Bin ideas?

[jpruett86]

Hi everyone

I've decided to start my first compost pile. I live in the Texas panhandle so I know ill have to work at keeping my pile moist. I have two dogs and a 1 1/2 year old so I need to make sure they will stay out of it. I also recently got chickens so ill def need to figure out how to cover my pile.

My first idea was to make a mesh barrel and line it with black plastic. Others told me it would be easier to turn and get the finished compost from a pallet pile, but I need something that will be easier to cover. There is an old truck bed trailer in my back yard that is currently just holding tree trimmings and other junk. Do you think I could line this with black plastic and make a hardware netting cover for it? Would that work for composting?

Thanks! From the newbie

 

[jpruett86]

 

[dickiebird]

I think it would work just fine!!

It looks to be a good height off the ground to work with comfortably.

I say go for it.

THANX RICH

 

[jpruett86]

Now if I can just get the husband to haul of the brush!! Haha

 

[thistlebloom]

Hey! Wecome Jpruett86!

 

[Collector]

Welcome to TEG, I just throw all my stuff in a pile and hope for the best. My approach to composting is unscientific and slow.

 

[lesa]

Can you hook that trailer up to a riding lawn mower? If so, I would use it for gardening chores and just make a pile for your compost- no fancy bin necessary...
Welcome! Welcome!

 

[hoodat]

I like to use dry stacked concrete block. They are easy to change the conformation and size of your compost heap by moving them around. Cover with a tarp and the pile stays nice and moist. They cost a bit the first year but they last forever.

 

[desertcat]

Welcome from another Panhandle gardener!
I'm probably not much help on composting, I tend to just pile up the compostables, soak 'em down and tarp the pile for awhile. Nooww, if I had a trailer that could be dedicated, I might become more dedicated too.

 

[wsmoak]

If you have (or can get) pallets, stand them up on edge and make a box for your compost bin. This works if you have no intention of turning it or otherwise messing with it -- just keep tossing stuff in until it's full, then ignore it for a while.

My untested theory is that when I'm ready to use the compost, I'll just tip the whole thing over on its side and shovel out what I want from what was the bottom of the pile.

But I've also got horse manure and shavings aging in various piles from before we built the first wooden bin.

Anything works, from piles on the ground to super fancy bins. But I don't think I'd use the trailer, for one thing it doesn't look very deep, and second it will be way more useful to move stuff around.

-Wendy