Overview
Make a compost bin to achieve the satisfaction of turning kitchen and garden waste, into rich, crumbly compost. This will make your plants and crops thrive - so keep them, and your local landfill site, happy.
Do it:
all year round
Takes just:
1 day
How to do it
-
Clear the area where you're going to put the compost bin and, if necessary, level the ground using a spade or a rake.
-
Take a pallet and stand it on its long edge to form the back edge of the compost bin. Push a stake through the two layers of the pallet at either end, using a sledgehammer to drive them firmly into the ground - about 20-30cm deep. -
Position the remaining two pallets at right angles to the first to make the sides, butting the corners tightly together to stop compost spilling through the gaps. Fix in place with stakes in each corner, as in step 2. -
To keep the structure stable, wire the pallets together at each corner. Trim the tops of the stakes with a bow saw. -
Wire the last pallet onto the front of the right side pallet to make a gate - you'll need to open it when you want to get to the compost - and start filling your bin with garden and kitchen waste.
"Do add annual weeds to your compost bin, but avoid putting in any perennials such as couch grass or ground elder."
"Cover your bin with carpet to keep it warm and to help speed up the composting process."
Comments and rating
Overall rating (from 11 ratings):
4 out of 5
have some pallets at home now i have something useful to do with them thanks!
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This looks great! I've been wanting to put one together for some time now. Anyone have suggestions on location. I've heard concerns of smell and such if you locate too close to the home. Full sunligth best?
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4 out of 5
Hi I'm making a couple of compost bins out of wood, does there have to be gaps between the slats or can I make it solid? After all aren't most of the plastic composters solid? Any help on this would be much appreciated.
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5 out of 5
I have just got 4 pallets and I asked my husband to screw them together but I know I would have to wait months. Putting in stakes is a much better idea. I'm sure I can do that myself. Thanks.
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5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Can anyone tell me where to get pallets from please?
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we got our pallets from a shop that sold tiles on a trading estate. Just asked if we could have them and they said yes. best place to look is on a trading estate. They leave them outside for collection and anyone can take them.
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4 out of 5
I make compost bins out of pallets and have done for quite a few years, but I knock the pallets to peices first and rebuild, using the slats; these i knock together leaving about an inch between slats. the front I attach a thin slat followed by a thicker one, and the slat the front allowing removal when using. I do have three on the go, one using, one filling and one working, when the used one is empty, i turn the working one into the space left by the used one. This has worked well for me.
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5 out of 5
3 out of 5
4 out of 5
I have limited space in my garden .How far from the house is best ?to avoid any smells etc.
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5 out of 5
connie_g rated and commented on this article
01 February 2009
4 out of 5
We have used this method for making compost bins for about 6 years and it works well, producing good compost. On our exposed site we have found it best to line the bin with old cardboard boxes placed between the two layers of each pallet and also to put newspaper inside. If you make a row of bins and turn the compost after about 6 months it works very fast.
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