Saturday 15 October 2011

Tips For Making Compost Containers

By Sam Kingsley


Today many people are finding more creative ways to dispose of their garbage rather than putting it in bags and sending it to the landfill. One way to do this is by using compost bins for things that are biodegradable. They allow the waste to break down and then it is used as fertilizer for gardens and lawns.

To build your own, you can use scrap wood, pails, or any number of items. For a smaller version, many people rely on five gallon buckets with holes drilled in them to provide a way for water to escape. Water is an essential part of the process, but it also needs to be able to be removed to keep the bin from becoming stagnant.

Holes need to be drilled in addition for air flow through the items you place in the bin. Also you must have a way to cover the container to keep out critters such as raccoons that love to dine on rotting food. Many people use a combination of spoiled vegetables and fruit as well as leaves and shredded newspapers to create their fertilizer.

Virtually anything that will break down into its basic contents can be used to fertilize a garden. Newspapers are commonly used to hold water around plants and eventually sink back into the soil providing nutrients. Spoiled food is a great item to use as it breaks down into the various nutrients necessary to provide good soil.

To create your container out of scrap wood, you first will need a few items. Remember that the container does not need to look pretty. After all you are placing rotting things inside it. You will need a few sturdy pieces for your corner posts in addition to several slats to make up the sides. When assembling the box make sure you leave some space between each slat to allow air flow and water flow.

Lids are vital to keep creatures out of your box. Regardless of the size, you need to make sure that there is a cover over it. Occasionally small field mice will find their way into the box but usually are not able to get back out. However unless you have a completely encased unit this is unavoidable. And completely enclosed means no air flow and no way for the water to be released.




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