How To: Simple Compost Bin

Want to starting composting? We did, but didn't want to spend a large amount of cash on the pre-made bin found at most home improvement stores. By recycling or purchasing a plastic container with a secure lid, you can easily create your own bin in minutes. In fact it's so easy – you'll wonder why you didn't make one sooner. The bin will make compost quicker and cleaner than compost piles.

• Recycle or buy a plastic pail/bin with a tight fitting lid. The bigger the storage bin is, the better...but choose the size that is right for you. Drill small holes in the bottom, sides, and lid of your container, one to two inches apart, for aeration and to help it decompose faster.
• Place some shredded newspaper or dry leaves on the bottom of your compost bin. Add dirt from your garden on top of the newspaper, until your container is about half full.
• Add any food scraps or paper products into compost such as tea bags, fruit, vegetables, coffee grounds, egg shells, paper towels, etc. Anything you put into the bin should be chopped/shredded fairly small so it will break down quicker in the small space. After you add your food and paper scraps, simply mix your fertilizer until all of the food is covered in dirt.
• Place your compost bin in a shady area away from your home in the back yard. Be sure your compost is not in full sun or your compost will dry out. Spray with water until moist, but not soaking wet...think wrung-out sponge.
• Every other day or so, as you add food scraps to bin, you should give it a stir. Mixing the compost will help breakdown the scraps faster. If your pile starts to smell like anything other than fresh dirt, you may not have the right combo of 'greens' and 'browns'. If the contents of the bin are staying very wet, or there is an unpleasant odor coming from the bin, you'll need to add some shredded fall leaves, shredded newspaper, or sawdust to the bin (the browns). These will dry it out and help restore the ratio of greens to browns that makes compost happen more quickly. If the contents are very dry, use the spray bottle to moisten the contents, or add plenty of moisture-rich items such as fruits or veggies (the greens).

Wait about 2 months to use your compost. Your garden, flower beds, and container plants will benefit from the added nutrients and organic matter!

Green Garden!

A few tips on using fewer pesticides and chemicals in your garden.

• Hang some nesting boxes, put out some bird seeds and allow the birds to nest in an area near your garden. Didn't you know that birds can eat pests like snails and slugs. No chemicals required.
• Leave some mulch lying near your garden in a pile. Soon the ground beetles will nest underneath it. Ground beetles will then eat many of your other gardening pests.
• Allow some of your vegetables to go to flowers. The flower will attract the bumble bees, allowing for the pollination process to begin.
• Want to try composting but don't think you have room for a big compost container? Try a small wormer instead. You add peelings to the wormer just as you would a composter. The worms will appear and break down your peelings into small amounts of garden compost. You can then use this compost as top dressings for your container plants.
• Catch rain water in a rain container. You will need a container with a lid. If you can find one that also has a faucet, it will be easier for you to remove the water. Open the lid when it is raining to catch the water. Close when it isn't raining, so you do not cause a contamination of mosquitoes and to keep other things out of the water. You can then use the water for watering your plants and seedlings.