What You Need to Know About Compost Bins

by Walford Alexander

Compost is made of dead plant matter: leaves, grass clippings, twigs, and rotten fruits and vegetables. You can buy commercially-made compost bins with secure fitted lids which are pest-proof. Drill a hole through the old lid and put a bolt with a wing nut through the center and screw it in. Drill a bunch of holes across the bottom, along the upper edge, and in the lid. Drill a 1-inch hole 2-3 inches from the top of each center support. The worms will not crawl out of the bin if there is light overhead. Spread the compost and make sure you don't add extra soil when you add weeds to it. And if you don't garden, you probably could find a gardener who is more than willing to take it off your hands. When that bin is full allow it to compost and start filling the second bin.

Additional Composting Tips

Be sure to shred or chop the compost materials into small pieces about 1 inch across. It is also used for erosion control, land/stream reclamation, wetland construction, and as landfill cover. And if you have no other use for the compost, just return it to the soil. The worms will begin migrating to the fresh food. And if you apply it to your vegetable garden, it can mean that you are avoiding the use toxic chemicals for fertilizers. Leaves are a particularly good source for carbon when dry and they break down much faster when shredded. The worms will burrow into the bedding away from the light. You can buy them at bait shops or through mail order.

Compost is made by billions of microbes (fungi, bacteria, etc) that digest the yard and kitchen wastes, either in compost bins or piles. Grass should not be more than 2 1/2 inches deep. Just be sure to screen it for non-recyclable items like magnets and membership cards. You can buy a compost bin with a base which works perfectly well in backyards. When the correct temperature is reached the pile should be opened and compacted materials should be loosened. It is also desirable to omit cooked kitchen waste such as grease, meat, bones, and fat. Spread the ingredients out to the edges and firm down gently.

Deciding How To Use Your Compost

The uses for compost as a soil amendment can be evaluated on the basis of its characteristics. It is the natural process of organic materials such as food, leaf, and yard waste. Grass should never be composted by itself. Leaves are still thrown away as garbage, but you can cash in on the bounty each year by keeping them from the yard.