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Building a Composter
Building your own composter will allow you to design a unit to
suit your specific needs. A composter can be made of wood,
concrete blocks, wire mesh or almost any material you
have
available. The three most essential features in a
composter are:
-
a lid that protects the pile from rain and snow and
allows you to control how much moisture gets
in
-
holes or vents to allow air
circulation
-
a means of removing the final
product
Here are some design ideas:
-
a wire mesh bin with a hinged front
panel
-
a three-sided cement block bin with an open front that
will allow you to turn the pile and remove the finished
compost easily
-
a circular unit made from chicken wire or snow fencing
that can be opened up to collect the finished
compost
-
a wooden pallet or two-by-four box with a lid and
spaces for ventilation a metal barrel or garbage can
with holes punched in the side and the bottom
removed
-
for more advanced enthusiasts, a unit with several
compartments can be used to manage compost at
different stages - raw materials, active piles and
finished product
Put your unit in a level, well-drained, accessible area. If you
live in a part of the country that has winter weather, make
sure you can get to your composter all year round.
Add other organic materials in layers no deeper than l 5
centimeters. Cover each successive layer of organic material
with about 5 centimeters of ordinary garden soil. This
contains micro-organisms that will accelerate the process: A
layer of soil also helps to mask any odors.
Pour water onto the pile until it is about as moist as a wrung
out sponge. Turn the pile once a week to mix all the materials
evenly and expose them to air. Continue to add material as
you go along. Always remember to cover new material with a
layer of soil and to keep the pile moist.
If conditions are right, your compost pile will begin to heat
up, eventually reaching an internal temperature
of about
60-70 C. The pile will actually feel hot to the touch. As the
chemical reactions-slow down, the pile will begin to cool to
about 40-45 C. The decomposition process is then complete
The finished product will be a dark, rich, soil-like
substance
with a good earthy smell. (Do you have a commercially built
unit? follow the operating instructions.)
Gardener's
Supply Company--Gardening Tools
has a large selection of composting
products and containers.
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