Durn it, I want to put a picture in here (NOT a link, a picture)and I can't figure out how. Help please!!!

Thanks.
L

Hi Micronthecat. If you click on the forum FAQs link below and scroll down slightly, you'll see a link titled "Inserting Pics in Posts" which should help answer your questions.

All the best,
-Patrick

Here is a link that might be useful: forum FAQs, including

We did do one improvement, which is that we lined the thing loosely with plastic...

Keep in mind that by lining it with plastic you have greatly restricted the needed air flow to the pile - one of the main advantages to using pallets. ;) It will likely need more frequent turning as a result. And if the plastic also encases the bottom of the container, excess moisture will collect there and you could end up with anaerobic compost and odor problems.

I understand the need to keep out the chickens - lining it with chicken wire works well for that while not restricting the air flow - but composting requires lots of air circulation and good drainage so as a general rule of thumb, plastic and composting don't work well together. ;)

Just some thoughts to keep in mind.

Dave

This bin along with several others were built with pallets for a school composting project. Taking the old pallets apart requires some additioanl work but is well worth it.

I also have concerns with lining the bin with plastic. May I suggest landscape fabric as an alternative.

Here is a link that might be useful: Compost Bin

Cowgirl2,
I like those compost bins. Looking to replace mine this summer so I might refer to your photos to rebuild.

Oh, and are those your poppies??? WOW! That's quite the collection! Beautiful!

Great job got to show this to my hubby. Thanks for the pics .
Jill B.

Nice build.. great job!

The only suggesting I would make is to leave the bottom out.. having teh compost in contact with the soil really makes it work better - that's where all them composting critters come from!

>

No do not leave the bottom out.

The bottom serves a couple of purposes. One, it make the bin a stand alone structure which allows repair and rebuild of each individual bin as required. In a proper compost operation you would have at least 3 bins. One of which is always empty. Secondly, by having the bin off the ground air moves up though the bin. My experience has found that the legs also need to be placed off the soil to prevent rotting. Placing a brick or stone under each leg is recomended.

As for the compost critters, I don't know which ones you have in mind. New compost inoculation is done with the regular addition of garden soil and mature compost. Insects and mice have no problem finding the bins.

To keep stuff in my bins, I've always used hardware cloth with a 1/4" mesh. If you look around, you can find it in either metal or black plastic (nice because it doesn't corrode).

Jason