Bin There

 
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a piece about my attempts to go green, and in it I gave a link to an attractive Spruce Wood Composter I was sort of lusting after. Well, the lovely and brilliant Michelle Renee left a comment, telling me I was nuts to want to buy a wooden composter for $179, then gave me detailed instructions on how to make my own composter out of a plastic bin.

And I did it! It was so fraking easy, I couldn't believe it. I've become a composting fool! And I'm so excited that I'm going to share the how-to with you all...

Step #1 -

Find a large plastic bin. I just went to Target and bought a chumongous 45-gallon one, but Michelle Renee suggested that most people have one somewhere holding their kids old clothes. I think this one cost about $25.

Step #2 -

Drill holes in the lid. I love any excuse to wield a power tool.

Step #3 -

Tump in some dead leaves and grass clippings and shit (for you non-Texans, "tump" is a regional melding of "toss" and "dump").

 
Then more dead leaves and grass clippings and shit. And when I say "and shit" I don't literally mean "shit", because that would be animal not vegetable, and you definitely don't want it in your compost.

And you might as well tump in some dirt too. I added the dirt from the now-dead poinsettias from Christmas...

 
Step #4 - Stir.

Step #5 - Now comes the fun part. Start saving up all the compostable trash from your kitchen. Old vegies, fruit, herbs, egg shells, leftover rice, coffee grounds, dryer lint...

Yum.

Step #6 - Tump that in too!

See look at that, in the past I would have been really pissed off that I wasted an entire bunch of Italian parsley, but now, at least I feel like it's not a total waste.

Step #7 - That's it! Now you just have to keep adding to it, and stir it every week or so.

So far, mine's been cooking in there for a couple of weeks, and so far so good. I have to say, I'm amazed
by how completely stink-free it is. It smells sort of...earthy. Not unpleasant. I've been adding to it daily. I've even added a compostable Sun Chips bag, just as an experiment...

 
I'll let you know how that goes.

I've also upgraded that green bowl for a cute canister...

Okay, that's a terrible picture, but you get the idea.

I'm still not clear on the whole balance of carbon/nitrogeneous materials thing. I have, however, found this website which has lots of helpful hints. Michelle Renee says that by fall I should have a some rocking stuff to add to my garden. 

I've been told that since I'm composting in plastic, I shouldn't use the compost from it for a vegetable garden, because essentially, the plastic is leaching some freaky chemicals into it, much the way plastic bottles leach chemicals into water. But it should be really excellent for the flower beds.

Okay, go to it. Have fun!

And check out other helpful ideas at We are THAT Family's Works For Me Wednesday.

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FOLLOW UP NOTE: Michelle Renee just emailed me and told me that you also need to drill some holes in the bottom. So...do that!  Thanks Michelle!
 

Comments

[tangled zen]

Great idea - I've seen people use those big black garbage pails too - to stir they just flip on the side and roll around.

It looks so simple - I think I need to give this a try!

[Jan]

I've been thinking about making my own compost as well. I wonder what I could use if I'm going to put the compost on my vegetable garden?

[Suzicate]

We used to have a wooden compost. It eventually rotted and fell apart, but potaoes grew in the pile! Lookinf forward to hearing how the Sun cips bag does...they are really loud when you crinkle them - no sneaking snacks!

[Ginny Marie]

I need to make me one of those! Thanks for the photos...they help a visual person like me. Reading directions...no help. Seeing pictures? Now I get it! :)

[The Bug]

Dr. M & I have been talking about composting. I had a friend at work who composted & I brought her all of our compostable stuff until she changed jobs. Now it feels so wasteful to throw away perfectly good stuff.

[Amy]

I'm so tickled that you've joined the composting world!! Hurrah!

Definitely keep us posted on the Sun Chips bag. You'll know if you've achieved hot-compost nirvana if that baby breaks down.

[Fiddledeedee]

I'm going to do this. I'm determined to get my green thumb back. Or grow a green thumb. Or whatever.

And I love NOT paying a small fortune for the container.

[Sara]

I like it! We just got a little counter top pail to collect our stuff here at work. Then I guess my sister and I can decide who takes it home to the compost pile.
I can't wait to try a Sun Chips bag, since I can practically eat the whole thing in one sitting...ok, two sittings. I wonder why more snacks and crackers aren't getting on that bandwagon?

[Niki]

Dryer lint -- really? I used to compost by just using a chicken wired corner of the backyard - but now with two dogs, well just lets say they would have too good of a time ripping it apart. The tub sounds like a great idea. Have fun.

[Sprite's Keeper]

Dryer lint in compost? VERY interesting!

[Jenni]

Well look at you, making your own compost bin!

[Michele Renee]

Hey--so cool! I forgot to tell you something....you also need to drill some holes in the bottom of the bin. Get out the power tool again.

[Aimee @ In THIS Life]

Ooh, I've SO been wanting to do that.