Tomatoville® Gardening Forums


Notices

Have a great invention to help with gardening? Are you the self-reliant type that prefers Building It Yourself vs. buying it? Share and discuss your ideas and projects with other members.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old April 9, 2015   #1
EBCIII
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
Default I am Building My Compost Bin

So I started working on my Compost bin. It is going to be 10 feet long by six feet wide. The 1st 2 days all I did was cut my lumber. I now have my First layer up with the 1st set of uprights in. My 4 year old Bosh 18V Cordless Drill is starting not to hold a charge. We also have had rain off and on for the last 2 days.

Now here are some questions? How far do Y'all think spacing between boards going up? I was thinking using a 2x4 on the 4 side. and going up.

On the front? I was thinking Wire? Or maybe make a Gate that I can open and shut so I can get in to throw the stuff in. I Plan on using the Cold Method of Compost.

I have access to a lot of old semi decomposed pine straw down in the woods. I worry about bringing in any bugs or stuff. It is also full of Gum Balls? Can I put those in there?

Thanks in advance Beale.
EBCIII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 9, 2015   #2
ScottinAtlanta
Tomatovillian™
 
ScottinAtlanta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 2,593
Default

I just line up pallets in a semi circle and hold them up with rebar. It takes an hour and works fine! It probably looks more redneck than you want, though.
ScottinAtlanta is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 9, 2015   #3
EBCIII
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta View Post
I just line up pallets in a semi circle and hold them up with rebar. It takes an hour and works fine! It probably looks more redneck than you want, though.

Yes I thought about that. I have the free wood though, Beale.
EBCIII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 9, 2015   #4
FarmerShawn
Tomatovillian™
 
FarmerShawn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,001
Default

With a couple of cleats running down two opposite corners, you can create a channel to slide one side down, perhaps in two stacked sections to make them lighter to handle. That way you build in easy access for turning or emptying the pile, without spending much of anything.
__________________
"Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!"
-- Tommy Smothers
FarmerShawn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 9, 2015   #5
EBCIII
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FarmerShawn View Post
With a couple of cleats running down two opposite corners, you can create a channel to slide one side down, perhaps in two stacked sections to make them lighter to handle. That way you build in easy access for turning or emptying the pile, without spending much of anything.

What is a "cleat" I am not sure I follow on that. I am still learning, Beale.
EBCIII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 9, 2015   #6
FarmerShawn
Tomatovillian™
 
FarmerShawn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,001
Default

A cleat is just a length of wood, say a 2X2, attached, in this case, vertically down the corner. If you place two cleats down each corner, say about an inch apart, a channel, or groove would be created between them. Fit a panel between the corners so that it slides down in the channel and is held in place by the cleats. Then, to remove that panel, you need only slide it up and lift it off. Like I said, dividing the panel into two or more sections that would stack on top of each other would make each section smaller, lighter, thus easier to remove. I hope I've cleared it up a it, but let me know if it's still confusing, and I'll try again.
__________________
"Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!"
-- Tommy Smothers
FarmerShawn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 10, 2015   #7
EBCIII
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
Default

No Now I understand. I will use this method. I have a lot of left over cut off piece. Thank You very much, I am learning, slowly, Beale.
EBCIII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12, 2015   #8
EBCIII
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
Default

I finished My Compost Bin today. Man what a trip! Lot of work but I think it will work! 4 slats high with a 4 inch space between. On the front I put 2 slats with a 2 inch space. The ting is huge. Oh I found out all this wood I have been using is Cypress. For the beds for everything. It ought to last a while, Beale.
EBCIII is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12, 2015   #9
greyghost
Tomatovillian™
 
greyghost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: southeastern PA
Posts: 760
Default

Sounds perfect, especially for cold composting. I think you're going to love it!
greyghost is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 13, 2015   #10
EBCIII
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by greyghost View Post
Sounds perfect, especially for cold composting. I think you're going to love it!
Thank You! Beale.
EBCIII is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:11 PM.


★ Tomatoville® is a registered trademark of Commerce Holdings, LLC ★ All Content ©2022 Commerce Holdings, LLC ★