1. Now is always a good time to start.
2. Vinyl coated wire mesh 4 feet high 3 feet diameter circle is easiest of all bins. IMHO
3. With the above bin, turning is optional.
4. Mulch mow the grass
5. Tell him it makes you happy and if your happy, he'll be happy Ã

tj

I'm thinking to start NOW, but go easy on complications. Let your hubby catch the compost bug FIRST, and then stand back and enjoy. The wire mesh is good if there are issues such as wind blowing stuff around, or pets or varmits digging. Otherwise, just a pile on the ground is about as easy as it gets. Plus gives room for your hubby to see room for improvements and start brainstorming about what comes next. BTW, congrats on your own place with "plenty of space"....sounds lovely!

A pallet bin is easy, cheap, and has a certain construction and organization factor that might appeal to your husband.

If a containment system is desired 12 feet of 4 foot high 2 x 4 vinyl covered welded wire fence fabric is the best bin since when it is time to turn the material that fabric can simply be lifted off and plunked down so the material can be turned into it again. Other bins, even the shipping pallets, can be more of a problem when turning then a help unless they are also made to come apart to be moved.
The link below takes you to a very good composting tutorial.

Here is a link that might be useful: Online Composting Tutorial

Thanks for the tutorial and the encouragement and everything in between! :)

Couple of questions:

"2. Vinyl coated wire mesh 4 feet high 3 feet diameter circle is easiest of all bins. IMHO "

Home built or is there a place to get this? There definitely would be issues of wind blowing things around, etc.

"3. With the above bin, turning is optional.

Really? Why doesn't everyone do it this way?

"4. Mulch mow the grass "

What does this mean? We have a riding mower and a push mower.

"5. Tell him it makes you happy and if your happy, he'll be happy à "

He gets that part, thanks god. :)

"Let your hubby catch the compost bug FIRST, and then stand back and enjoy"

This is what I'm hoping for. :)

"BTW, congrats on your own place with "plenty of space"....sounds lovely!"

It is. Outside. Inside, I am struggling, you can see the bathroom forums about this issue lol. Buttttt, next year, I'll be bugging the folks in the pool forum, so it's worth it, I think. :)

"has a certain construction and organization factor that might appeal to your husband."

Hoping for this also lol

Thanks, yall, I'm sure I'll have more questions as we go, and I appreciate your help!! :)

The wire mesh ring is home built, go to your local hardware store and ask for a roll of the wire, bring it home, lay it out enough to make a ring of at least 3 foot across.

Mulch mow means let the grass clippings stay on the lawn. It feeds the lawn, and also mulches the grass to help with water control. I how ever also use it as a mulch in the veggie garden. First laying down cardboard or paper first then a thin layer of grass clippings.

Good luck with getting the hubby as excited about it as you are. Mine is starting to understand why it is important, after 23 years of me composting here.
Sandy

TIA ... you asked why everyone doesn't compost with a wire mesh ring and wi/o turning. Ask something easy, like world peace. Composting, how & why & where & what, is VERY individual, and as each solves the problem for their situation, that method becomes the BEST. I personally don't turn .. 'cold compost' .. and am very happy with the resulting compost. You've probably seen the pictures of Jon's beautiful compost bins...and his compost is way darker and richer looking than mine. TO EACH HIS OWN. Now, on to world peace ...... never mind.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blind Men & The Elephant

Trilliant - Try my method. You don't turn it until you are ready to break it down the next year. You can't turn it because the bin is wired closed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cheap Wire Compost Bin

I'd start with a 3 x 3 x 3 bin of concrete blocks. You can move it or expand that so easily. The side facing you as you "feed" it is 1 to 2 blocks high. Remember 3 parts browns to 1 part green and keep moist. I have flower containers on the sides and I'm going to paint it sagey-green soon. You hardly notice it in my yard.
Sunny

Thanks for all your responses! :) I think we're going to start with lazygarden' idea (husband loves the idea of no work involved lol), and also the mulch mowing. In the fall, he is going to mulch all the leaves, so we may need some of the last grass that's cut for that, not sure. We do drink tons of coffee. :)

Maybe after we get some of the other projects done, we will go with your idea, Sunny. My daughter paints, so I can get her to paint something very nice on it during one of her visits. :)

Thanks again, and lol @ barb, I got a grin from your post. :)

Trilliant - If you pile the leaves into a wire bin, packing them down and making sure the layers are wet, they compost just fine with no additives.

I keep a loose pile of leaves next to the bin for covering up the kitchen scraps.