How To Build A DIY Compost Bin {+ Free Plans!}
One of my favorite things about owning a house is having a back yard with room to garden! Getting the garden planted was the first thing I did as soon as the snow melted; there are still boxes left to unpack from the move, but our garden is planted and thriving!
The second thing I did was build a DIY compost bin! I love the idea of reusing food waste; it keeps it out of the landfill, and my plants will absolutely love the rich soil! I know there are tons of pre-made compost bins that you can buy from a hardware store, but I had specific ideas about how I wanted mine to work, so I built my own!
I had a lot of fun designing this DIY compost bin! My mom is also an avid gardener and I spent a lot of time talking to her, my dad (the woodworker), and my aunt and uncle who just finished building their own compost bin about what makes a good compost bin. We decided the following things were important:
- Easy to add things to the top of the pile, preferably being able to open the lid with just one hand since you’ll be holding the compost bucket from your kitchen with the other
- Lid has to latch to keep the critters out (my parents have crazy stories of their years long battle with the raccoons and rats in their area that kept getting into the bin!)
- Easy access to the bottom of the compost pile to get out the soil that has finished composting (this piece also has to latch because of critters)
- Bottom of the bin also has to be critter proof so nobody tunnels up from the bottom
- Open and airy enough to allow for good airflow, and to let bugs and worms in to speed the decomposition
- Sturdy enough to hold up to the crazy Chicago weather
So I finally came up with a design that met all the criteria above!
>>> Click here to continue reading! <<<
The post How To Build A DIY Compost Bin { Free Plans!} is a post by Jessi Wohlwend and appeared first on Practically Functional. If you are reading it on another site, you can report it stolen by visiting Practically Functional and using the "Contact" link in the header.
