Not a lot of people make their own soil anymore. It seems to be a lost art becoming more scarce in these the days of technology and convenience. Your home made composter will help you to bring that lost art to your backyard.
To make a composter at home you must figure out a few things so to incorporate them into the design. First, figure out in what quantities you will need or want to make compost in and factor the size into your design. Second, whether you want to have a spinner, standing composter or open pile based on what would be easier for you or what you think will work best. Third is location: where you will station your composter for the process.
Needed materials for Your home made composter
The material you will be using will depend on how strong you want to make it and what capacity is desired. Take into consideration where it will be located because of oxidation of metals or deterioration and breakdown of wood and other materials.
For a spinning chamber, something like a round bar or wood/ metal pole would be ideal. Most people would use blue plastic drums for their spinning chamber but it’s totally up to you. A metal drum with a thick plastic liner would be sufficient for the purpose. Some people use cinder blocks and do an open pit. Do thorough consideration of all parts you will need and make a list if needed.
Objective of Your home made composter
The objective of your home composter is to be able create good, healthy soil on your own, seasonally. Add it to your garden on a yearly or seasonal basis to support the health of your garden. By using household scraps you are not only cutting back on waste but now you are on your way to true sustainability and self-sufficiency! Be aware though, that there are certain things that do not belong in a compost mixture.
Your composter can help you cut back on waste and produce good soil for lawn, garden, potting and more! It is also a good skill to have should you ever need it.
My how-to composting guide will help you to understand the composting process and get the best results from your home made composter.
My Guide
This, being a general guide to building a home composter, will give guidelines to use while building with your own design. Your chosen location or specific need of space will help determine your design.
Accessibility for turning is a major consideration because you will need to mix(turn) the compost mixture often. I personally have built a spinning composter with two compartments that are blue barrels. I put them on their side, cut hatch doors into them and made a handle on one end for easy spinning. It mixes itself as I spin them.
Back in ‘the old days’ compost was mixed with a pitchfork and everyone was doing it. Back in those days everyone grew their own food and stored it for consumption later in the winter. It was quite important to have good soil and have a plentiful harvest so they could survive the winter.
Build it with consideration for aeration or air flow. Air flow is necessary for the bacterial breakdown of the material into soil, Also ,build it in a way that it will withstand the elements and not oxidize and breakdown. If you’re making it of metal you can get a gloss paint or gloss spray to coat and protect your equipment. You can try to keep it covered but its not always a guarantee.
Open pit compost piles should be pretty self-explanitory as it is quite literally
open to the atmosphere. Using cinder blocks should be sufficient but you can also use rock, wood or just about anything similar to contain it. Be sure to turn or mix it once or twice a week!
Have fun with composting
Nowadays it is not such a necessity to compost your own soil to support a garden or healthy harvest, so its easier to have fun with it. Experiment a little because various climates make the composting process vary.
Most of all I think we should be proud of composting because of the reduction of waste and self-sufficiency we are creating for ourselves. It truly is a great craft and skill to have.
Thank you for reading! I hope you found this article helpful, interesting or informative and please share it! If you have any questions, comments or input please feel free to do so in the box below.
