Compost and Wire-mesh Compost Bin

Compost and Wire-mesh Compost Bin

This article concerns the making of compost using common kitchen and yard wastes and constructing a low cost, simple to build compost bin.

Compost

Compost is partially decomposed organic matter made from material that is easily available from every kitchen and yard. Compost is used to improve the fertility of soil, improves aeration, root penetration, water infiltration and reduces soil crusting in vegetable gardens. It can also be used for container plants, ornamental plants and flower gardens.

Compost can be made from the following materials found in kitchen and yard wastes:
Kitchen scraps with the exception of fat, grease, meat scraps and bones.
Leaves
Grass cuttings
Hay
Manure
Sawdust
Animal bedding
Wood ashes

Composting develops best when the material used is constructed in layers which ensures that the materials are added in the proper proportions. Once several layers are made the pile should be mixed before adding more layers. Water should be added to each layer of dry material as the pile should be slightly moist. The pile should have an internal temperature between 57 and 60 c in order to speed decomposing.

Start the pile by selecting an area with good air circulation all around where you can place the compost bin. Scrape the ground so the first layer is dirt. Place a 15 to 20 cm layer of coarse plant material on the bottom, add a 3 to 6 cm layer of manure or dirt, add a 3 cm layer of wood ash and repeat until the pile reaches the top of the compost bin. Kitchen waste can be added at any time and it should be added to the middle of the pile and covered with dirt to avoid attracting animals or flies. The pile can be layered over time as materials become available and the pile should be mixed every week or so. The compost is completed when it is dark brown, crumbly and has an earthy smell.

Compost problems:

Bad Odor: The pile may be too wet and not mixed well. Mix the pile and add dry materials. Be sure there are no fat, grease, meat scraps or bones in the pile.

Pile is not decomposing: The pile is too dry. Moisten while mixing.

Pile is not hot enough: Pile is too small and needs more green matter.

Wire-mesh compost bin

A wire-mesh compost bin made from galvanized chicken wire (verify name and type of wire mesh available) is inexpensive, easy to build and easy to move for mixing compost.

Materials:

3 meters of 90 cm wide mesh wire
Heavy wire for ties
Three 1.5 meter wooden stakes for support

Tools needed:

Wire cutting pliers
Tool for pounding stakes into ground

Directions

Fold back 8 to 10 cm of wire at each end of the wire-mesh to form an edge that will be easy to latch.
Stand the wire-mesh in a circle in the scraped out area for the compost bin
Cut the heavy wire into lengths and use to tie the two ends of wire-mesh together with the pliers.
Space the wooden stakes equally apart inside the circle, hold the stakes close to the wire-mesh, pound into the ground and secure to the wire-mesh with wire ties.
Start to fill the compost bin.

If the compost bin is full, properly mixed and moistened you should have finished compost in 6 to 8 weeks in the summer and longer in the winter.

Good luck