Zensojourner, a passive pile using kitchen scraps did attract mice to my bin and they wintered over in it. That was years ago. I pulled it apart and only collected leaves and grass clippings after that. I also havenâÂÂt seen hide nor hair of a mouse since. When I have kitchen scraps and open vegetable garden space, I bury it directly in the bed along the edges. It has worked okay for me in the past, but I donâÂÂt always have enough open space. Thanks for the tip about freezing first. GardenMom, I have two black plastic com posters from the town I live in and the cover locks on them. I was using them for kitchen scraps once and a wire bin for leaves and grass clippings, but something chewed right through the plastic to get into those, so I stopped putting kitchen scraps in it. I like buying scraps in the garden itself when I have bare ground. Raised wooden beds, donâÂÂt really allow using the pathways for that purpose though. Good thought though in a flat garden. I wasnâÂÂt confused, Nancy, no worries! :-) Loribee, I like your plan to keep one bed fallow each season. I have five vegetable beds and I originally planned on doing the same thing. As a matter of fact, two of my beds were doing so terrible that I yanked everything already and sowed cover crop over both of them. I hope I can stick to that plan, itâÂÂs just I am enjoying having so much room to grow more crops that itâÂÂs going to be hard not to plant the whole thing. [g] YouâÂÂve encouraged me to try to commit to it. After all, itâÂÂs just one bed and I will still have four more! And I like your reminder that without a separate compost pile, there is a whole lot less lugging and moving. Yes, I have always thought that tumbler would be really nice to have, but what a high price for them!! I like your original idea of one bed fallow each year. Much more of an organic, elegant solution. :-) Any chance you could add another bed? Galinas, ThatâÂÂs an interesting idea, so you have a triple size, but no compartments, itâÂÂs all one open area, then you temporarily use plywood to separate it. Yes, it would allow me to just start three piles and leave them until they were ready. Great ideas, everyone, thanks!

I started a garbage can bin earlier this year. I was going to drill holes in the bottom, but decided to cut the whole bottom off instead and set it directly on the ground. I drilled lots and lots of holes all over the sides and a few in the lid too. My problem has been that it dries out too much on one side. It is near the house so one side is always in shade, but the other gets direct sun for a good part of the day. The "sunny" side dries out all the time. I should add that I'm in Colorado and it is *dry* here! I though it might just be that I went a little crazy with the holes so I've very loosely covered the sunny side with some plastic. So far things are going well in there, but I keep checking on it every couple days and doing a little mixing to make sure. :) If all else fails and it keeps drying out too much, I plan on just burying the compost bin in the ground, its got enough holes that it should make a good worm bin ;)

I have two of those, different brands, bought from Orchard Supply (SF Bay Area hardware chain that is now owned by Sears). They changed brands, a year ago they were selling one that is identical to the free ones passed out by my previous County government (Montgomery, MD). I bought the second this Winter and it was different, but both are rigid enough to stand up without posts.

The wire bin idea is a great idea (whatup Pablo!). Now that I have read all these great ideas I plan on running to one of the box stores and get some fencing and wing nuts too. I have two plots that are a long way away from my main bins and have been thinking of making some new bins there. The fence will be the way I go this time to see how it works. As it relates to the four (4) -bin systems you can take a look at the link below, I posted about it when I completed it about a month ago. I use it for storing and curing finished compost. Once cured I use the compost to top-dress all my beds before planting in them. As long as the cost is minimal I am all for doing things the "free" way. In regards to the clay comment, when making the piles moist some water usually gets on the clay and creates a slippery surface. I was stating to be careful in that regard, for our clay can be like ice when wet, as you well know. Not to change focus, but Pablo, have you ever composted any of your rabbit manure? I got two truckloads from a new friend (HA!) that sells champion rabbits. I have two bins full of rabbit manure, leaves, coffee, and other kitchen items and was wondering if you have ever gone that route, seeing as you raise rabbits. There is also a very large pile of rabbit manure and leaves I can use when making the new wire bin. I am sure you have not accumulated truckloads, but was wondering just the same. I know that barn where my new friend keeps his rabbits is strong with urine odor, and the piles are smoking like a choo-choo train when I turn them. Do ya got any skinny on rabbit compost? Now you guys have me excited about wire bins, will this obsession ever end? Oh no, it just keeps getting better Blutranes Here is a link that might be useful: DIY Compost Bins