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Soil, Compost & Mulch

Old Redwood deck board compost bin help?

16 years ago

We are replacing some old 2 by 6 decking boards and I would like to use them to make a compost bin. Are there any features on your wish list you would want if you were going to build a new bin?

I use two 3' wire cages now and struggle a bit to come up with enuf material. I use kitchen scraps, including some fish, mine and my neighbors leaves, CGs, garden waste, and bedding from 4 chickens. My piles are in a 3' circle of hardware cloth and I turn the working one every every 5 to 7 days. I use the compost on vegetable beds and fruits trees, as well as on roses and perennials and there is never quite enough!

If I can come up with wooden bins, I am hoping to do part of the mixing with a rototiller instead of having to turn it by hand all of the time. Thanks! Wobur

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Comments (4)

david52 Zone 6
16 years ago
I understand that the spiffiest wooden compost bins have sufficient strong support on the sides so that a hip composter can ram into the seething, steamy mass, a steel pry bar and, using the side of the bin as leverage, aerate the thing.

I don't do this myself, as I compost in old plastic swimming pools. This word of advice comes from the inestimable Professor Dirt (emeritus). And I'm sure he wouldn't mind me passing this tidbit along.
Kimmsr
16 years ago
Unless you drench you compost and make it into a sodden mass there should be no reason to need to ram a pry bar in it to loosen it up and any compost pile less than 6 feet by 6 feet will have ample air infiltration, provided too much water has not been used so the air is driven out.
There will never be enough material for a really aggresive composter, that is just the nature of things. If you are having good results with your 3 foot diameter wire fence I would stick with that size and make the bin of redwood 3 x 3 even though a 4 x 4 x 4 would provide twice as much compost if you do not have enough material now you will not with that size.
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gumby_ct
16 years ago
I use two 3' wire cages now and struggle a bit to come up with enuf material.
Can I ask a question? If you are having trouble coming up with material, why build another bin? Just looking to do something with the wood maybe? Maybe a bed frame? Make a raised bed?

Personally, I like the wire rings. They don't have the corners that don't compost anyway, like the square shape has. But that is me.

If you are going to make a bin, maybe the stackable sort?

Sounds like you know what you are doing...
Just thought I'd ask.
Good Luck,
Gumby_CT
wobur
Original Author
16 years ago
You are right, Kimmsr...wish I could come up more stuff, 4 by 4 sounds tempting, especially since I could use a rototiller for some of the work.

Good point, Gumby! I wasn't going to add the new bin, but replace the old ones. But I agree with you about the corners and I do like my wire cages. I see the possible advantage being easier access without removing the cage and being able to use a rototiller to speed things up...well, that's my thinking anyway! I might quickly decide turning my pile by hand is easier than struggling with the tiller and I could chop things more before I add them to the pile.....hmmmm...

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