Compost

[suziquzie]

I'd like to make my own again. At our old house we had a black can for it and you just dumped stuff in it and turned it now and then and watered.
We didn't bring it with us, and I really don't have any extra $$ to buy a new one, or build a cage. Would it work if I just started a pile on the edge of my property? Wouldn't it attract creatures? Would I need to cover what I put on the pile with some dirt each time? I have so much kitchen waste, and so much space, it seems silly to keep going to the county "pile" and getting the crud with peoples garbage mixed in it.

 

[pacanis]

A gardener that used to live by my parents had a "crib-like" enclosure made with chicken wire that he used for his compost. About the same size as a baby's crib, too. I don't recall it attracting an extra amount of critters, but it seemed like it should have... although it didn't really smell either.
I hear chicken poop and the pine shavings is great in a compost pile

 

[suziquzie]

I'm so poor I can't even pay attention.....
I suppose chicken wire and 2 by 4's aren't that expensive. Haven't priced them lately.
My mom had one like that when I was a kid. Neighbor HATED it cuz it was "unsightly".

 

[GotGarlic]

We had a composter for several years, but haven't used it for a while - too much else to do. DH built a crib sort of thing like Pacanis mentioned, with 4x4s and chicken wire, and then we covered it with lattice, to make it more attractive, but we're in a city and the composter was visible from the alley and our neighbors' yards. It sounds like you wouldn't need to do that. It was actually in two parts - one for new waste, and one for partially broken-down waste. He also made openings at the bottom, about 8-12 inches high and 18 or so inches across, to make it easier to shovel out the compost from the first part and turn it, and easier to remove finished compost from the second part.

You should not put any animal products (except manure) on it - only vegetable or yard waste. Animal products will make it smell bad.

Here's a good guide: How to Make Compost, a Composting Guide HTH.

 

[YT2095]

eggshells are ok on the compost too, as is Hair.

 

[In the Kitchen]

I'm so poor I can't even pay attention.....
I suppose chicken wire and 2 by 4's aren't that expensive. Haven't priced them lately.
My mom had one like that when I was a kid. Neighbor HATED it cuz it was "unsightly".

Did your mom live in the city?

 

[mcnerd]

Just start a pile in a corner and start adding to it. Try to keep covered with layers of soil, leaves, etc. The worms will find it and will help out.

 

[DaveSoMD]

See if you can scrounge 3 wooden pallets from a grocery or home improvement center. Nail them together to create a 3-sided box, with the slats on the outside. The have on like that at the entrance to our local landfill as an example of an easy compost bin. You can close off the 4th side with chicken wire or slats from a 4th pallet if you want to.

 

[oldcampcook]

I used 3 pallets for mine, but didn't even bother to nail them together. I just used some wire coat hangers twisted together to keep them upright. If you need another compartment, just add on one more to the back side and the side.

The 3 pallets look like the letter "U" and the other two, when added, look like the letter "E" from the open side.

 

[suziquzie]

thanks for the pallet idea guys.....
The flower shop / gardening center next door to my work has piles of them sitting in back.
Trick is now how to get them home in a little Ford Escort wagon.....