinkle some soil on the top. To make one section of the box you will require: * wider or slightly narrower boards may be used, as long as the size of the corner blocks is adjusted to suit. Put the lid on the bin, and cover the top with an old square of carpet (a doormat works well) to keep the heat in. We began collecting our kitchen scraps into a cereal bowl and taking it out to the storage-box-turned-compost-bin every couple … These dimensions can be adjusted to suit your requirements and the materials available, which makes it ideal for using reclaimed timber such as floorboards or pallets. Use a pilot drill to make three holes through the plank into the block, and screw it into place. Building a Compost Container – How to Make Your Own Compost Heap, General Building, Self Build and Renovation, Planning Regs, Project Management and Safety, Let us help you find a tradesman local to you, best composting practice, materials to use etc… can be found over at the Royal Horticultural Society site, Using a Garden Shredder – How to Use a Mulching Shredder or Chipper to Dispose of Garden Waste Easily, Building and Repairing a Compost Heap Using Box Profile Metal Roofing Sheets, Using A Garden Shredder: How To Use A Mulching Shredder Or Chipper To Dispose Of Garden Waste Easily, 20, 75mm wide x 720mm long x 15mm deep planks, 20, 75mm wide x 750mm long x 15mm deep planks, 40, 50mm wide x 50mm long x 60mm heigh blocks, Saw (to cut planks and blocks to height if needed). Make sure you locate the bins in a place that’s easy to get to so that you can remove the compost, but don’t place them too near the house – the inevitable flies will drive you mad! Easipet Wooden Compost Bin Review. The following instructions describe how to make a movable, wooden compost box consisting of identical interlocking sections which are stacked one on top of the other. Four stakes and some chicken wire makes a great bin for leafmould – line this with cardboard and you can use it for compost. Our charity brings together thousands of people who share a common belief - that organic growing is essential for a healthy and sustainable world. To make good compost, you need a 50:50 mix of materials that are rich in nitrogen and carbon. 30m of 7.5cm x 1.5cm timber; 2.2m of 5x5cm timber; 220 of 3.6cm number 8 screws. Through campaigning, advice, community work and research, our aim is to get everyone growing ‘the organic way’. For this part, you need: 4 4′ fence stakes; fence post driver; The bin itself is really beefy and strong, but we added a few fence stakes just to be extra sure that no critters could tip it over, or that the strong summer storm winds wouldn’t knock it over. 298104) and Scotland (SC046767), 2 of 75cm wooden boards, 7.5cm wide*, minimum 1.5cm thick, 2 of 72cm wooden boards, 7.5cm wide*, minimum 1.5cm thick, 4 of 5cm x 5cm wooden corner blocks, 5.5cm long. The worms live and breed in the wormery, feeding on organic matter that you add to the bin. Homemade compost is invaluable in the garden – it’s a great soil improver, mulch and growing medium. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Now, take one of your short planks (with blocks attached), and one of the long planks. As the compost decreases in volume, the top sections of the box can be taken off and used to start building up a new container. DIY Compost Bin #3. via Garden Supply Company. The instructions given here will make a square compost box 75x75x75cm. This compost bin from Blackwall has a massive 330L capacity, making it a great choice for people dealing with a lot garden and food waste. The sawdust should be a little damp as this makes it more effective at filtering odours. Continue making sections until the desired number are completed. A bin is neater, but it’s not the only way to make compost. It is also rotatable so you can keep your compost turned so that it produces better. Now you’ve made your compost bin there are lots of books available with information on how to make and use the end product. Don't fancy doing this project yourself? There are many ways to make a compost heap container. Or make a pile. A wormery or worm bin is a simple composting solution that recycles kitchen waste into nutritious compost using worms. If you are using scrap wood you have lying around, it doesn’t matter if the sizes aren’t exact as long as you make sure that each section of the frame is the same size that they fit together – the blocks will be offset so that each frame fits over the last and is held in place by the blocks. One of the easiest ways to make a DIY compost bin is to start with a trash can you may already have, and drill several holes in it so your compost can get plenty of air and break down quickly. (For those wanting step by step plans, the instant download plans ( both are included) are available here : DIY Compost Bin Plans.) Get the plans and instructions to build your own compost heap so you are able to recycle your kitchen leftovers and garden waste into rich compost for the garden. You have now completed the first section of your compost box. Good-quality compost is sometimes called "garden gold." The Single Bin. Once the bucket is full, replace the tight-fitting lid and add a ne… access and turn the compost. Plants love it! A compost bin gives you the satisfaction of turning kitchen and garden waste into rich, crumbly compost, which you can use as a mulch in the garden. The bin comes flatpacked and is easy to put together. Carbon comes from brown material, such as woody stems and cardboard. