The New Compost Bin

I talked a while back about The Plan.  Number one on my list of things to do this season was deal wtih the compost.  I've been dallying in that regard.

Part of the issue is that I couldn't decide what sort of a bin I would like.  The only other compost bin I've used was a round plastic bin approximately 4 feet tall.  It looked much like a garbage bin with a locking lid on the top and a small door at the bottom.  It didn't take up much space and the black plastic soaked up the sunshine and heated the contents inside up very well.  Unfortunately it was quite small and didn't hold much compost.  Air wasn't able to get in and circulate and the small door at the bottom was too small to get at the finished compost inside.

Now that I have the opportunity to pick any bin I want I've had to think long and hard about what things I would like.  I wanted something large.  A compost bin should hold a volume of at least 64 cubic feet (4 x 4 x 4 feet) to create ideal composting conditions.  Since this is such a large yard I should be able to generate a lot of compostable materials.  I will also be able to put large amounts of finished compost to good use as well.

An option would be no bin at all but rather an open mound.  That's what I've been doing up to this point but I really don't like this option.  As you can see it looks messy and it's difficult to build up any mass as the pile continually falls off at the sides.  A bin will hold the compost together creating that critical mass that is required.

One thing missing in my former plastic bin was air flow.  I wanted my new bin to allow air and rain water to penetrate the pile.  Using wire seemed like a way to incorporate this.  The wire however would need to be small enough that birds and animals would not be able to get inside.  Right now the crows watch as I dump our kitchen scraps in the pile and the minute my back is turned they come dig everything out and drag it across the lawn.  While I don't necessarily mind the crows, they do make quite a mess.  My biggest concern though is mice.  A nice warm bin full of food bits makes a lovely home for rodents.  I have previously opened the lid on my compost only to have a rat jump out at me.  If you've ever had this happen you'll understand that I don't want to repeat the experience.

Since I have no building skills this description was passed on to my dear spouse.  This week he presented me with this.

YAH!  a new compost bin.  It's framed with cedar so it won't rot as quickly as regular wood.  It's made with very fine wire so that rain and air can pass through but mice cannot.  There are TWO bins so I can generate lots of compost.  As well, the front of the bins is at a lower pitch so I can easily turn and dig compost.  I'm kind of in love.  Both with the bin and with my husband.  Thanks dear.