Instead of taking extra food, cardboard boxes and other biodegradable waste to the dump, turn it into compost. Compost is the result of bacteria and fungi breaking down organic waste. Composting is the same as decomposition, which happens all the time everywhere in nature. Composting simply speeds up the process by bringing together ingredients under conditions that encourage decomposition.
Adding compost to soil significantly improves soil health. Compost stabilizes the structure of the soil, making it more resistant to erosion. In addition, compost increases the ability of the soil to hold moisture, also adding to erosion resistance. Compost adds a considerable amount of nutrients to soil, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
All an enterprising composter needs to do to get started is buy or build a composting bin. Building a compost bin allows homemade compost to be made for free. Homemade compost is just as nutritious as store-bought compost and cuts down on waste sent to the landfill. Since compost is a natural fertilizer, it can also save money that previously went to buy chemical fertilizers. Building a compost bin is simple and cheap if the right materials are used. Building a compost bin should not take more than an hour. Some designs take only fifteen minutes.
Choose The Design And Gather Materials
Multiple designs exist for building a compost bin. Some involve nothing simpler than a garbage bin on a wooden platform. Choose a design based on how much organic waste will be put into it on a daily basis. The larger the amount, the larger the bin. This rule does not always apply. A big bin might be needed simply to hold more compost over a longer time.
This article will focus on the simplest design, which is a wire bin. Get wire fencing, wire cutters, a pair of gloves and some zip ties, wire or twine. The process should take about fifteen minutes.
Measure And Cut The Wire
A typical bin needs to be three or four feet in diameter. Measure 10 feet of wire fencing for a three-foot diameter bin. Cut 12 and 1/2 feet for a four-foot diameter bin if that size is preferred. Cut the fencing using the wire cutters, and make sure the ends are cut evenly. Cut the cross wires flush with an upright wire to make sure there are not any ends sticking out too far. Be sure to wear gloves; the cut wire is sharp.
Make A Circle And Fasten The Ends
Make a circle using the cut wire fencing. After it's just been cut from a tight roll, it wants to spring back into that shape. Work with the wire and bend it into position. Sometimes laying the wire fencing on the ground and walking on it for several minutes helps straighten it out. Using the zip ties, wire or twine, tie the ends of the fencing together. This should preferably be done at the top, bottom and middle. To make sure the bin is secure, tie the ends together in multiple places.
Put The Bin In Place And Starting Filling It
Put the finished bin into position, preferably near a garden. Make sure there is enough room around it to move while carrying a shovelful of compost or a bucketful of garbage. Fill the bin with materials that add carbon and nitrogen. Foodstuffs, cardboard boxes, wood, shredded newspaper and leaves add carbon. Greens like grass clippings and hay add nitrogen. Together, these materials provide fertile ground for thermophile bacteria to multiple and make the compost good and hot.
Building a compost bin out of wire fencing is simple and takes very little time. Cut the fencing into a circle and fasten the ends using twine, wire or zip ties. Put it into position near a garden and start filling it up. As the bacteria break down the organic matter, place compost in the garden. Watch flowers and vegetables become bigger and brighter than they ever were before. Building a compost bin is a rewarding and enriching experience, one that will bring lasting pleasure and year-round results.