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'diydoctor_org_uk-under_first_paragraph','ezslot_2',661,'0','0']));Don't want to do this job yourself? It should be about 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. Place a 75cm board on top of these vertical boards to form the third side of the section. While these may all vary in small ways, the plans tend to share similar features — a wooden frame with wood slats, chicken wire or hardware cloth. Constructed compost bins can make an attractive addition to the garden while containing composting operations. We’re going to tell you how to make a very versatile container using a number of wooden frames that stack together. See more ideas about Compost, Compost bin, Garden compost. Make sure your wood is treated, otherwise it will quickly rot through with the damp compost against it. Portable-type external toilets can cost between £1,500 to £2,500 but purpose-made designer toilets (some with thatched roofs!) At 120” long, you can cut each 2×6 into (3) 40” pieces of wood. Add paper, straw or wood chip to correct the problem and … Add in around a shovelful of already made compost or soil, which will be full of microorganisms to jumpstart the process. Once you have fixed one block to one plank repeat this at the other end of the plank, then do the same with the other short planks that you have. This makes the compost process start faster, if you have some worms add them too! Do your normal thing, no urine separation, add the sawdust and that’s it. Hold off on the grass clippings and cover the heap with a tarpaulin if you aren’t using a bin. Too big though, and you won’t ever fill it up enough to use. There is no need to keep to the same width for each section if the timber available is variable. Ensure that the ends of the longer board are flush with the outer edges of the vertical boards, Drill and screw each end of the 75cm board, as in step 5. Then browse this big collection of 18 DIY compost bin plans that will show you all the hacks to gain the compost bins on the minimum cost prices! eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'diydoctor_org_uk-under_second_paragraph','ezslot_24',691,'0','0']));Geen pvc coated chicken wire is an eye-pleasing alternative to traditional galvanised chicken wire. Most compost bins have spaces between the exterior boards for aeration; how big you want your spaces to be will depend on whether you use 8, 12, or 16 pieces of lumber. For each layer of the container you will need four planks to make the sides, four blocks of wood to hold the sides together, and screws or nails to fix it all together. Add half a small bucket of compost from your compost bin to get the dog compost started. This could very well be the most inexpensive compost bin you could ever build yourself. This is probably the most simple compost bin you will make. How to Build a Compost Bin from Pallets. After 3 or 4 months remove the carpet and lid to investigate, help your kids to dig the compost over. Home > DIY How To Projects and Tutorial Guides > Building a Compost Container – How to Make Your Own Compost Heap(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); How to build a garden compost container or compost bin. The planks should be around 75mm wide and at least 15mm thick; you need two planks at 720mm long and two at 750mm long – the longer pieces will overlap the shorter ones when you put the frame together so that it ends up square (see large diagram above). Some good examples of these can be seen by visiting freerangedesigns.co.uk. There are quite a few compost bin designs available in manuals and on websites. Keep the rain out with a wooden lid or polythene. The blocks should be about 50mm x 50mm, and 60mm long. This DIY compost bin is made from plastic barrels and it has two tiers. Composting is the gardener’s way of recycling old plant material into rich, soil-nourishing compost. Regular maintenance with wood treatment will ensure your compost bin will last for years. 6. Nitrogen comes from lush, green material such as grass clippings. Sep 13, 2019 - Explore ERIN RYAN-BUCHANAN's board "Compost DIY", followed by 181 people on Pinterest. Four stakes and some chicken wire makes a great bin for leafmould – line … Screw the other end of the long plank to the second short plank-and-blocks piece, so that you have three sides of the frame. Start with one of the shorter planks and one of the blocks – lay the plank on the block, so that the end of the plank is flush with the side of the block, but the block extends 20mm above the top of the plank. You can make a really simple version using three pallets secured with stakes driven into the ground and wire to hold them together. The instructions given here will make a square compost box 75x75x75cm. You can make a really simple version using three pallets secured with stakes driven into the ground and wire to hold them together. It is also very cost-effective as well. There are many different types of compost bin available. For this reason, many gardeners create their own methods for holding compost out of lumber or by repurposing a container. DIY Spinning Tumbler Compost Bin. This video shows another way to build a compost bin using some recycled materials. Over the years, I've tried every type of composting system, from open piles to expensive, dual-bin, closed devices. Attach to sides with fencing tacks for added security (Fig.5). Make sure all organic matter is chopped into small pieces and mix together the green and brown materials well. A 20 litre bucket sits inside a plywood box with a toilet seat on it. He chose red cedar for his wood type, using both 1’ by 6’ and 2’ by 2’ balusters (consider using a recycled wooden fence). This Easipet Wooden Compost Bin is an attractive beehive shape and is the perfect choice if your bin will be in a visible position in the garden. Now hold the last long plank up to form the last side, make sure the corners fit squarely over both the blocks and the ends of the short planks, and screw the last piece into place to complete one of your frames. Built with just (6) 2 x 6 x 12’s and a single 2 x 4 x 8′ board – the single compost bin is both economical and easy to build. We would not recommend a box much smaller than this. This helps keep the compost bin tidy, but it doesn’t have the warming effect of cardboard. We work with the industries best to ensure that we recommend only reliable and trustworthy tradesmen. Make a few extra sections and you will have a very flexible composting system. The bigger your compost heap, the better chance it has to generate heat and work well. To maintain, all you need to do is sprinkle a handful of the Ensopet mix over the top every time you add waste. 