3-bin Compost System
Our yard generates tons of compostable trash, and we have 2 large raised garden beds. Rather than continuing to buy compost, why not make it?
The sketch
This wireframe sketch shows the relative dimensions and layout of the boards used in constructing the stall.
Bill of Materials
| Quantity | Item |
|---|---|
| 14 | Cedar 4x4x8 board |
| 16 | Cedar 1x6x12 board |
| 32 sqft | Chicken wire mesh |
| 10 bags | Playground sand |
| 1 roll | landscape paper |
| 1 box | exterior rated 1" wood screws (for hanging siding boards) |
| 1 box | exterior rated 2" wood screws (for securing 4x4 structure) |
The inside
The inside of the compost bin has 3 stalls to support the large volume of compost we generate from the yard during the year. The entire structure is made of cedar - 1x6" cedar planks for the siding, and 4x4" cedar boards for the primary structure.
As shown in this picture, the interior walls are wire mesh (for air breathability), with a sand bottom (to aid drainage). The black plastic is a planter border stapled to the cedar to keep the sand in place.
Notice the corners: cedar 4x4 cut at a 45" angle is used to reinforce the corners and provide rigidity and a place to screw together the perpendicular members without using the board ends (which causes splitting in cedar).
The front
The front is visible to the entire yard, so, it's decorated and landscaped appropriately. The top 2 siding planks are doubled up, to give both the interior metal lining and the plant hangers screws something to dig into.
