A compost pile is a must have for any gardener. Do-it-yourself compost is easy to maintain and even easier to use, but there are a few methods to choose from. The basic compost bin is inexpensive, easy to assemble and use. The tumbler compost bin is efficient and neat. Either of these popular composting methods results in healthy compost that will benefit the garden.
The Basic Compost Bin
A compost pile doesn’t need to be contained, but many people like to have a dedicated bin or fenced area specifically for composting. A bin keeps the compost in one spot and has a neater appearance than a loose pile.
A compost bin is one of the easiest ways to compost, but it also takes the longest for the materials to decompose. Expect a compost bin to take anywhere from six months to two years to be complete, depending on how often it is turned.
According to Mel Bartholomew, author of Square Foot Gardening (Rodale, 2005), a simple compost bin can be made out of any type of flexible fencing. Bend a piece of fencing of any size into a cylinder, leaving a 3-foot gap in the front for easy access to the compost pile. Add compost materials through the opening. Turn the pile once a month by lifting the bin, placing it next to the pile and moving the compost ingredients back into the bin.
The Efficient Tumbler Compost Bin
A tumbler compost bin is a specially made container that holds the compost in an enclosed drum and can be turned as a unit, thus aerating and maintaining the compost pile. Most compost tumblers need to be turned once or twice every day, but no more. Turning the drum too frequently can result in dry compost that doesn’t decompose easily.
Tumbler compost bins come in a variety of sizes. Small drums are good for kitchen scraps that will be used for small gardening projects. Large drums work well for yard scraps and for producing larger amounts of compost. There are many tumbler compost bins on the market, but it’s possible to make one with a barrel, a drain pipe or a plastic container with a tight fitting lid.
Unlike a regular compost bin, tumbler bins can be costly. Homemade tumbler bins can be less expensive, but time consuming to construct. However, tumbler compost bins are efficient and can complete the composting process in anywhere from three weeks to six months.
These two different composting methods help the home gardener be successful. Choose the basic composting bin, the tumbler composting bin or both for a ready supply of homemade compost.
Sources:
Bartholomew, Mel. Square Foot Gardening. Rodale, Inc., United States: 2005.
The Organic Gardener website, Garden Composting on the Move; accessed August 3, 2009
University of Missouri Extension website, How to Build a Compost Bin; accessed August 3, 2009.
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