A Compost Container to
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| Cake from my Cone Bin |
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They produce good stuff that's readily available e.g. see picture >>
This page covers their design, practicality and how to use them; and with links to my recommended compost containers.
You can compare them with traditional timber composters which need over 25 CuFt of stuff to make one hot batch.
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This link goes straight down to 5 Bins chosen for Continuous Recycling - to use larger Traditional Timber Bins check this page.
Small Scale Continuous Compost Making
The time and expense to build a small heap with timber construction hardly seems worth it. That's why the (re-cycled) plastic compost container is an exciting development. They solve the problem of low input, save space and still produce the goods. With smaller gardens that's ideal.COMPOST CONTAINER CHECK LIST
- Start by filling bin to the top,
- Aim to keep it full,
- Choose a larger size compost container only if you can keep it full, the contents reduce quickly,
- Easy to add relatively small amounts of organic matter. No need to store before composting,
- Smaller 12 CuFt bins can be kept full with a small steady input,
- Break, cut, or shred tough material before adding, especially the browns,
- Shred and spread the shrinking heap to fill wall to wall and avoid large air spaces. Finer material helps retain heat and moisture, Check List continues after details of 5 recommended composters
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Close up on: American Composters start here |
The Ventilated Bin
The Ventilated Bin - U.K.
Raise composting to new levels. The upper section starts the process. Use an aerator to help break material apart into the middle section. The middle is ventilated and should become very hot. By the time the material reaches the bottom section it is cooling down. This composter is designed to speed through-put.
A sturdy structure made of recycleable polyurethane. It has an open base with the contents in contact with the ground. There are 2 side doors at the bottom for removing material. The bin is 43" high, 26" square and holds 13cuft after self-assembly from a flat pack.
Cone Bin
Compost Converter - U.K.
Taller than wide. Two sizes available. The narrower upper section with tight lid recycles moisture internally. Ensure the organic material fills the wider cross-section lower down as it reduces. Specialised winged aerators see below help break apart the decomposing matter.
The one-piece moulded compost container has an open base. An additional Converter Base Plate is available for mounting on solid surfaces or to prevent vermin entry. The removable bottom door provides easy access to finished compost. A planting hoe or small mattock is helpful in pulling the finished stuff through the door. Mine provides moist black stuff thick with worms and a faint earthy smell - lovely. Stands 40" (1 m) high, 32" diameter and holds 12cuft.
The Pyramid Bin
The Pyramid Bin - U.S.A.
28" square 34" high. Comes as a flat pack with self assembly to make a bin advertised to contain 12 cu ft, but I make it 15CuFt.
Earth Machine Home Composter
 
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This looks to me like a very good choice - an improvement on my Cone Bin. There are no internal corners, it is well ventilated, the opening is good and wide. 33"H x 33" x 34" - capacity 10 cubic feet.
Cascadia Compost Container
 
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This compost container comes top for simplicity. It is a light weight no-tools easy to assemble compost container. 100% recycled material. The lid has ridges to contain just the right amount of water. The sides are well ventilated and it is reputed to be rodent resistant. I'm linking to the 36" diameter version which I believe to be better, but there is a 27" version for smaller spaces.
Aerating Tools
2 things are important when aerating your heap - to break apart dense clumps, and to move the material that has been on the cooler outside to the hot centre.Aerating tools have been designed specially for stirring up the heap. From the U.S.A. we have the "deluxe version" a
2 handled aerator with 2 sets of folding stirrer wings
and from the U.K. this simple
aerator
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COMPOST CONTAINER CHECK LIST CONTINUED
- Aerate periodically. An aerating tool cuts and break lumps apart; or thrust a garden fork into the heap and lever it around,
- Smaller volumes in these compost containers gives less prolonged or intense heat so keep adding new material and aerate periodically,
- Formulated compost activators contain specific bacteria and nutrients for hot composting but are not essential,
- Aim to mix green and brown matter equally - optionally, use nitrogen supplements:- comfrey, poultry manure, urine, dried blood,
- Scatter a thin layer of finished compost over every 6 inches or so of new material. Suitable micro-organisms will grow throughout the heap,
- Heat generated raises the temperature in the upper middle section of the bin - a narrower top section helps reduce heat loss,
- Tight lid and plastic walls keep fresh material moist, conserve water vapour inside, and reduce losses by leaching. No messing with plastic sheets on windy days,
- Pre-soak organic matter if it's really dry but avoid direct watering inside the compost container,
- Open base allows small animals e.g. worms, to digest the cool end. The finished stuff is moist, black, crumbly,
- Often quoted completion times 4 to 6 weeks for ideal conditions e.g. shredded material, warmth, ideal moisture content, using activator etc...
- After decomposition, another 3 months to meld should be given, perhaps in a seperate bin,
- Compost container can be set up almost anywhere and easily moved to a new location,
- Plastic is very durable. No maintenance needed.
click to read: About Larger Compost Containers
of Traditional Timber...
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