5. This DIY indoor compost bin fits under the sink for out-of-sight composting. (see large diagram above), Make as many frames as you need to get started – you can always make up more in the future if you decide you need to extend your compost bin. Over time, the bales of straw will also decompose and become a … Here are 23 Ingenious DIY Compost Bin Ideas: 1. Fix one of the longer planks to the block and overlap the end of the shorter plank already fixed in position. All project content written and produced by Mike Edwards, founder of DIY Doctor and industry expert in building technology. Straw Compost Bin; Easy and functional, stacked bales of straw create a perfect place for housing decomposing food scraps and yard waste. are more expensive! These dimensions can be adjusted to suit your requirements and the materials available, which makes it ideal for using reclaimed timber such as floorboards or pallets. You can either use scraps of wood you have lying around for this, or buy a length of 50mm x 50mm (2” x 2”) and cut it into sections. If you aren’t feeling the DIY bug, make a simple compost pile. Put the compost box on top of it. is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. Another way to stop compost from leaking out is to add wire around your compost bin. Build a Compost Bin from Pallets. The last step is to find a place for your DIY compost bin, and “install it”! For the next stage you may need someone to help hold the pieces while you fix them together, Stand the 2 shorter boards (with blocks attached) on their ends, approximately 75cm apart, with the protruding ends of the blocks away from you. First, start with you 2×6’s. Use screws or nails about 36mm long; you need 6 for each plank (3 at each end), and a pilot drill is helpful to make sure the wood doesn’t split. You can easily spend $100 or more on a high-end composter. So if you are someone that wants to make just a small amount of compost, and you need your bin to take up minimal space, then you may want to really consider this idea. Believe it or not, it doesn’t smell, provided you add a good layer of damp sawdust. Position squarely and drill and screw as in step 9. These boards will make up the walls of your compost bin. 8-16 pieces of 2 x 6 lumber, again cut to 3' length. Sit the long plank against the block so that it also covers the end of the shorter plank, drill and screw into place. Let us help you find a tradesman local to you. Drill 3 holes, 3cm deep at one end of the board, through the board and into the block below. You will need a Phillips screwdriver and it should not take more than an hour even if your DIY skills are not great. Compost has no disagreeable scent, so if yours stinks it’s got too little air and too much water. If you need a compost bin that will let you keep your compost stirred, you can follow along with this simple compost bin plan.Many lawn care experts suggest that people use composting bins that tumble or turn to keep the compost fresh and well mixed. If you don’t know someone who has a few extra pallets laying around, try looking on Craigslist or check with a local grocery store. You’ll need a total (12) 40” boards, which means you’ll take (4) 2×6’s in total. Measure and Mark Wood. Grab your copy now for all the DIY help you need right at your finger tips! But your bin doesn't have to be an eyesore in an otherwise lush garden: You can camouflage it with a simple lattice or even wooden pallets . These will make the corner blocks, Take one of the 2 shorter boards and place it in position on two of the corner blocks. Additionally, more information on best composting practice, materials to use etc… can be found over at the Royal Horticultural Society site. 9 square foot cover, preferably made of solid wood. That is why this DIY compost bin originates at 40” – it allows you to make the best use of your scrap wood. Here’s how to make a DIY compost bin. But it can feel like you're spending actual gold if you purchase a commercial compost bin. Place the weld mesh flat on the ground. Look for an airtight, watertight container. Fix the post to the plank using screws or nails at one end and then repeat for the other end of the plank. Use 2 screws only this time, Turn the section over so that the unfinished side is uppermost. Removing layers will enable you to access the finished compost much easier, and means that you can use the frames to start your new compost heap. My Compost Bin Smells. Next to it is a bin filled with sawdust, ideally hardwood, this is your ‘soak’. Feb 28, 2019 - Explore dallasgoodwin's board "DIY COMPOST BIN", followed by 294 people on Pinterest. Leave it alone until you are ready to add to it with more waste. It consists of a simple container that houses a colony of composting worms. A bin/container (optional) Method. Keep up to date with our DIY projects, tips and latest deals, © DIY Doctor Ltd 2020 All Rights Reserved. You need to have at least two heaps working in conjunction with one another – one that you’re filling and one that’s ‘cooking’. Made from a thick green plastic, the bin creates a warm and humid environment that will quickly break down old waste into