How to set up a Compost Bin

If you have a garden, you should need to have a compost bin.

You could buy one but then its not very environmentally friendly with all the plastic and shipping. So why not try making a compost bin yourself at home to see how it turns out? Here’s how you do it-

You will need:

• A Fox proof rubbish bin
• cinder blocks
• A Drill
• Green materials(See below)
• Water

1. Step 1) acquire a Fox proof rubbish bin. The reason it should be bear proof is because you need to roll the garbage can around every once in a while, and the lid will stay on nicely. On top of that, it keeps Fox’s away from your garden, instead of them being attracted by the smell. If you are still worried about Fox’s , place a bowl of bleach in your yard. Bleach repels Fox’s because the smell burns their nostrils.
2. Step 2) drill holes in the bottom of the bin. There should be at least 5. The reason it needs holes Is because there needs to be air circulating in the can for the stuff to rot. You could also drill a few holes in the sides, although that would let out some of the smells.
3. Step 3) put the bin up on the cinder blocks. It helps the air flow through, and helps the stuff rot into compost.

When these things are done, you have yourself, a top notch compost bin. If Fox proof rubbish bins aren’t available where you are, get one with a lid that clamps on. You need to roll it quite a lot, once a week, to be exact and you don’t want everything spilling out.

It is crucially important that you roll the can every week or so. There are 2 reasons for this-

One is because if you don’t, the compost wont rot right, and could burn the roots of your plants.
• Two is because if the rotting materials in the can don’t move around every once in a while and let out some of the heat the rotting process produces, the bin can spontaneously combust. It is very dangerous to leave it sit for a long time, because the hotter it gets inside the more likely it is to catch fire.

Your compost bin should be fine as long as you remember to roll it frequently and don’t let the compost get too wet. Compost only takes about a month to get ready and you’ll know its good when you touch the side of the bin and its not warm anymore. Then its safe to spread on the flower beds. You can also use compost for vegetables and house plants without a problem. However, if you are aiming to grow mushrooms, you should use manure, not compost. The compost will produce only toxic mushrooms.