I've been reading a lot about, and experimenting with making my own compost for a long time.
To this point, I've always just made a pile...straw/manure/sawdust mixture from the calf hutches...chicken and goat manure...some dried grass clippings...and the usual kitchen and garden scraps all piled together. However, it all pretty much just sat there and did nothing...very slowly.
Today I finally got around to putting together a compost bin, using three old recycled pallets to make a three-sided bin. I forked the pile to the side onto a tarp, and leveled the ground to put the pallets in place. I used some fencing staples and some bale ropes to secure them together...
The pallets will allow air into the pile, which is necessary for composting. I also read about putting a "chimney" in the center of the pile to speed up the composting process. So, I rolled up some chicken wire and secured it in the center of the bin. I even had an audience...
Next, I forked the contents of my pile back into the bin. I chose to let the front of the bin open, for ease of turning the compost. If I need to, I can put another pallet across the front to hold it all in place better.
I'm hoping to use two more pallets, to make a double bin, putting them to the left of the existing bin...then I can begin a second pile while the first one cooks...