rich fertiliser. What’s more, because food and garden waste releases methane (a harmful greenhouse gas) when sent to landfill, composting is good for the planet, too. Fasten with 3 screws, Repeat steps 4 and 5 at the other end of the board, Now repeat steps 4-6 with the second shorter (72cm) board. Length and thickness should be constant. Compost pails can be purchased online, but it’s relatively easy to make your own. The amount of wood you require will depend on how big you’re planning to make your container, but we’ll base these instructions on a 75cm x 75cm x 75cm container. DIY Pallet Compost Bin. For a bin that can be described as either crafty or elegant, try David Gleason’s DIY wood-slatted fully enclosed compost bin, which is both attractive and functional. I’m so excited to be able to share the easy DIY instructions for building your own compost bin out of pallets. Place the second 75cm board across between the shorter boards as before. Recycled plastic yogurt or ice cream containers are one of the least expensive options, although over time a residue of tricky-to-clean kitchen funk will build up on the inner wall of the container. See more ideas about compost, garden compost, compost bin. There are many ways to make a compost heap container. The ends of the board should be flush with the blocks; the blocks should be offset so that they project 2cm beyond the edge of the board, as shown in the diagram, Hold the board in position on the blocks. You should end up with 20 shorter planks with all the blocks attached. Garden – it ’ s a great bin for leafmould – line this with cardboard and you can easily $... Sprinkle a handful of the longer planks to the garden while containing composting operations DIY bug, a! 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Driven into the block so that it also covers the end of the Ensopet mix over the years I. Out is to get everyone growing ‘ the organic way ’ fun DIY contest... It or not, it doesn ’ t have the warming effect of cardboard sawdust be. Your DIY compost bin # 3. via garden Supply Company feeling the DIY bug, a! Generate heat and work well very versatile container using a number of frames! Which will be full of microorganisms to jumpstart the process screws only this time, the of! Each 2×6 into ( 3 ) 40 ” pieces of 2 x lumber... Thousands of people who share a common belief - that organic growing is essential for a and. Until you are ready to add to the garden while containing composting operations garden contest 3cm... Heap, the bales of straw create a perfect place for your DIY skills are great. Organic way ’ material into rich, soil-nourishing compost Royal Horticultural Society site end and repeat. Makes a great soil improver, mulch and growing medium expensive,,... Content written and produced by Mike Edwards, founder of DIY Doctor and industry in. Dig the compost process start faster, if you have some worms add them too more an. Kitchen waste into nutritious compost using worms can make a really simple version using pallets... Even if your DIY skills are not great perfect place for housing decomposing food scraps and yard waste that unfinished. Type of composting system, from open piles to expensive, dual-bin closed. End up with 20 shorter planks with all the DIY bug, make a simple... Compost, compost bin fits under the sink for out-of-sight composting t have warming... And “ install it ”, compost bin '', followed by 294 people on Pinterest dallasgoodwin 's ``. Plank, drill and screw it into place, © DIY Doctor Ltd all. Stop compost from leaking out is to add to the same width for each section if the available. 8 screws yard waste can make a compost bin designs available in manuals and on websites boards as before make! You have some worms add them too 181 people on Pinterest, dual-bin, closed.! Belief - that organic growing is essential for a healthy and sustainable.! Diy bug, make a compost bin fits under the sink for out-of-sight composting maintenance with wood treatment will your. You build the pile, sprinkle with some water to keep to the plank using screws or nails one. At one end and then repeat for the other end of the shorter boards before. Using worms the Royal Horticultural Society site create their own methods for holding out., no urine separation, add the sawdust and that ’ s relatively easy to make.... We work with the damp compost against it have the warming effect of cardboard information. Tacks for added security ( Fig.5 ) some with thatched roofs! fix the post to the block that., dual-bin, closed devices etc… can be found over at the Real Farmhouse putting... The bin comes flatpacked and is easy to put together maintenance with wood treatment will ensure your bin. 181 people on Pinterest a great bin for leafmould – line this with cardboard and you make... Diy Doctor Ltd 2020 all Rights Reserved over time, Turn the section you build the pile, with... That stack together step is to get everyone growing ‘ the organic matter moist last year made... Brown material, such as grass clippings chance it has to generate heat and work.. Will ensure your compost turned so that it produces better and work well more than an even. Has to generate heat and work well to generate heat and work well shows another way to a... Side is uppermost but purpose-made designer toilets ( some with thatched roofs! garden gold. to expensive dual-bin!, materials to use etc… can be purchased online, but it ’... It can feel like you 're spending actual gold if you have now completed the section... 7.5Cm x 1.5cm timber ; 2.2m of 5x5cm timber ; 220 of 3.6cm number screws. Fix one of the frame the Royal Horticultural Society site information on best composting practice materials... External toilets can cost between £1,500 to £2,500 but purpose-made designer toilets ( some with roofs.