Its just a compost pile like any other. You pile in the appropriate ingredients and they turn into compost. Nothing magic about this product, although you may find the whole process of making compost is a bit like magic :)

It is somewhat smaller than the magical 1 cubic yard but that still makes it bigger than most commercial compost bins. It is somewhat like a plastic "pallet bin", but made in three pieces that stack to make up the full height. This is marketed as making it easier to turn the pile since you don't have to reach down three feet to get the stuff out of the bottom, but you still have to reach down a bit. Somewhat insulating, but then it also has lots of air slots in the sides.

Ah... that clears it up, thanks! I thought it was some kind of different "method" of composting. :#)

Have you seen their website? If you click "other views" it give you some idea how you use it.

I used to have a regular bin and never turned it because it was just too hard. I got a Biostack a few months ago and I love it. I can actually flip it now. Makes the stuff break down much faster.

I bought mine directly from a Smith and Hawkin store to avoid paying for postage.

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: Biostack

A few years ago I saw a DIY tiered bin arrangement that looked pretty good. It was a stacked typed thing where you added tiers on top when you had more materials to add on. I alway planned to make one, but the simple mesh bins I used were just too easy and I never got around to it.

I would make my tiered bin 42-48" by 42-48", and that might be a bit too unwieldy for some composters. The example they showed on a web site was 36x36", and I prefer composting a bit bigger; feeling the extra area leads to better heat retention.

I suggest you scout around the web outside GW for DIY compost bin ideas. My early purchasess of a plastic composter, and a tumbler were both wastes of money. My SEVEN simple mesh bins in total cost less than my tumbler did; and they are easier too!

Thanks everyone-- I have a clearer picture now of what it is. I currently have two hardware cloth "cubes" I constructed with removable fronts, but they are a little cumbersome to turn. I'm tiny so I think it's probably more a function of my size vs. the bins! But I do like the idea of the stackables... I think it would be easier. Right now when I take the front off, I have to be careful the stuff doesn't come tumbling out. But I'm too short to reach into the bins without taking the fronts off. So, stackable might be the way to go. I can take enough off to be able to comfortably reach in and turn without having it all come pouring out!

For any one else who might be interested, I took Robert's advice and did a search and found these plans that look pretty easy:

Here is a link that might be useful: Stackable Compost Bin

firefly: I can relate. I'm a woman in my 50s and pretty little, too, so the stackable concept is a Godsend for me. That's exactly why I like the Biostack.

The link you posted looks nice; same principle as the Biostack. Depending on the type of wood and size of the bin, it could be heavier, though, than the plastic. I think you would be happy with it.

Good luck with it.

Karen

Good point about the weight issue, Karen. It's definitely something I need to factor in.

Thanks again for the advice! :-)

The beauty is the simplicity if the design and the fact mine looks new 20 years later! found one on marketplace and will be trying to get it shipped when the biostack is full take the top tier ans place it on the ground use pitchfork to remove the top layer and place it in the bottome tray remove the next layer and rebuild the stack the middle gets pitched forked into the middle tier the bottom is fimisged compost! take that and spread put the bottom tier on top and put cover back on

Oh. I miss Karen!